Task 2d Inquiry

What in your daily practice gets you really enthusiastic to find out more about? Who do you admire who also works with what makes you enthusiastic?
Back when I was training and just after I graduated, nothing motivated me more than a good, sweaty jazz class. One class in particular that I used to love doing at Pineapple was Linda's jazz class. Each time I went was a completely different style dependent on the music. I always left wanting to download that style of music and would spend hours youtubing either that particular style of dance, or even the music and others interpretation of the style of music. I would love going to an audition and be able to relate the style I had maybe practised in her class, and head in there feeling confident and thorough in knowledge of the style.
Jazz and Tap were definatly what I would define as my enthusaism for dance, I could always keep up with a ballet class but I would never class myself as a ballerina. Tap is a style I have always been passionate about, and always wanting to push myself further, gaining higher qualifications throughout college, and upon graduating, taking part in tap workshops and constantly aiming to improve.


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?
There are a few things that make me angry and upset about the world of showbiz. One major one being 'fisrt impressions'. and by that I dont mean in the same sense I would for a 'normal' job interview where you have to be polite and bubbly and really show your personality in the first few minutes. The point I'm trying to make is that in audition situation's you can be completely written off in the panel's mind before you have even twitched your first move or sang the first word of your song. It makes me sad that if someone does not fit the typical mold of the role they are going for, they wouldn't even be considered. One audition in particular that stands out for me, was for a cruise ship company. The first thing we all had to do was a double pirouette to both sides, starting and finishing in the position of your choice. They went along the line, one at a time. I remember there was a strikingly beautiful blonde leggy girl next to me, who I think only managed a single pirouette on both sides,and stumbled out of both. When it got to my turn, I remember surprising myself at how well I executed both of my turns (even to the left!!) and finished them on balance with a big smile on my face. I guess you can see where my point is heading- that was as far as my audition got, however the beautiful girl next to me got through to the next round of the audition. I feel we have to have a very thick skin in this industry. Of course in that particular situation, the company could have only been on the look out for blondes to replace a similar person, as it is in most auditions. I'm not oblivious to the world I chose to train in, and the needs of directors and choreographers, I just don't always like it! I have now stopped auditioning and try to focus on my teaching instead, and the first interview I went for felt so surreal to have to worry more about what I was going to say, rather than what I would wear or how to do my hair!
I really admire celebrities such as Beyonce and Jennifer Lopez who have always proclaimed to never fit 'society's mold' and be happy in their own skin, and lets face it, become hugely successful! I remember watching a documentary on on Jennifer Lopez throughout her dance training, it was pointed out to her a lot that she was much curvier than the other dancers on her course and she said"You know what, I love my butt, I think it looks great and I will use it to my advantage" and she certainly did! I think its definitely important for dancers to be fit and healthy, which I always tried my best to be, but what I also learnt over the couple years of auditioning, was what type of audition I was best suited to. I quickly realised that Cruise ships were not for me. Which when I look back on things, I regret not trying to make more of a go of, as I think the actual dance style would have been a massive strength of mine.

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?
What I used to love about performing was just that-performing. Theres nothing like it! I remember being 13 years old and doing my first amateur dramatic performance, the high I felt afterwards was a feeling I will never forget. Every single performance I did, I would feel that high afterwards, and couldn't wait to do the next show. Again, to mention Beyonce i watched this video on youtube of her interview after her Glastonbury performance. Its definately an overwhelming feeling that can be described by any performer, no matter their level!
The other side of what I now do and what I love about it is just simply working with children. I especially appreciated my time volunteering at a special needs nursery, working with them in their general day and also interacting with them through dance and movement. Seeing how differently each child reacted to the different style of music, brought things to my attention that I would never have noticed before, had I not been teaching this particular class, the expression 'you never stop learning' is so true, and I love that it is just a continuous circle throughout life!

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 to you?
At the minute, I am struggling to understand how my 5 years of professional training will secure a future for myself. I suppose it helps that I have an idea of how I would like to build a career,and I am taking the necessary steps to keep moving forward with it. Since moving back home and deciding to take a different path to performing, I have avoided using the term 'dance teacher' and alternatively opted for a gymnastics coach with a heavy dance background. I feel much more comfortable describing myself as a gym coach, than a professional dancer- I still do not understand why. I can only presume that it stems back to my lack of self confidence and worrying about people's judgements (1st impressions and all!).
I have a great friend of mine called Nicola. We have known each other since we were maybe 12 years old. We went to the same local dance school and have stayed great friends ever since. We went in different directions with our career paths but I seem to now be struggling behind trying to catch up to where she is, and she has done everything in her power to give me great advice, offer her help and knowledge and generally be a great friend to have around. Nicola did 2 years professional training at SLP, then decided the competitiveness of auditions was not where she wanted to be, so she then transferred on to a university course, which led on to a PGCE course which she passed with flying colour's. After gaining her NQT (newly qualified teacher) she then went to New York to study The Martha Graham technique. Since returning, she is now a heavily sought after freelance dance teacher, as well as securing a job as a dance teacher at a prestigious high school. She has always known how she wanted to turn her training into a career and build that security around her. I truly admire her for gaining her understanding early on, and pursuing it to where she is today.