Hitting the proverbial brick wall

Having neglected my work slightly, I knew that a Skype call with Paula would be a good way to get me back on track! Myself and Maddy, had a great discussion the other night with Paula about our possible lines of inquiry. It really helped to be reassured that we were heading in the right direction and also allowed us to hone in our ideas to create a more concise plan of action with regards to module 2.
I explained my ideas to Paula surrounding injury prevention and hyper-mobility in dancers. I said that I had always had an interest in injury and anatomy so that route seemed only too natural for me to explore in more detail. She then told me that if anything I was being too specific and needed to open up the topic and make it more explorative and developmental, as opposed to black and white research. This point I found particularly interesting and helpful, so I talked about the idea of looking into the individuality of each and every dancer's body and how different bodies are going to be effected by certain elements of training. This topic seemed more appropriate for my inquiry and Paula said that looking into individuality was very interesting. From here I just wrote down some possible bullet points of things I would like to explore or things to research further and include in my inquiry. These were:

• Injuries in young training dancers

• Hyper-mobility in dancers and it's effects

• EDS syndrome and similar conditions in dancers and it's effects

• Individuality in dancer's bodies

• How to prevent injury through strengthening and conditioning 

• Screen processes at vocational school for young dancers

• Can young dancer's bodies be affected by the way in which they train? (positive and negative)

• How does dancing from a young age make your muscularity and body develop differently from non-dancers?

• Should there be a more rigorous screening process to identify young dancers weaknesses and help prevent injuries?

• Should there be more dance specialist physiotherapists at vocational schools?

Also during our discussion, Paula asked me why I had an interest in injury prevention and in particular hyper-mobility. I told her than at age 14, I had quite a serious hip injury which went un-diagnosed for almost a year and resulted in me having to have hip surgery. When I eventually had it treated by a consultant, he said it was down to me having hyper-mobile joints and as I was young and doing abnormal things with my body daily in ballet class,  I actually hadn't developed the strength to control my movements. Had this been identified earlier on, I could have had exercises to build the right muscles and a worked more carefully in class and surgery would never have been necessary. This is the reason I feel so passionate about this topic as I know that with more research and attention, many other young dancers could prevent such injuries from occurring.

The Next step

Now I'm back into work mode I'm going to create a plan of action for the next few weeks. Some things I want to achieve are:

1. Research my area and come up with some good extracts of literature relevant to my topic
2. Look into ethical issues surrounding injury prevention in particular ethical issues around young injured dancers
3. Converse with my old physiotherapist and some other useful contacts to get ideas and knowledge of the area from them
4. Discuss my ideas with other dancers both on the course and outside of BAPP

Hopefully, I will be able to get the ball rolling now with regards to my studies and I'm very excited to see what new information and research I can find on this area. 

Answered and unanswered questions

In my last post, I came up with 4 key questions surrounding my professional practice which I found to be of importance.  I have subsequently received several comments on my blog answering my questions and have interviewed a few colleagues in my company to see what the general response was. Although there is always a degree of differentiation, largely speaking, people were on the same page with one or two queries which I found particularly interesting.

My findings

I conducted some audio interviews with a few colleagues at Vienna Festival ballet, asking them my questions and the responses I received was very interesting. I tried to ask a variety of people with different dance backgrounds to gain a broader understanding of the issues I feel may exist.

My first dancer is 25, she trained vocationally from 16 and has worked with Vienna Festival Ballet for 6 years since graduating. Her responses were as follows:

1)  Q: Do you feel there is enough support and advice for injured dancers both physically and psychologically?  

     A: "I think physically there is a lot of support for injured dancers, because I had a lot of minor injuries myself and I've had a lot of support in finding physio and recovering quickly. I think psychologically, theres not always enough emphasis on the impact that getting an injury can have, so I think that more could be done with the impact in can have psychologically on a dancer. "

2) Q: Do you think dancers receive enough education about how to prevent injury and how to keep their bodies in peak physical condition?
   A: "Personally, when I trained I was given a lot of information about how to deal with injuries and how to identify the difference between just pain and an actual long-standing injury. I felt quite prepared to deal with that in professional life."

3) Q:  Do you think there is enough emphasis on preparing yourself for a life and career outside of dance? 
    A: "I think there is. The school that I went to (which is Central School of Ballet) I received quite a lot of preparation for life after dance but I think there is such a stress and emphasis on dancers to get a job as soon as they graduated that it can sometimes become less important to think about what you are going to do after you retire. This could do with being stressed more as a dancer' career is so short".

4) Q: Do you think it is important to build strength and stamina outside of the studio as well as in training and performance?
   A: " Yes I believe it is important, I believe the most important thing is always going to be your career and the performance you give at work but having a certain amount of fitness outside of work is incredibly important especially as many dancers are going to carry on into other professions that involve physical exercises so I think it is important to keep that up."


My second interview was with a 27 year old dancer who trained in Russia. She also worked with 2 different companies in Romania and also a Russian company here in the UK before joining Vienna Festival Ballet this year. Her responses, as you will see, where quite different from my first dancer's.

1) A: "I'm lucky in that I've never been injured, but I feel in the larger companies there is enough support for injured dancers, but not so much in the smaller companies"

2) A: "In my opinion it is much better in Russia than here in the UK. We had lessons on injury prevention and management which were very helpful. We also learnt a lot more on anatomy."

3) A: "No I don't think there is actually. You should be encouraged to find something outside of dance  than you can continue doing after dance e.g teaching or something like that."

4) A: "NO, because i've always done what I've needed in the studio and haven't felt the need to do anything else. Our rest time should be exactly that, rest time."

Finally, my last interview is with a 21 year old dancer, whom after graduating took a year off to have hip surgery and has subsequently returned to dance this year.

1) A: "I think that in terms of physically there is more advice, i'd say, but psychologically not so much.  The impact a physical injury can have on your mental wellbeing is strong so it could do with more attention."

2) A: "I think at the school I went to there was quite a lot of information about preventing injury but then there's not so much in terms of post injury which is equally as important ."

3) A: "no I don't think so,  well at school we didn't get any advice about life after dance. It felt like if you didn't get into a ballet company, then you're a failure. So I think more attention could be paid in that area." 

4) A: "Yes, I think there is importance for strength and stamina. I feel it won't have a negative effect, only positive. As someone with not greta stamina, cardio work would definitely help me." 

As you can see, the answers varied greatly but what I found interesting is the majority of people I asked these questions to, stated that there was a distinct lack of psychological support for injured dancers and that it is something they all believed required improvement. The amount of physical support for injured dancers variety broadly depending on training and circumstances. Larger companies with more funding tend to have a better care programmes for injured dancers as opposed to the smaller, non-funded companies. Another issue that arose when these questions were being discussed, was the lack of dance specific physiotherapists. Many of the treatments dancers receive are basic rehabilitation and physiotherapy for athletes rather than engineered programmes for dancers of a certain level. This, I feel, could have a big effect on the recovery of a dancer as the demands on the body are different and more specific to those of athletes and sportsmen. This got me thinking about a potential line of inquiry, as the body of a dancer interests me and looking into the rehab requirements is perhaps an area I may like to research.

Module 2 - 'Developing lines of Professional inquiry'

Module 2 begins our process into developing our professional inquiry for module 3. In Reader 4 it describes Professional inquiry as "an approach to learning that acknowledges the central role of the individual to the process of learning", which means that in this module we will be making our learning and our practice more personal and relevant to what we find important and of interest. 

Creating an inquiry at this moment in time seems rather daunting , however the tasks help to break it down and create a path towards our end goal. In task 4a, we are asked to create a set of questions surrounding our practice, that we find relevant to our possible line of inquiry. I began my making a spider diagram about my practice, this may not be the most sophisticated tool but i've always found it an excellent way to organise my ideas,  and start thinking of questions as I built on it. I started by making 4 legs (north, east, south and west) with 4 key thoughts I had on life as a ballet dancer, be it currently, previously, or in the future. The points that came to me were:

 

1) Well-being - the health and well-being of dancers is the key to a long career and getting the most out of your body.

2) The Education of dancers - ballet requires many years of training, the education of dancers is very important in my eyes and it is something that is often raised as a concern. 

3) The short manner of the career - As we all know the career of a professional ballerina is very short so looking into the next step of your career is something that needs attention.

4) Supplemental training- Dancers don't just dance to maintain their physical condition but there is a whole load of alternative forms of exercise that they must do whilst working and during their breaks. 

I then expanded on these elements and below is a picture of the completed mind map. 

As you can see this really does fall under the label of mind map as it really is just regurgitated thoughts with little structure! I did, however, begin to link similar points together and intertwine my categories slightly which enabled me to find common ground between areas. I honestly believe the '6 degrees of separation' rule applies to all areas of life and when it comes to the arts, it is almost more the case than any other field. Links can constantly be made and often one issue can lead to another and this is what I found particularly interesting when making this diagram.

When I decided to take the course, I had a clear path in mind as to what my inquiry would be based on. As someone who has always had an interest in science, in particular biology and the human body, it seems only natural for me to take my route in that direction. The human body fascinates me and when looking at it through a dancers eyes, I can appreciate what it can do.  One of the reasons I put a section on the diagram for "career future" is because it is something I have given a lot of thought about in recent years. My body is particularly injury prone, so I am very aware of how short and fragile a dance career can be. With my knowledge and experience of injury and my passion for biology I have always wanted to pursue physiotherapy post dance career. I find there are very few dance specialist physios around and bringing my knowledge of dance to that could be invaluable. This may all seem a little off track, but it means that my ideas around my inquiry should be linked to injury in dancers to incorporate my interests and future plans.

Taking a few steps back, I want to have a look again at my diagram and create some relevant questions to both my practice and my plans for my inquiry.  I thought a good way of doing this would be to come up with a question for each of my 4 sub-topics.

1) Do you feel there is enough support and advice for injured dancers both physically and psychologically? If not, what do you think could be done to improve it? (Well-being)

2) Do you think dancers receive enough education about how to prevent injury and how to keep their bodies in peak physical condition? If not, what more do you think can be done? (Education)

3) Do you think there is enough emphasis on preparing yourself for life outside of dance? If not, what more do you think be provided? (Career future)

4) Do you think it is important to build strength and stamina outside of the studio as well as in training and performance? If so, why? (supplemental training)

I am now going to take these questions to a few colleagues and dance friends and see what their responses are. I will blog about my findings soon! If any of you reading this have any thoughts, I'd love to hear what you have to say.

A new season, a new module!

I'd be lying if I said I wasn't at least mildly apprehensive about the next chapter of my BAPP studies but it's like anything, getting started is the hardest part. I have completely neglected this blog since the end of last term - I know it kind of defeats the object - but routine and structure have a big effect when it comes to my studies. The company season finished at the beginning of June alongside my BAPP work, which meant I had a long restful summer ahead. It was great, after a period of non-stop dancing, to have some time to relax and recuperate but I must admit I'm glad to be back into the swing of things again.
I began my first full season with Vienna Festival Ballet on the 8th of September, excited and eager to get stuck into rehearsals. I am delighted to have been cast in a principal role - although at only 20 I'm hoping I will do it justice. This does, however, leave me feeling somewhat worried about the time restraints of the course along side my largely increased workload, both in rehearsals and on tour. Of course, if there is a will, there is a way so i'm sure it will be possible and my tour bus journeys will be utilised to their fullest to complete my work. I don't know about any of you but having completed module One, I feel slightly more prepared and in the loop heading forward, perhaps it's because I have more understanding of the manner of the course or maybe it is just a confidence that comes from having survived a module already!

THE INTRODUCTORY SKYPE SESSION

On Friday night I joined the 'welcome back' Skype group to discuss the next step and also looking back briefly on what we learnt last term. I live with Maddy who is also on the course so we both joined the Skype together! At first, we discussed the past module we had studied, looking at what we found worked well and also what changes we can take forward with us when continuing our studies. For me, I felt that using my time effectively was key when completing module one, as it is easy to be lulled into a full sense of security and then realise you are miles behind where you should be! We also  talked about effectiveness of working with another course mate. Personally, this was a life saver throughout module 1, as working with Maddy helped me keep on track with where I needed to be and also gave me another perspective on the tasks resulting in a broader understanding of each topic. The next part of the session we discussed the upcoming module and what the end product should be. As I am beginning module 2 we talked about the idea of creating a proposition to present to the university of what we would do in module 3. This is by no means an end result and our ideas should evolve as we begin module 3 but the aim is to have an outline or idea of what our enquiry may entail.

At the end of the Skype chat, we each had to say what we felt we took away from the session. What stuck out to me was the conversation we had around creating group discussions with others on the course who are particularly interested in a similar field to you. With the nature of the degree being so broad and open to interpretation, it is a good idea to narrow your communications to people who are looking into the same areas as you. I find this a great idea and way of working as it helps you to find inspiration from others who are on the same page and share common interests.

This post is rather short but I am glad I have taken the first step towards beginning module 2. I hope you all had a lovely break and lets get cracking!!

Part 3 :The Networked Professional

This part of the module is perhaps the section that I am most familiar with. Networking is something that most professionals will encounter in their careers and I believe that within the Arts, in particular, it is very important for professional development. So, what is Professional networking exactly? I began by doing a mind map of everything I already knew and had thought about networking. This was anything from examples of networking, to words I felt related to it. I began to build upon and expand on the mind map by using Reader 3 to deepen my understanding of what it means to network professionally. Below is a picture of the finished mind map, as you can see many of my thoughts linked with one another and I suppose this echoes the connective nature of 'Professional Networking'. 

According to Reader 3, the literal definition of Professional Networking is "A work related community held together by either close working affiliation or more distant but common work interests or needs" (Reader 3, 2015). Professional Networking is an extremely effective tool for bettering yourself within your field and if used cautiously can aid your career immensely. One of the main words that sprung to mind when thinking about the concept of networking was 'community'. Anyone in the dance industry will know how tight and small the world of dance can be. It very much is a community which makes networking more accessible to dancers. There is a group on Facebook called 'The Hustle!'. This is essentially a large scale network for performers, actors, models, photographers etc, with over 34700 members. As a dancer, in my opinion, this is perhaps one of the most effective and popular methods of networking around today. Auditions, workshops and industry discussions are posted very regularly (several an hour), which allows you to communicate and network with other professionals within your field. I have been contacted by other members regarding work and have also messaged others myself with questions or concerns within the industry. 'The Hustle!' is referred to as a community which again demonstrates this idea of unity and friendship. I feel that within this community there is an element of "You scratch my back and I'll scratch yours" so to speak. By this, I mean a mutual respect. If you help someone they will do their best to help you out in return. This is the beauty of networking - it is a two way street. Using acquaintances or fellows performers to aid your professional development is a fantastic tool to have but you must remember to help in return when you can. 

Issues of Professional Networking:

There were some issues that began to arise in my exploration into Professional Networking. Dance is renown for being a competitive industry and exchanges between dancers can turn sour when the element of competition is brought into the equation. This is something that can actually hinder networking as someone might not want to give away advice, help or information in case it gives another 'the upper hand'. As ridiculous as it might sound, that is not something that cannot be dismissed. A wonderful quote I found in Reader 3 describing professional communities is "A network of support that will help us when we are in need" (Crisp & Turner, 2007, p266). This is how it would be in an ideal world, helping one another when we can, however with the element of competition that might not always be the case. Another interesting point is that of "be nice to everyone on your way up as you never know who you might need on your way down".  With networking within the dance world being so rampant, it is important to remember that you might need the assistance of anyone you encounter at any point. The dance world is very small, everyone knows everyone and word of mouth can spread fast. If you gain a bad reputation with an employer or colleague, this could reach any number of industry professionals and could have a detrimental effect on your future endeavours. If you are pleasant and helpful whenever you can be, then this shouldn't be a problem, however it is easy for a bad reputation to spread and you may need someone in the future who won't be so willing if that reputation has reached them. 

With the idea of a community comes the added issue of hierarchy boundaries. Understandably, one must be cautious when trying to network with an individual that is perhaps high up within their field. Despite everyone starting out at the bottom, professionals that are highly regarded need to be approached with respect and professionalism. Acting over confidently or friendly may put them off and they may not wish to be bothered. Privacy is a right and although once upon a time they would have been in the shoes of the eager new beginner, they may not appreciate pestering. Is there a particular way to approach this issue?

Types of Networking:

• Agents - In my opinion the champions of networking. The job of an agent is literally to network with industry professionals, build rapport and put forward dancers they deem suitable for a role or job. They have to gain the trust of employers and expand their contact list through networking on a daily basis. Reputations are a huge factor in Networking and building rapport with a variety of individuals is a great way to achieve this. 
• Acquaintances - Networking with people you have met on your journey is an excellent way to better your career. Fellow dancers can help one another to find jobs and gain experience - something I have experienced first hand. In fact I got my current contract through a dance friend as she set up for me to take company class and when a dancer went down through injury, she told the director I would be available. All of these things would not be possible without using the contacts you have made along the way.
• Teacher /Student - Remaining in contact with teachers you have had can also be a good way to network. Teachers tend to have a good knowledge of the industry and may also have useful contacts in the profession. likewise a teacher remaining in contact with past pupils can be useful when it comes to sending current students out to company auditions

Connections, be it personal or professional, can be the making of someone's career. Networking is using these connections to aid yourself professionally and it is a powerful tool to have. It has been said that you are never more than three people away from anyone and this shows how connected we are as the human race. Professional Networking can be used within a multitude of settings as long as we remember that like anything there is always an element of give and take. Don't expect to have someone help you if you do not offer it in return, if you remember this, then networking has the ability to aid you to the top!

Part 2: Reflective practice

This part of the module is centred around the idea of using your daily events and thoughts to enhance or improve upon your practice. There is a lot to be learnt from sparing a few moments each evening to reflect on your day and what it meant to you. Interestingly, I have found this the most difficult task to date, despite being someone who reflects on past events naturally. I suppose it's the idea of relating my thoughts and journal notes to my professional practice that has me stumped, or perhaps just the idea of a more structured reflection. As suggested I began a reflective journal a couple of weeks ago. As someone who works largely with lists; shopping lists, packing lists, lists of blogs to write, lists of things to do etc etc my journal began with just bullet points of events and thoughts.

Finding the time to write in my journal was not an issue at all. Which is perhaps something I might have thought would be. With countless, mundane, tour bus journeys, I didn't struggle to get thoughts typed up on my iPad (although, I admit it is a lot easier, motivationally, when I sit next to a fellow BAPP student). I found recapping on the day and writing about it, was somewhat therapeutic and it helped me to have a period of unwinding which is always nice after a busy day. I know this was perhaps a little ignorant of me, but initially I did struggle to find a major benefit of a reflective journal other than its therapeutic effect, nevertheless, I enjoyed it all the same. 

To the left is a screenshot of my first few days in my journal. As you can see, it was very basic and written in note form just highlighting key thoughts, feelings and events as opposed to going into detail. I was beginning to think about what each event meant in relation to my professional practice and the life of a professional dancer. The additional thoughts put after the hyphens show how I believe it relates. For example, On day one I was particularly anxious about doing my warm up class on pointe shoes as I hadn't done much pointe work since breaking my ankle and I wanted to save myself for the rehearsals. I added a comment about self management and adapting to suit your needs, which I feel is very important for professional dancers as you are in charge of your own bodies and know your own capabilities. This deeper thinking into small events is the essence of the reflective practice and encourages you to take lessons from your day and your thoughts rather than letting it pass and moving on without any kind of absorption. 

As I was now just touching on the deeper concept of reflective practice, I decided to do a little bit of research into the benefits and found two wonderful quotes which I believe 'hit the nail on the head', so to speak, of the real reasons for reflective practice. They are as follows:

“Reflection is a basic mental process with either a purpose, an outcome, or both, applied in situations in which material is unstructured or uncertain and where there is no obvious solution.”

This was said by Jennifer A Moon in reflection in learning and professional development : theory & practice. This quote shows the reflecting and writing about every day isn't necessary unless there is a purpose or something to be gained by it. I agree that simply writing down events for the sake of it, perhaps doesn't have the benefit of writing about a particular event with a lesson or meaning. The idea of reflective practice is to learn from past experiences as opposed to just noting them down. I think the section about an uncertain solution is interesting also, as it approaches refection in a direction I hadn't necessarily considered. Writing about situations which confused you or you feel leave unanswered questions is a good way to take more information from the event than you had at the time, thus gaining more knowledge and perspective. 

"Reflective practice is 'a dialogue of thinking and doing through which I become more skilful'" 

This quote comes from The Reflective practitioner: How professionals think in action and it was said by Donald A Schon. Again, this highlights the importance of using your reflective practice as a learning experience and to gain skills that weren't as developed before. I think the use of the word "dialogue" is really interesting and it evokes imagery of your thoughts and actions conversing and almost working in opposition. Your thoughts and actions are very independent from one another and your reflection should show this. They can influence each other, but one doesn't always happen as a result of another. Using reflection for self improvement is also a very interesting point. There is little benefit in writing down events if you don't use them to improve how you may act in the same situation should it arise. 

I am now going to use the table given to us in the handbook to explore alternative methods of reflective practice. I will also use what I have learnt from the above quotations to re-evaluate the purpose of my reflection and direction I shall approach it in for the remainder of the course. I shall write a post shortly about my discoveries and I hope you gained something from the quotes as much as I did!

Time to get cracking - Using 2D images for professional promotion

With a new busy schedule I have found that, with regards to my BAPP work, my structure has gone completely out of the window. My blogs bare no correlation to the suggested order of tasks and despite already being well into my journal writing and other aspects of part 2, there are elements of part 1 which I am yet to write about! I guess I have been working and writing about things that are relevant to me at the time, even if it means skipping ahead slightly and I think it's time to get back on track. I had a little panic the other day, looking at the time limit on module 1 and how far I had to go, so I feel I need to crack down and get some work done. It's funny how time can run away with you and you suddenly find yourself lagging behind. As someone who is not long out of school, I'm used to a strict timetable and structure so this is perhaps one of the things I have found most challenging about the course. Anyway, enough ramble... time to get a move on.

The use of 2D images in the professional world

I briefly touched on this in my latest blog about the use of social media, discussing the use of 'instagram' in my professional practice, however for this I had decided to use a new application that I am unfamiliar with to develop my understanding further. I am the first to admit I am a prolific 'instagram' user! I am not someone who posts several times a day, however, I will scroll through my "newsfeed" often and will upload something myself weekly. As a dancer, I think I like working with visuals and the use of 2D images is no exception. With 'instagram' being my go-to forum for post images on social media, I decided to set up a 'Flickr' account and explore an alternative medium with regards to my professional development as opposed to personal and social also. 

Getting started

I began by downloading the 'Flickr' application onto my iPhone which took a matter of seconds. Getting a new app is always exciting but it is always clear how it all works at first. I set up and account and gave myself a profile photo, which is known as an "avatar" on this particular programme. As I have decided to keep this purely professional, I used my dance headshot as opposed to an ordinary photo of myself or dare I say, a "selfie'! Just this one simple decision completely changed a number of factors in my approach to social media, such as:
1) My market and following
2) The way I will be viewed by others
3) The style of my profile
It just shows how many different ways a programme can be used and simple decisions like your choice of profile photo can determine the direction of your experience. My next step, was to use the search bar to follow other accounts related to my field of interest. I typed in a couple of words which I felt were relevant to myself as a professional.

DANCE, ART, MOVEMENT, MODEL & PERFORMERS were just some of the words I used and I began following accounts that I found captivating or interesting and others that I feel I could utilise in my professional journey. This is a very important part in making the most of social media in a professional manner and it can enable you to connect and communicate with individuals within your area of practice.
My third and final step was to begin uploading images! I started by posting my dance portfolio photos as I feel these are the type of images that would promote myself as a dance in the best light. They say "a picture is worth a thousand words" and in the performance/dance industry that really can be the case. I think the use of 2D images can have a great effect and advantage professionally if used appropriately and it is something that should be used and encourage more widely. The danger comes, when people blur the lines between using social media as a platform for their careers, and using it for social climbing. By all means social media can be used for personal reasons and I myself use it alongside friends and family, however a professional account should remain professional in order to avoid negative views from prospective clients or employers.

Here is a screenshot of my new 'Flickr' page, admittedly there is  a very long way to go but I am happy with the layout of it so far and I am excited to see how it progresses and helps me professionally. Last week, I did a photoshoot for the new IDS (International dance supplies) catalogue. This consisted of two full days modelling a large amount of dance wear and costumes for the new catalogue that is coming out. This is a prime example of using 2D images to in a professional capacity. The images will be used world wide to sell dance wear to dancers and without this the products would fail to sell. Clothing and dance wear is the type of product that MUST be seen before it can be bought, so the use of images in this instance is a vital part of the business. Not only will these images be used in campaigns and catalogues, but they are what the business website consists of. Once I get the a copy of the images, I will no doubt post a few on various social media platforms to help promote the products and this is where 2D imagery on social media is most useful.

I decided to use my personal 'Instagram' account to post a photo of some of my BAPP work. I took a picture of my blog page and posted it on 'instagram' to encourage other dancers to read about my journey and hopefully inspire them to look into and consider the course. Social media can be very powerful in that respect and although this was a task given to me in the module, it can spread the information about the course and I think that it is a great promotional tool.


Generally speaking, I think the use of 2D images can be very helpful in a professional forum, particularly in the dance industry as it is primarily a visual art form. 'Instagram' and 'Flickr' along with other image based social media sights are useful tools for professionals and ones that I feel should be utilised much more.

Social media: It can be professional too?!

Social media is a great tool for both personal and professional communication when used appropriately. I have had several social media accounts for many years and I think they are fantastic for communication on a large scale. Facebook perhaps being the most popular of all sites can be used in many different ways and I have used it for my own enjoyment as well as for business purposes also. Instagram and Twitter are also extremely useful particularly in the development of professional communication worldwide. There are understandably people who are perhaps against the use of social media, however with the progress made daily in technology it may be that those individuals hinder themselves professionally if they continue to resist it.

FACEBOOK

Personally, I have used Facebook in a multitude of manners but it is a very useful tool for professionals to use to promote their business or communicate with their market. As a dancer I follow several companies on Facebook which helps me keep up to date with what productions they are doing and more importantly their upcoming auditions. I have been to many auditions which I have seen advertised or shared on Facebook and for a company it is a great way to spread the news on a global scale. Dancers I know are constantly sharing posts regarding auditions and it is extremely helpful to find the necessary information on company Facebook pages. Where I have been teaching, we have recently decided to create an associate programme for dancers that are not only members of the school, but externally too. We are due to be holding auditions in the summer and our primary source of marketing has been Facebook. We have all been sharing adverts and the Information page to spread the word, which has been very effective and well received. We have an upcoming open workshop which again has been advertised as an event on Facebook. This is where the medium of 2.0 two way communication has been extremely useful. On an event you can state if you are attending which is a great way to keep track of numbers which wouldn't be possible if advertising was done using flyers. It also allows those that are interested to post questions or comments, which again isn't ordinarily an option. Furthermore, due to my recent commitment with Vienna festival ballet we had to change the date of the workshop. This is all only possible because of the use of Web 2.0 and social media. The two way communication allows details to be clarified and the word to be spread further and quicker.

INSTAGRAM

Primarily a visual and image based site, Instagram is another popular programme amongst social media fanatics. It is however becoming increasingly evident in the professional world also. Having an Instagram account as a dancer, has its benefits in more ways than one. Dance is a visual art form so using a medium that is primarily image based is a great way to promote yourself online. The majority of dancers have an Instagram account and it is perfect for uploading dance clips and portfolio shots for employers to view worldwide. I know of dancers who have booked photoshoots and modelling jobs through their Instagram accounts and it is important for companies to use social media to broaden their name internationally. I follow a few professional dancers on Instagram and another thing that seems quite popular is dance wear companies using professionals to promote their products via Instagram. One dancer  I know works with Grisko, taking pictures in their leotards and warmups to encourage other dancers to buy the products. It is an extremely effective advertising technique particularly when well known dancers are used with a very large following. The use of Web 2.0 with social media brings its uses up another level. The ability to communicate online with other professionals and companies is something that more conventional methods don’t allow. Being able to comment on and show interest in the posts of prospective employers is a great tool for professional development.

ISSUES OF SOCIAL MEDIA

Although social media is undeniably a vital tool for professionals currently, it doesn't come without controversy and it’s problems. Having yourself so visable online, worldwide, is very revealing and you have to be wary of the way you present yourselves on the Internet. Companies will often Google applicants before inviting them to interview to get some insight into them as a person and how they conduct themselves online. Facebook profiles will also often be viewed and employers can be put off by how you're presented on social media.
In an article I read by R.Kay Green, who is the CEO of a large marketing organisation, she talks about the topic of present yourself realistically online, versus presenting your ideal persona. She said “ If you're consistent and transparent in your online and offline persona, you have nothing to fear from exposure.” Which I think is an extremely relevant point in today’s society, as lots of people are fixated on competing online to make their life look the most impressive and eventually they're going to get caught out. There is a lot of debate surrounding how you present yourself professionally on a personal social media account and I think as long as you are aware of the fact anyone can view your page then you shouldn't cause too many issues. Another common mistake found on Facebook and Twitter, is posting about a colleague or boss in a negative manner. This is very dangerous as these inappropriate comments can be viewed by said person and can land you in a lot of trouble.

In conclusion, social media is an extremely useful tool for developing your professional career online and promoting yourself positively on a large scale , however, it is very important we remain aware of how people may perceive us by the way we conduct ourselves online. By all means, use the advantages of social media for advertising and PR but don't post anything that may hyperbolise your achievements or could rub someone up the wrong way.

Jobs like London busses

I'm sure we've all had the London bus experience at some point in our lives. Waiting ages for one and three come along at once? Well this has happened to me very recently, only to my good fortune it has been in my professional life. I can be rest assured that I'm not alone in the dance world in hitting the wall where you think you can't keep going to auditions anymore and it's no less of a kick in the stomach each time. I reached that point last week and in an instance it all changed for the better. I'm sure all performers can agree that going to countless auditions and getting knocked back time and time again can be extremely disheartening. Just when I thought I'd reached my limit, I got offered two jobs! Last Friday, I went to an audition for a cruise company in London. Just two hours into the audition myself and one other dancer got called over to the table of the casting director. She offered us a job on the spot and told us she didn't need us to stay for the remainder of the audition. I was elated and suddenly forgot about all the upset I had experienced in previous auditions. It was all worth it in this moment. This made me reflect on the commonly used phrase "If it's meant to be, it will happen" - I'm not someone who believes in "everything happens for a reason" but I do feel that the time was right for me and that particular contract was meant to be.

On Sunday, another common saying sprung to mind after my second lucky break of the week. I went along to watch my friend Maddy (who is also doing the course) in her production of Swan Lake with Vienna festival ballet. Having taken class with the company a few weeks ago (after coming back from injury), I was familiar with the staff and other dancers. In the interval, the ballet mistress and company director took me aside and explained that one of their dancers had got injured and they needed someone to join the tour with immediate effect. They again offered me the job on the spot and asked if I could start with them on Tuesday. I was in a state of surprise and gladly accepted the offer. The saying that sprung to mind is "being in the right place at the right time" this really was one of those scenarios. Who'd have thought that I would go to watch my friend perform and walk away with a contract with a ballet company. It made me reflect on how easy it is for your professional life to completely change in a matter of moments and sometimes it can be over just as quickly as it started. As a dancer you have to constantly be prepared to drop everything at a minutes notice and move to wherever the job may take you! I feel in the dance industry, with talented dancers two a penny, quite a lot of it is being in the right place at the right time. For me, being in the audience as they need another dancer,  it was just that. Equally, I couldn't help feeling sorry for the dancer who's path similarly changed very quickly too but perhaps not for such a positive reason. It made me think about the mortality (for want of a better word) of a dance career and how unpredictable it can be. Dancers have to be prepared at all times for whatever might come their way and I think it makes for very strong people. Luck and good fortune play a big part in the profession as well as other unchangables such as height, shape and colourings.

This situation has caused me to reflect on the brevity of a dancers career and how there is this constant battle between body and time. A dance career doesn't tend to extend much beyond early to mid- thirties as the body can't withstand the strain it's put under on a daily basis. Dancers getting injured at a young age is a taster of what is to come later in their careers. Is it a profession people should view as temporary? As someone who likes to have a clear plan, I have always had ideas about what I would like to do post dance career and I've always been aware that I need to be prepared for it to end early, but is this something everyone should consider and is there enough emphasis on planning for your future  career path? With dancers persuing a career from such an early age, they don't always have to give much thought to alternatives as they have a clear idea of what they want with their lives. Is this native though? I believe more thought needs to be given to this as a dance career is very fragile, one injury could end it permanently! I found online a lady called Alison Golding, who had written her MSc Dance Science final paper on the ending of a dance career entitled " A golden thread: Holding up identity in a professional dancers' career transition". Interestingly, she talks about the idea of loss both during a dance career and after. The thing that I found most relevant was the concept that when a dancer retires a part of them is lost and dance was such a pertinent aspect to their being. I can, to some degree, achknowlege the truth in that as dancers are so passionate about dance that it does indeed become part of their identity, however I can't help feeling that it is unnecessary to feel a sense of loss. There is so much out there that means you can remain involved in dance without physically dancing. Should this replace the loss discussed? - I think it's should. What point is there in dwelling on what was, when you could be looking at what could be or what is now? 

From posts to people - my first BAPP campus session

The campus session at last. I'm aware that due to my recent disaster it has been a while since I attended the session, but I enjoyed the afternoon so much that I simply had to share my experience. Surreal, I think was the word of the day. I don't know about anyone else, but until I attended the campus day and actually met my course mates (and of course Paula), I had a hard time comprehending the reality of the situation. All the communication I'd had up until that point had been words on a screen or an array of voices on a group Skype. It is easy to get lost in the virtual world and forget that the people you are communicating with and reading about are going through this experience with you but in completely different circumstances. Seeing the faces of people whose blogs I had been reading, put everything into perspective and I suddenly felt involved in a whole new way.

(To the left -  Myself, Laura and Maddy in a group discussion)

We began the session by introducing ourselves and playing a few games. Although these games were primarily ice-breakers, they had some really interesting ideas behind them and it was fascinating to see how several people can interpret the same instructions very differently from one another. The first game was given to us in the form of a page split into 20 blank squares. Paula's instruction was to fill all the squares in one minute. We all gave each other blank expressions, puzzled by the ambiguity of the task. Once time was up, we all showed our pages and the diversity around the room was evident. I had chosen to fill my squares with a variety of things, such as symbols, pictures, words and numbers. Some students chose one medium, whilst others made patterns. The open ended manner of the task highlighted the individuality in the room and demonstrates how everyones minds work completely uniquely. Amusingly, it appeared we had all over thought the simple task and Paula had in fact expected us to fill each square with the same thing. Is this something we all tend to do in life? Always looking for the more complex route doesn't always benefit us and in this case it meant we spent more time worrying about whether or not we were doing it right and less time listening to the task's more blatant solution. The second game was to draw the person next to you in three minutes. As someone who is perhaps somewhat artistically challenged, this was not a simple as it sounds. I managed something that vaguely resembled eyes, nose and eyebrows -  a far cry from a portrait you may say. Again, the variety in people's approach was extraordinary. Some chose to go for a full body in less detail and others concentrated on getting the face right. This sparked a question in my head regarding what we deem the most important part of an individual, particularly one we have just met. I began with the eyes, and largely speaking, the eyes are what I notice first about someone. Those who began with the full form, perhaps that is what they look at first? An interesting exploration can be made from simply drawing the person next to us. 

The third and final game was the most exploratory in my opinion. This task was to create a concept drawing. A concept drawing is a compilation of shapes and lines portraying a theme or idea. The rules stated you could not draw a picture of an object but purely use lines and shapes to display our ideas. This task definitely showed the difference in the way our minds work and think, as many of us did the same or similar idea but there was no similarities between our end products at all. Below I have done a new concept drawing to depict the theme of "Love". Perhaps the most generic and overused theme, however I have chose to base mine on my love and relationship with dance. I have no significant beginning or end, as with dancing I can't pin point an exact start. I have also used a mixture of soft swirling lines and harsh jagged lines to show how things aren't always plane sailing.

As you can see I am not the most artistic person, but the concept remains the same and I think it is an excellent was to express thoughts in your head creatively. 

The learning part of the session brought the idea of an "Appreciative inquiry". Paula explained that an appreciative inquiry is something most organisations use to help expand and improve their working environment. It generally takes form in the 4 following stages:

Discovery - What has been done well? Discussion of what is good, usually taken from a questionnaire sent throughout an organisation.
Dream - What might be? Exploration into what people would like from the organisation, thinking big and creating a dream working environment.
Design - What should be? Creating opportunities to make the dream scenario happen. Making choices about what areas could be improved upon.
Destiny - What will be? This is where action plans are made to make the plans come into place. Usually creating a middle ground between the dream and the current state.

The inquiry is aimed to create a positive reflection on an organisation, as opposed to focussing on the negatives and what is wrong. In small groups we created our own appreciative inquiry on the BAPP course using the four stages we had learnt about. In my group, we discussed the pros of a distance learning degree and how it allows time for other work and professions. We all came up with some ideas about how the course could be improved, taken from our experiences so far. Below is a copy of what we discussed.

As you can see, our main areas of discussion were the location of the campus sessions - as some students have to travel a lot further than others, and the possibility of making the module information and calendars more individual as some of us got a little confused. Our solution for the campus sessions, was to make links with other organisations in order to make arrangements to use their space. We also discussed the possibility of having group sessions set up purely for the students in different areas to make it possible for more people to attend. We also came to the conclusion that it might be a good idea to have individual module sessions to help clarify what needs to be done and when. I think the appreciative inquiry is a really useful method for evaluating and improving an organisation and I definitely think it is something I will consider in the future. The session was very useful and I am looking forward to attending the next.

Technology. Can't live with it, can't live without it!

This post is essentially an elaborate rant. At this very moment in time, I despise technology! A little extreme, you may think, but my frustration is certainly justified. Last week, I returned home from the BAPP campus session, feeling enthusiastic and inspired. I opened up my Macbook and began writing a blog all about the session. If you know me, then you know I'm not often stuck for words and writing about the day was no exception. An hour later, I had finished writing a long post about my day on campus and what I had learnt from my tutor and fellow course mates. I re-created some of the tasks we did, I explored the appreciative inquiry in more depth and spent a lot of time on this particular blog. Where's the catch? That comes into the equation when you take a moment to think, that instead of hand written, this work relies on the use of the internet and a computer. Normally, my posts are written, completed and uploaded with no real issues at all. This was not one of those occasions. My wifi at home can be temperamental at times, but all seemed well as I saved my post on completion. I left my laptop to have some dinner and when I returned, my draft no longer existed. "How is this possible?" I said with utter despair, I had even clicked the 'save' button several times to protect myself from this very situation. The internet in this instance had clearly worked against me and despite saving the draft, it had been lost in the gaping hole of the web. The feelings of anguish and frustration were rife and I just couldn't fathom the idea that my hard work could vanish in an instant. My point is, that as wonderful as technology can be, I just can't help distrusting it. Our world relies on the use of modern technology in almost everything, from flying a plane to an operating theatre in a hospital. How can we rely so heavily on something that we can't be 100% sure will work every time? I know I'm talking about the extremely unlikely and you could argue that everything in life carries a risk and a sense of unreliability, but with technology, we can't always be sure it will do exactly what we want.

                                                   

I have had many experiences of technology working against me, but it seems to strike a nerve every time. Maybe it's because it is usually paired with inconvenience, or maybe it is something deeper. I think the advances made in technology in such a small space of time are remarkable. From the moment we wake up, to going to bed at night, we rely on the technological advances of the 21st century to pass our day. This is certainly a good thing, but what happens when it goes wrong? I suppose you could say I'm somewhat skeptical, but I find it hard to comprehend that these devices and systems can be entrusted, in some situations, with our lives. The moment we step foot on a plane, for example, we have to have full confidence in the technology that keeps the plane in the air. We at times struggle to trust the people close to us, yet we fully trust a piece of machinery that can break or shut down at anytime. I think that the direction technology is taking us in is exciting and innovative, but at what point do we start relying too heavily on it and forget to use our own ability? Can technology take over even the most simple of task and make us redundant? All I know is, that when it comes to my posts, from now on I shall err on the side of caution and be aware of the unpredictable nature of the internet.

Professional communication - where is it going?

Change and development in technology is fundamental -  I am the first to back it up when it's being criticised - but sometimes the old-fashioned way is the best way and I believe that more often than not, when communicating professionally, that is the case. As someone growing up in the most significant period for the introduction of technology, I appreciate the importance of the internet and how much of an effect it's had on the world today, but I can also acknowledge the more traditional means of communication. Traditional communication methods are cherished for a reason and perhaps they were successful for so many years, because they are the most reliable. This is something that I wanted to explore further and look into the pros and cons of modern communication via the internet.



     The Telephone was of central importance in communication since it was invented by Alexander Graham Bell in 1876. It converts sounds, such as the human voice, into electric signals which can be transmitted via cables over great distances. Prior to the invention of the telephone, communicating with those at a great distance, was far from instant, relying on letters being sent by horse which could take weeks and in some cases even months. This innovative creation changed the way people communicated forever and was the primary source of conversation right up to about 5-10 years ago. The picture above is a very primitive example of a phone and as expected it has progressed a lot since its invention, but the concept remains pretty much unchanged. When you start introducing the mobile phone, then things become far more contemporary, but the telephone is found in most homes and businesses worldwide even today.

The internet is a mind-blowing phenomenon and has completely altered not only how we communicate, but how we live our lives today. Modern life is centred around the existence of the web and believe it or not it controls many of the decisions we make on a daily basis. Emailing has become rife in our society and it is a key form of communicating both professionally and for our own socialising. With the introduction of emails, came a whole new ability to communicate with anyone, anywhere in the world instantaneously and that is why it is so popular today. But are we becoming obsessed with having to have an answer immediately and is this effecting the way we expect things to happen in life outside of the internet? food for thought.

Pros and Cons

The benefits of the internet and online communication are undeniable, however I do feel that the more traditional methods are overlooked and can actually have huge perks. When trying to get in touch with a potential employer to secure an interview, sending an email might not always be the best way about it. For employers that receive hundreds of emails a day, it is quite easy for an email to get lost or forgotten about and that is something traditional communication has over the internet. If you pick up the phone and speak to someone, you are much more likely to get a response and gain the respect of an employer. Showing the determination to pick up the phone and the confidence to ring is a very attractive trait in an employee and it something I think will work in your favour. Not only that, but phone calls give you the ability to show your personality to whom you are contacting and enables you to make them warm to you as an individual.
The english language is constantly evolving but the recent addition of abbreviations and "text language" has had an effect of the way we converse with people over the internet. In my opinion this can be a bit of an issue as it becomes a habit and is engrained in online communication. Sending a quick message or email to a friend using abbreviations is not a problem at all, in fact it's very convenient. The issue arises when this becomes such a habit that this language creeps into our formal emails when communicating professionally. The use of abbreviations can appear lazy, rude and to some employers may show a lack of education and understanding of formality. This is a con to online professional communication and is something that needs to be addressed. I also feel that language can be misinterpreted in a digital format. A sentence that would otherwise sound completely ordinary may come across blunt or surly in an email or text message which you should be wary of when conversing online. Body language, tone of voice and intonation has a vast impact of the way speech is interpreted and this is missing from communication online. Sarcasm, for example, is something that will not translate well unless heard directly. Intonation is a key aspect of speech. One sentence can completely change its meaning depending on which word you place emphasis and accent on. Take the following sentence as an example : "I didn't say we should kill him!" by changing the emphasis you can utterly change the context of the sentence. Below I have re-written the sentence several times. Each time I have highlighted a different word in colour. Read the sentences and put accentuation on the coloured word and see how the context changes.

"I didn't say we should kill him"

"I didn't say we should kill him"

"I didn't say we should kill him"

"I didn't say we should kill him"

"I didn't say we should kill him"

"I didn't say we should kill him"

"I didn't say we should kill him"

When communicating online it is vital that you are aware that your language can be misinterpreted and that is perhaps why I feel it is often better to communicate via the phone or face-to-face. There are so many aspects to language and this does not always translate well into emails, therefore when trying to impress a potential employer or colleague you must be wary of the way it might be received.

To sum this all up, I certainly cannot ignore the great advances made by technology and I can't deny its usefulness in society, however I do feel that professional communication online needs to be approached with caution and although it is a lot quicker, easier and less daunting to send an email, it often pays off to take the time and do it on the phone, old-fashioned way!

Thanks for reading :-)

       

     

BAPP Task 1 - edited CV

CV attempt number 2:  Nora gave me some great food for thought regarding, primarily, the layout of my CV. I think she made some excellent points so I've given it a good old makeover to make it more readable and accessible to employers. I'm sure there still a lot of room for improvement, but for now I think it looks much better and I agree that it needed a bit of a sort out!
I started by moving my personal profile to the bottom as more of a conclusion rather than an introduction. This way, an employer can have clearly my work and performance experience in front of them for ease and speed. The personal profile can be more of a final sell at the end rather than unnecessary waffle at the beginning this way. I then edited the layout of my performance experience, to make it more clear what I have done and who with rather than it all being mixed up in a chunk of writing.
I hope this is looking better and please feel free to give any more advice! So here it is...

BAPP Task 1 : Professional Profile - CV

A professional profile can come in many different forms. For this particular task, however, I am taking a look at the art of CV writing and how it is an important tool for any professional.  A survey showed that on average an employer takes about 10-15 seconds to decide whether to reject or shortlist an applicant due to the quality of their CV. That is an extremely short amount of time to create a good first impression, so writing a CV is not a task to be taken lightly. At some point in their life, everyone will have to write a CV, but how many of us give it the thought it deserves? I wrote my first CV in my graduate year at Elmhurst and since then I haven't altered it much, just adding to it when necessary. Is this the thorough attention a good CV needs? My guess, is it is far from adequate!

Having read the blogs of my fellow BAPP students, I accumulated a list of questions regarding CV content and here are a couple of them:

 Is it necessary to write academic achievements and qualifications on a CV aimed at dance related jobs? - this seemed to be a question raised by several of my course mates and in my personal opinion I think they should be included. Although many of the jobs of that nature will be based on artistic talent, I still believe that a wise and intelligent dancer would be more desirable and I think it is important to show you are a rounded and academic individual. As someone who takes pride in their academic achievements, I believe it is important to show off all of your skills, however going into detail about each individual exam and grade isn't necessary - a summary is more than sufficient. Any other thoughts?

What should be included in the biography/ introduction of a CV? - Again, this is something that is often queried as I don't think there is a black and white answer. This is more down to personal opinion and in my view keeping it concise and clear of too much "waffle" is key. Highlighting personal attributes and skills is an important part of 'selling yourself' to an employer but you don't want to go overboard! Thoughts?

Right, let's get to it! I have three different CVs.. now I know that sounds a bit excessive but I have one that is aimed at ballet vacancies, one for Jazz and other dance styles and finally on for other types of employment such as retail, bar work etc. Below is a copy of my ballet CV from school, with some notes written in red, which I have made since reading those of my course mates:

Grace Elizabeth Hume 

                                                                                                                             18 --------- Avenue, Maidstone, Kent, ---------                                               grace.hume@yahoo.co.uk07*********

   

 Date of Birth: DD/MM/1996                                                      Height: 162cm
Nationality: British                                                                       Weight:  --kg

 Personal Profile:

  I have had a passion for dancing ever since I started at the age of three years old. I was a junior Associate with The Royal Ballet School, for three years before beginning vocational training at Elmhurst School for Dance in Association with The Birmingham Royal Ballet, at the age of 11. During my training, I have studied a variety of dance styles alongside the strong ballet technique such as; jazz, tap, flamenco, contemporary and national dance.  I am now working as a freelance dancer and teacher in and around London. ( mention personal attributes e.g punctuality, versatility and artistry?) I have been taught and coached by the likes of Marion Tait, Errol Pickford and Desmond Kelly. 

Education:

                                                                                                                                                            2007- 2015   Elmhurst School for Dance                                                                                                         (add currently studying BA hons in Professional Practice)                                                          National Diploma in Professional Dance                                                                                                      (add Benesh notation qualification from school)                                                                                                A levels – English Literature & Maths                                                                                                  RAD Advanced 2 – Distinction                                                                                                  Cecchetti Advanced 1 – Distinction                                                                                                          9 GCSE’s at grade A* - B (individual grades?)

Performance experience:

2015    Dancer in Lovella Ellis’ music video “I’m loving you baby”
            Dancer cirque bijou “Umbrella Project” in Oxford castle  
            Swanhilda in Coppelia (Wright) Elmhurst 10 year anniversary Rep theatre Birmingham 
            Six couples in Les Rendezvous (Ashton) Birmingham Royal Ballet tour
    Four little girls Elite Syncopations (MacMillan) Birmingham Royal Ballet tour

2014    Birds of the forest Beauty and The Beast (Bintley) Birmingham Royal Ballet tour (Sadlers Wells, Plymouth, Salford, Sunderland and Birmingham Hippodrome)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       Waltz girl, Façade (Ashton) Birmingham Royal Ballet North tour (Durham, Buxton, and Shrewsbury) and the International Dance Festival (Birmingham)

            Ribbon pas de deux la Fille mal Gardée (Ashton) Birmingham Royal Ballet North tour.
            Guest Soloist Raymonda Act 3 couples Japan International Youth Ballet (Micheal Ho) and    Giselle Pas de six (Petipa)
            Flamenco dance performed at Move it and the Linbury theatre at The Royal Opera House.
2013    Principal in Scene de Ballet performed in the Elmhurst theatre (Micheal Ho)                                         
    Cygnet in Sir Peter Wright’s Swan Lake at the Ruddock Hall 
2012     Filmed for the new RAD Advanced 1 syllabus for the DVD (Lynn Wallis)
     Pas de Trois, Swan Lake (Wright) Finals Elmhurst Solo competition
2010     Dancer Royal Academy of Dance intermediate new syllabus piloting (Lynn Wallis) 
2009     Dancer in Mozartiana (Balanchine) Birmingham Royal Ballet Birmingham Hippodrome
2008     Dancer in Romany Wood (Kit Holder BRB soloist) opening Theatre Severn, guest of honour
HRH Earl of Wessex
2007     Philippa of Hainault Edward II (Bintley) BRB Birmingham Hippodrome, Plymouth Theatre Royal, Sunderland Empire, Sadler’s Wells Theatre.

Work Experience:

2015- present                                                                                                                                                        Private Ballet coach in Kent                                                                                                                          Ballet teacher at Prima stage school, Maidstone                                                                                       Freelance teacher and Choreographer for Dance Centre UK                                                                     2015 - 2016  Fashion assistant Laura Ashley, Maidstone 

Choreography:

2011 – Choreographed a ballet piece for 18 girls which won the audience’s choice award at the Elmhurst School for Dance choreographic competition. It was later selected to be performed in the Elmhurst Summer Show.

Competitions:

2013  Awarded Runner Up for the Fewster Cecchetti Scholarship in London judged by Dame Monica Mason and David Bintley.
2014 I won a scholarship to represent the UK at the Cecchetti International Classical Ballet Competition in Richmond, Virginia where I was awarded a scholarship to a summer intensive in Portland, Oregon. 

So there you have it, my CV! I am going to make some alterations to it, particularly adding in my notes in red. Please comment tips and advice as I'm certainly no CV writing expert.

 Enjoy!