2d-Life is a dance,from one stage to the next

I have been spoilt for chose to find a line of inquiry as there are so many questions I want to figure out. The performing world really is a mixture of confusion and mystification and this task will help me learn about a question that has always frustrated me. I was in London this weekend with friend who isn’t a performer and he asked about another friend of mine. I casually told him “oh she is really good, she is leafleting today” he looked at me with bewilderment in his face and asked “why”.  Then I was confused and said “she is working” so then we were both frowning in silence trying to grasp if we were on the same page. Then it made sense, why would she be leafleting on the streets in the cold when she is a dancer?

The reason why I have chosen this as my line of inquiry is because this is an area that makes me frustrated and I want to look at other ways a performer can stay in work and feel happy and passionate about there profession. After leaving Italia Conti I went straight into my first amazing contract onboard the Oriana for 10 months however when I got back I felt miserable and generally lost. At college they teach you how to audition, how to perform but do they teach you how to cope with the reality of being unemployed? My answer is not really. When I was at college I was kept in a blissful bubble however valuable information could have taken me into the real world. Rejection, lack of finance and disappointment of not gaining employment has caused a lot of performers in the industry to give up their dream. I do find it funny when people ask me “so what do you do as a career” and I answer “I am a dancer” and they always look at me in admiration which is lovely but do they appreciate how hard our line of work is? Properly not, but then why should they? My favourite line is “are you on TV yet?” it makes me laugh (a little nervy) every time.

The passion I have when I am performing allows me to cope with the distress of looking for work but I do wish there was something we were able to fall back on. When I am in work I am constantly thinking about what my next job is going to be, will it pay the rent, how long will I be unemployed? It is an unstructured way of living; you are always not knowing what and where you will be. Don’t get me wrong it is stimulating and exciting, but I hate not having money and to have money you have to be working. I believe dancers are among the most passionate and dedicated of artists and we rarely take our work for granted.

So I have decided to research and find ways to enjoy getting work, and finding new hobbies!

Work for yourself- Start your own business- it’s the best thing I ever done!

Sell something, make something, do something!

Travel the world!

Exercise- You need to be fit to dance!

Teaching- Teaching is such good money and you are inspiring others!

Do a course- Maybe a BAPP course would be handy for your profession

Do some social networking

Promotional work

Find an agent- seeking out representation

Go to the theatre- get inspired and motivated

“If dancing were any easier it would be called football”

“Quitters never win and winners never quit”