At the moment, I am at a transitioning point of my career. Having performed for a couple of years and then attended auditions for while and been unsuccessful, I have decided to aim to fulfil my dream of teaching dance within further education. This is because when I first went to college I wanted to be a primary school teacher, and dance was just a hobby. Being surrounded by amazing teachers and other passionate students, their passion wore off on me and by the end of my first year I had decided to dedicate my life to dance and wanted to perform. This is why I would like to teach in further education - if I could bring out that passion and spark from just one student it would make me what I consider to be a successful teacher. This is what makes me enthusiastic. I have been volunteering in both further education establishments and also primary schools at the other end of the spectrum. I have found I want to get to know each student, whether that be young or old, and find out about their hobbies and interests, how they learn best using different learning styles, and also what they see in their future. Each student is so different and responds totally differently to another, and I find it interesting that we have so many different personalities, all in one room, learning the same thing in the same way. I admire my A level dance teacher, who I recently connected with again and has allowed me to volunteer in college. When I was a student I thought she was a fabulous teacher and still now, 8 years later, she has the same passion and drive to do a good job as a teacher and give the students the best knowledge she possibly can.
What gets you angry or makes you sad? Who do you admire who shares your feelings or has found a way to work around the sadness or anger?
I tend not to get angry or sad within my practice anymore. Whilst auditioning and performing within this industry I found it quite a tough time and I found it hard to deal with the constant knock backs. I would find myself getting frustrated when getting down to the last round of auditions and then just never hearing anything. Or I would get frustrated when I saw a line of girls 300 long queueing outside pineapple for the chance to dance 2 counts of 8 in front of the panel for them to say 'no thanks'. I was spending so much money on travel to and from London and not getting any work in return, which was intensely frustrating and a hard time of my life. That is why I felt it was my turn to give back to this industry - to make this industry work for me in another way. I can still be a part of it and use my passion for performing to inspire others, some that have maybe already made the decision to pursue a career in professional dance, some that maybe have not but may feel inspired to do so. I admire my friends, for growing a thick enough skin to deal with the rejection they face every day, but continuing to put themselves in that vulnerable position for the slight chance of getting that one job. They are so dedicated to going to class everyday, networking at the weekends, and working long night shifts just to pay the rent. I am proud of them and so pleased that they are becoming successful, and conquering this industry in their own special way, just like I am on my journey.
What do you love about what you do? Who do you admire who also seems to love this or is an example of what you love?
I love what I do because its my passion. I love to perform and when I get the adrenaline rush that I get when you hear the audience clapping and appreciating the work you have done, the feeling that I get is indescribable. I want to share this with others. I want to show others how amazing this industry can be, I want to share with them that feeling that you get where you feel on top of the world. I admire all my teachers that were around me whilst I went through college. They made me strong and made me who I am. They gave me the passion and tools I needed to successfully perform for a couple of years and that is why I will always be grateful to them for sharing their love for dance with me.
What do you feel you don't understand? Who do you admire who does seem to understand it or who has found a way of making not understanding it interesting or beautiful, or has asked the same questions as you?
I don't understand why 'the arts' (dance, drama and singing) aren't part of the national curriculum from a young age. I know there is a counter argument and kids only have a certain amount of time at school so it is essential they prioritise and learn how to read and write, but I think the arts are nowadays as essential as any other skill. We actually discussed this point recently in a discussion group and there were a lot of questions raised that made me think. Dance and drama isn't just a subject but also a method of learning for example you can learn maths by doing movement. Or learn English plays by performing them. I also want to look into the curriculums in other countries that may or may not include the arts. I also want to explore the option of schools that offer performing arts full time from the age of 12. I think being a performer gives you so many life skills that are transferable into other industries and make you a better, well-rounded part of society. One of my favourite quotes is that when Winston Churchill was asked to cut arts funding in favour of the war effort, he simply replied, "then what are we fighting for?" I love this quote as I think it shows how integral the arts are in everyday life, and I love being a part of such an incredible industry.
How do you decide the appropriate ethical response in a given situation? To what extent are disciplinary responses different to that you might expect more generally in society?
Ethics is a very big subject to talk about within the dance career. As far as I am aware, we are the only industry where it is deemed okay to only ask for people with blonde hair, and to discriminate against anyone that doesn't have blonde hair. I understand the integral part of this industry and we have to fill the roles that everyone knows and loves with people that are deemed appropriate, its just crazy to think that if an electricity company put out a job role post asking for only people with blonde hair that it wouldn't be frowned upon. There are also other things to consider when working in this industry. I know from working on a cruise ship, you spend a lot of time chatting and getting to know the guests, and sometimes people feel they can become your friend. I have had people send me packages with cakes in and expensive presents, write me cards and leave notes at reception for me. But where do you draw the line with this? You have to remain professional at all times. When someone wants a picture with you, you must always make sure you hand can be seen if you put your arm around them, by placing it on their shoulder as if it is hidden behind the back on the photo there can be any sort of discrepancies. Some would argue that even by putting your arm around someone for a picture this could be pushing the boundaries of physical contact, especially if maybe you are in a slightly revealing costume. It is something to be very careful of in this industry and one I think teachers are the most vulnerable to. Many teaching styles of dance can be very 'hands on' and this is something all of us need to bear in mind that it may make some people feel uncomfortable. What it all boils down to is that everyone will deem different actions either appropriate or inappropriate. Ethics are subjective and this is where a grey area can be created. I think to protect yourself, it is always better to be safe, and make sure that you never cross the line of what is deemed appropriate.
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