Should you master one style of dance or be skilled in all?

This question is one I ask myself all the time. I have trained in all styles of dance, ranging from ballet to hip-hop however I am not an expert at one. I now find myself having to attend lots of different classes to keep excelling in all areas of dance which can be stressful. My CV looks very impressive and I am able to offer a wide range of dance styles so I am versatile; however I am never going to have the main part in Swan Lake! You have a greater chance of being in employment if you are an all-rounded performer as there are more opportunities available, so for me I believe this is the best option. For some performers they are amazing talented at one style so they are successful anyway.

I have experienced that on a performance basis I find it very easy to adapt my mood and expressions as I have practised vast amounts of different chorography and styles. This again enhances my probability of employment and also makes me a better dancer.

Fortune favors the bold. “If you do what you’ve always done, you’ll get what you’ve always gotten.” (Tony Robbins) Do it, do it, freals, because a versatile dancer is a good dancer."

http://themaykazine.com/2009/04/22/a-versatile-dancer-is-a-good-dancer/

Is Criticism to powerful in the performing industry?

The performing industry is a very harsh, critical business and I believe you need a strong character to achieve recognition.  With reality TV shows (X factor, Dancing on Ice and Strictly Come Dancing) being a big part of the performing industry we experience and watch the contestants being criticized in an extremely insensitive manner on a weekly basis and this sometimes causes public outcry.

At college I constantly received corrections and sometimes not in a polite approach, however I believe this has make me stronger contender for the industry. Everybody is different, some people find criticism to be very embarrassing and it can cause a major knock to there confidence, where as others find it constructive and useful to guide them in the right direction.  Performing Arts colleges are well-known to be highly critical not only on talent but also on appearance. On stage you have the audience to impress and some people want flawlessness; you are constantly open to criticism as a performer. I do feel people who retaliate and get upset easily with criticism shouldn’t choose dance as a career as you are constantly being scrutinized and observed. Do dancers try to achieve the best simply because of the intense pressure?

I read an article which I found to be very relevant-

A ballerina who overcame anorexia doesn’t need or want an apology from the New York Times critic who made a crack about her weight in a review of “The Nutcracker,” saying the comment hurt initially but is just part of being a professional in a field that demands perfection from those who work in it.

“As a dancer, I do put myself out there to be criticized, and my body is part of my art form,” Jenifer Ringer, 37, told TODAY’s Ann Curry during an interview Monday. “At the same time, I am not overweight.”
“It is his opinion. He is a critic, and he’s paid to put his opinion in the paper. I know as a dancer that I am going to be criticized,” Ringer said.


“It is a field where our bodies are important. As dancers, we are taught to try to be perfect in every way.”

Putting my questions to the test

Should dancers still continue to train whist in work?

I believe to maintain employment in the performing industry you have to work hard, stay focused and never become complacent. You have to sustain an appropriate build, good physical stamina, and good health as the competition can be very tough. If you are in employment I believe classes are very beneficial, especially in weaker areas, for me personally I would attend singing lessons as I need to improve here. I spent some time researching and talking to friends in the business, about their opinions in this inquiry. I was very surprised by one person’s reaction as he believes that when you are in employment you should enjoy it, socialise and basically take it as a performing period and not a learning one. I however feel differently as I believe there is always knowledge to be learnt, inspiration to be given and things to be created.  Whenever I am in a production for a period of time my body almost gets use to the new movements due to working the same muscle groups. This can be dangerous as when you attempt a different type of movement injuries can occur, as your body doesn’t recognise the strain. I understand classes are expensive and it almost feels like the learning process is never ending, however the performing industry is forever developing, changing trends and performers are always trying improving. Practice and dedication is foremost in my mind and this so far has enabled me to remain in employment.

I find quotes to be very inspirational and the following two quotes are very encouraging-

The most essential thing in dance discipline is devotion, the steadfast and willing devotion to the labour that makes the class work not a gymnastic hour and a half, or at the lowest level, a daily drudgery, but a devotion that allows the classroom discipline to become moments of dancing too... *Merce Cunningham*

Practice is a means of inviting the perfection desired. *Martha Graham*

 http://www.angelfire.com/oh2/chezsarah/bquotes.html

Developing Lines of Professional Inquiry

Throughout my career I have constantly been faced with challenges, each of which posed questions and dilemmas.  This is a fantastic opportunity for me to explore and confront the dramas, big and small, that have been niggling away at me for all these years.

I really enjoyed the last task on professional inquiry 2d as I gained fresh ideas and a new outlook as a performer, so the prospect of looking in more depth and raising my engagment further on this topic truly excites me.

To get my mind working I have brainstormed all obvious questions that have confronted me in my professional working life, and within minutes I was on my second piece of paper. The pace I was working at was very speedy and being able to identify lines of inquiry has clarified my vision. Seeking out new information has widened my knowledge base.

Below are the questions thrown up by my initial brainstorming session: