As performers we are constantly insecure, looking for reassurance in job confirmation, personal feedback, and even in likeness form our peers. You can feel as if no one could possibly comprehend, yet in reality when you glance around an audition room, often bursting at the seems with hopeful auditionee's, you realise that there is a whole world of understanding.
As a young dancer my idol was Darcey Bussell, not only for her magical performances she turned out show after show, but for the encouraging words I once read within her Biography "Life in Dance", I rediscovered these on my recent quest in research:
'It's very easy to become selfish and narrow-minded and see ballet as the only thing in life, but there's lots more.'
'You have to be able to cut off from the ballet and relax, or you have anxiety dreams at night, worrying about what you're going to dance the next day, going over every little detail.'
Those are just a couple detailing the importance of being able to separate the two, however I would thoroughly recommend the book, the cover photo is enough to capture you alone:
Following this I began to delve further back into my own trials and triumphs within dance, and uncovered some of my own choreography between the ages of 16 and 17, before I entered full time training. It absolutely astounded me how much I'd improved, but also (despite a lack of technique) how thought provoking and 'story telling' my choreography was even at that immature age. The links to the videos below were taken from a Gym and Dance competition, held at my local comprehensive school, Parkstone Grammar:
Slaves 2007:
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=59476645665&set=vb.508410665&type=2&theater
Tribal 2008:
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=55528220665&set=vb.508410665&type=2&theater
The irony in being able to re-discover these I found could be traced back to my new found knowledge, and quickly becoming a great support mechanism to me, in Web 2.0 platforms. The more I am able to establish myself and my career, the more I am finding a need to use them, not only to move forward but to look back, criticise, improve and renew.
Sounds like you have been doing some really reflective work as you approach the tasks. That is so useful for finding a clear focus to move forward - you have to acknowledge where you have been to understand the pattern of the journey, and this is what Module One is all about.
ReplyDeleteAdesola
I really enjoyed this post. I remember when I was young and the performing world was my everything. Now I love to learn about great performers like Darcey Bassell that say that there is more to life than getting a job. This is an important realisation in a career in the arts I think. I had to bring it back to why I originally chose to do it, because I enjoyed it... Your reflection will be of great use to you when you come to start working on part 2 i think.
ReplyDeleteHi, I hope I have successfully added your blog. It was good to meet you on campous yesterday. The session on "structured improvisation" has really made me begin to think about my current approach to teaching dance. I am so organised and possibly over plan my lessons. I will endeavour to experiment more with improvisation within my classes and see where this 'Risk' now leads me. Once you are more comfortable with teaching I challenge you to 'tell' your students about structured improvisation. You may be pleasantly suprised by their response and positive contribution to the choreography?
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