# Jan Blake

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{{Short description|British storyteller}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2026}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2026}}

'''Jan Blake''' is a British storyteller, consultant and coach specialising in [myth](/source/myth)s and folk tales from the [Caribbean](/source/Caribbean), [West Africa](/source/West_Africa), [North Africa](/source/North_Africa) and beyond. She has been performing to children, adolescents and adults since 1986 and has an international reputation for dynamic [storytelling](/source/storytelling).<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Jan Blake - Literature |url=https://literature.britishcouncil.org/writer/jan-blake |access-date=2024-01-18 |website=literature.britishcouncil.org |archive-date=2024-01-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240118141354/https://literature.britishcouncil.org/writer/jan-blake |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Life and career ==
Blake was born in [Manchester](/source/Manchester) to [Jamaica](/source/Jamaica)n parents. As a young woman, she listened to recordings of the Jamaican poet and folklorist [Louise Bennett-Coverley](/source/Louise_Bennett-Coverley), also known as Miss Lou, who was famous for performing her work in [Jamaican Patois](/source/Jamaican_Patois).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Jan Blake |url=https://thenestcollective.co.uk/artists/jan-blake/ |access-date=2024-01-18 |website=The Nest Collective |language=en-GB |archive-date=2024-01-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240118141354/https://thenestcollective.co.uk/artists/jan-blake/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Blake started telling stories in 1986, mainly for financial reasons. The stories she chooses to tell have gradually become more profound. She has also developed her role and now weaves facial expression, gestures, jokes, songs, changes in pitch and volume, and interaction with the audience into her performances.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Children's Bookshow {{!}} Jan Blake |url=https://thechildrensbookshow.com/artists/jan-blake |access-date=2024-01-18 |website=thechildrensbookshow.com |archive-date=2024-01-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240118141356/https://thechildrensbookshow.com/artists/jan-blake |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=The Origins of Life and Death – Rich Mix |url=https://richmix.org.uk/events/the-origins-of-life-and-death/ |access-date=2024-01-18 |language=en-GB |archive-date=2024-01-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240118141354/https://richmix.org.uk/events/the-origins-of-life-and-death/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Citation |title=Jan Blake: Storytelling & Inhabiting All the Places Within Yourself |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Q-rGS1v7nE |access-date=2024-01-18 |language=en |archive-date=2024-01-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240118141357/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Q-rGS1v7nE |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-04-19 |title=The Roots and stitching ourselves back together Stories with Jan Blake |url=https://www.carinalyall.com/en/blog/the-roots-and-the-stories-with-jan-blake |access-date=2024-01-18 |website=Sustainable Life - Bæredygtig livsstil |language=en-US |archive-date=2024-01-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240118141354/https://www.carinalyall.com/en/blog/the-roots-and-the-stories-with-jan-blake |url-status=live }}</ref>

Blake has been Storyteller-in-Residence for the [Hay Literary Festival](/source/Hay_Festival). In 2012, as part of the [World Shakespeare Festival](/source/World_Shakespeare_Festival), she was the curator for Shakespeare's Stories.<ref>{{Cite web |title=#31 {{!}} Into The Belly of the Dragon - Jan Blake (Storyteller) |url=https://www.themythicmasculine.com/episodes/jan-blake |access-date=2024-01-18 |website=The Mythic Masculine |language=en-US |archive-date=2024-01-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240118141353/https://www.themythicmasculine.com/episodes/jan-blake |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":0" />

She has performed at many national and international storytelling and literature conferences<ref>{{Citation |title=International Storytelling Conference (2012) What is a storyteller? - Jan Blake |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hPBjbW4L3ko |access-date=2024-01-18 |language=en |archive-date=2024-01-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240118141354/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hPBjbW4L3ko |url-status=live }}</ref> and festivals such as the Hay Festival,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-10-28 |title=Jan Blake |url=https://www.hayfestival.com/p-12990-jan-blake.aspx |access-date=2024-01-18 |website=Hay Festival |language=en |archive-date=2024-01-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240118141355/https://www.hayfestival.com/p-12990-jan-blake.aspx |url-status=live }}</ref> the Viljandi International Folk Music Festival in [Estonia](/source/Estonia),<ref>{{Cite web |title=Previous Artists |url=https://www.oxfordstorytellingfestival.co.uk/artists-archive |access-date=2024-01-18 |website=Oxford Storytelling Festival |language=en-US |archive-date=2024-01-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240118141354/https://www.oxfordstorytellingfestival.co.uk/artists-archive |url-status=live }}</ref> [TEDxWarsaw](/source/TEDxWarsaw)<ref>{{Citation |title=A story, a story! Let it come, let it go!: Jan Blake at TEDxWarsaw |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7MgpAG2sobk |access-date=2024-01-18 |language=en |archive-date=2024-01-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240118141355/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7MgpAG2sobk |url-status=live }}</ref> and TEDx Manchester.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Jan Blake |url=https://beyondtheborder.com/cy/artist/jan-blake/ |access-date=2024-01-18 |website=Beyond the Border |language=cy |archive-date=2024-01-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240118141354/https://beyondtheborder.com/cy/artist/jan-blake/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Citation |title=The Fisherman: A Tale of Passion, Loss, and Hope {{!}} Jan Blake {{!}} TEDxManchester |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IAV6eXaS6dk |access-date=2024-01-18 |language=en |archive-date=2024-01-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240118141353/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IAV6eXaS6dk |url-status=live }}</ref>

Blake works with major arts organisations such as the National Theatre, [BBC Philharmonic Orchestra](/source/BBC_Philharmonic), [London Philharmonic Orchestra](/source/London_Philharmonic_Orchestra), [Royal Geographical Society](/source/Royal_Geographical_Society), [Natural History Museum](/source/Natural_History_Museum%2C_London), [UNHCR](/source/United_Nations_High_Commissioner_for_Refugees), [British Council](/source/British_Council), [British Museum](/source/British_Museum), [Royal Opera House](/source/Royal_Opera_House), [British Library](/source/British_Library), and the [Crick Crack Club](/source/The_Crick_Crack_Club).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Home |url=https://crickcrackclub.com/ |access-date=2024-01-18 |website=Crick Crack Club |language=en-US |archive-date=2024-01-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240118141354/https://crickcrackclub.com/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":0" /> She runs workshops, courses and [master class](/source/master_class)es for those wishing to improve their storytelling skills as well as for teachers working with school students within the [national curriculum](/source/National_Curriculum_for_England).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Africa Dreaming: African Myth in the Heart of Snowdonia. |url=https://janblakestories.co.uk/ |access-date=2024-01-18 |website=Africa Dreaming: African Myth in the Heart of Snowdonia. |language=en |archive-date=2024-01-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240118141354/https://janblakestories.co.uk/ |url-status=live }}</ref> She is a regular contributor to [BBC radio](/source/BBC_Radio).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Jan Blake-Settle Stories |url=https://www.settlestories.org.uk/artists/jan-blake/ |access-date=18 January 2024 |website=Settle Stories |archive-date=1 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240501123155/https://www.settlestories.org.uk/artists/jan-blake/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Man Crow {{!}} Caribbean Stories |url=https://www.torch.ox.ac.uk/man-crow-caribbean-stories |access-date=2024-01-18 |website=www.torch.ox.ac.uk |language=en |archive-date=2024-01-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240118141354/https://www.torch.ox.ac.uk/man-crow-caribbean-stories |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2023, Blake toured a show with [West Africa](/source/West_Africa)n born musicians, Kouame Sereba and [Raymond Sereba](/source/Raymond-Serge_Bal%C3%A9).<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=2008-02-14 |title=Hatched: Jan Blake |url=https://www.blackhistorymonth.org.uk/article/listings/region/southwark/hatched-jan-blake/ |access-date=2024-01-18 |website=Black History Month 2023 |language=en |archive-date=2024-01-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240118141354/https://www.blackhistorymonth.org.uk/article/listings/region/southwark/hatched-jan-blake/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Blake has set up her own company and storytelling school called the Akua Storytelling Project.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Blake |first=Jan |title=The Akua Storytelling Project |url=https://akua-storytelling-project.mn.co/ |access-date=18 January 2024 |archive-date=18 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240118141354/https://akua-storytelling-project.mn.co/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=admin |title=Home |url=https://www.akuastorytelling.com/ |access-date=2024-01-18 |website=Akua Storytelling |language=en-GB |archive-date=2024-01-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240118141356/https://www.akuastorytelling.com/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2024 she became the patron/matron of The International Association for Teachers of English as a Foreign Language ([IATEFL](/source/International_Association_of_Teachers_of_English_as_a_Foreign_Language)) for whom she had given plenary speeches in previous years.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Announcement of IATEFL's new Patron {{!}} iatefl.org |url=https://www.iatefl.org/news-views/announcement-iatefl-s-new-patron |access-date=2024-01-18 |website=www.iatefl.org |archive-date=2024-01-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240118141354/https://www.iatefl.org/news-views/announcement-iatefl-s-new-patron |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Plenary by Jan Blake |url=https://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/news-and-events/iatefl-online/2016/plenary-jan-blake |access-date=2024-01-18 |website=TeachingEnglish |language=en-UK |archive-date=2024-01-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240118141353/https://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/news-and-events/iatefl-online/2016/plenary-jan-blake |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Awards ==
In 2011, Blake was the first non-German to be awarded the Thüringen Maerchen Prize, for a life devoted to the art of storytelling.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=Cece's Speakeasy: Storytellers : Apples and Snakes |url=https://applesandsnakes.org/ceces-speakeasy-storytellers/ |access-date=2024-01-18 |website=applesandsnakes.org/ |language=en-GB |archive-date=2024-01-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240118141354/https://applesandsnakes.org/ceces-speakeasy-storytellers/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2013, her performance of ''The Old Woman, the Buffalo, and the Lion of Manding'' with West African born musicians, Kouame Sereba and [Raymond Sereba](/source/Raymond-Serge_Bal%C3%A9), won her a British Award for Storytelling Excellence (BASE).<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":1" />

== Publications ==
In 1998, Blake published ''Give Me My Yam!'' a picture book for young children.<ref>{{Cite book |title=Give me my yam! |date=1998 |publisher=Walker |isbn=978-0-7445-4885-3 |editor-last=Blake |editor-first=Jan |edition=5. [printing] |series=Reading together |location=London |editor-last2=Melnyczuk |editor-first2=Peter}}</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Blake, Jan}}
Category:Living people
Category:Black British women writers
Category:British storytellers
Category:British women folklorists
Category:English people of Jamaican descent
Category:English women children's writers
Category:English children's writers
Category:Mass media people from Manchester
Category:Women storytellers
Category:Writers from Manchester
Category:Year of birth missing (living people)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Jan Blake](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jan_Blake) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jan_Blake?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.