Author: Nat Cowx

Life in lockdown – A unique view from dancer Mariana Rodrigues

Posted on by Nat Cowx

Mariana Rodrigues is a Coryphée with DCD Partner Company Northern Ballet and a DCD REACH Ambassador:

 

“To all the dancers out there, I feel you.

We miss our daily routine, the high of performing, standing next to your mates at the barre, the freedom of moving through space without hitting the furniture…but we are doing our part by staying home. Being aware of the impact of this pandemic in people’s lives, I understand the bigger picture and take the time to connect to the world through a different lens. I stay at home and feel grateful for all the people out there working day and night to keep us safe. I feel for others that are sick and for their families. It is hard not to worry or be overcome with sadness sometimes. But I am grateful for the human capacity to adapt, and smile as I look through my feed and see our art form still alive and expressing itself in the form of online content, taking creative forms it never had before.

My personal journey is a little different since a month prior to lockdown I was still off injured with a metatarsal fracture. So in some way I already had gone through the sadness of not dancing and performing, but also of not being able to walk everywhere I wanted, because of being on crutches. The thing is, it’s not easy, and some days are going to be hard.

But as I started opening up to the experience I learned some really important things:

Take the stressful and not so nice aspects of our jobs away, and an opportunity comes to be reminded of the beautiful things in it. Since I have started exercising and doing barre again, I appreciate it so much more. I have realised that the main reason I enjoy dancing is because it makes me feel connected to my body, my whole being and also something greater than myself. So when my brain starts judging how much stiffer my arabesque looks, I shift my focus to how good it is to feel my whole body moving again.

I am also appreciating the gift of time. Time to discover who I am outside of dance and time to connect with other interests and passions. Being a creative person I struggled initially when I forced things to happen and decisions to be made. I must use this time to do a course! I must know exactly what my next career will be! I saw a pattern in the thoughts inside my head and remembered something I had learned in a coaching session. I was caught up in all the “musts” and was leaving the “wants” behind. With that in mind, I shifted my focus and started researching courses and careers without pressure. Even if it hasn’t lead anywhere concrete so far, I am now seeking new things without the extra pressure of having to make decisions right away and learning to be OK with not being sure of what I want to do yet.

Having had coaching sessions has helped me immensely and I really recommend them if you are choosing to navigate this territory, and feel like you need a bit of support. Every time I have come out of a session I have felt so much more connected with my passions and with who I am. I have also left equipped with resources and a clear action plan to support my goals. I am still working on what we discussed in my previous session, but once I am done, I will definitely be booking myself another one.

Lastly, I wanted to finish by saying that, if you are like me, you might just be feeling like you are not helping and contributing enough. Teaching a class, calling friends of family, checking on your neighbours, posting creative content for people to watch at home…all of those things bring positivity into people’s lives and we shouldn’t underestimate their effect.

So let’s keep giving, let’s keep moving, let’s keep connecting with ourselves and others and let’s keep learning.

A big virtual hug to you all.”

To find out how DCD can help support you, including Personal and Career Coaching which we are offering for free to all UK professional dancers over April May and June, click here.

Celebrating Richard Alston Dance Company

Posted on by Nat Cowx

Dancers’ Career Development (DCD) last night celebrated a sublime and very emotional evening of dance at Richard Alston Dance Company’s farewell programme at Sadler’s Wells.

We are honoured to mark Richard Alston Dance Company’s final season, celebrating 26 years of shaping contemporary dance in the UK.

DCD and Richard Alston Dance Company have partnered together for over 26 years, supporting their incredible dancers to explore their potential on and off the stage throughout and beyond their performance careers.

Speaking about DCD’s Personal and Career Coaching Programme, former Richard Alston Dance Company dancer Ino Riga said:

“I feel that I got to know myself better and trust myself and choices more. It has given me a lift emotionally, a sense of hope. The realization of owning your life and choices and that you need to keep trying, taking action towards making things happen for you.”

Richard Alston Dance Company’s artists have been able to transition into their next chapter into a diverse range of retraining and careers in psychotherapy, web design, film making and media and cultural management, as well as fields such as yoga, pilates, teaching and choreography.

We wish all those in the company the very best and look forward to continuing our important work supporting all professional dancers in the UK.

To find out more and to support our work or if you’re a dancer wishing to access our support, please get in touch at dancers@thedcd.org.uk.

 

Photo credit: Richard Alston Dance Company

Creating Space in 2020

Posted on by Nat Cowx

There are many positives to creating space.

Creating space in our lives can allow us to think freely and energise us for whatever is to come. It can empower us to notice new things or to come back to our intentions – settling into ourselves and noticing our own voice. Creating space for you gives you time to reflect on where you are on your journey and perhaps your next steps.

Generating this time for ourselves can be difficult. It may seem unimportant and automatically fall to the bottom of the list as you respond to the needs of others. But creating space for you can lead to powerful moments.

All of DCD’s programmes offer the opportunity to create space for you in some way.

Through our one to one conversations or Coaching sessions you are allowing yourself time for you.

EVOLVE workshops also offer the opportunity to invest in yourself and perhaps find out something new.

As we start the beginning of a new year and a new decade, DCD invites you to create some space for yourself and connect with us through one of our national programmes, so that you may move forward positively, whatever that looks like for you.

Discover something new about yourself and click here to sign up for EVOLVE Edinburgh – 22 March 2020

Explore the positive changes you may want to make in your life or career – click here to register for Coaching.

A conversation with DCD can help you find clarity about your next step – click here to register for a confidential one to one conversation.

Embracing the unknown

Posted on by Nat Cowx

DCD’s EVOLVE workshops are about inspiration and finding out what resources you already have and how you can use them.

We recently had the privilege to hear first hand from DCD supported dancer Adam Ellis, now Head of Education and Customer Experience for Jo Loves, the worldwide renowned fragrance brand, created and owned by Jo Malone CBE, and DCD supported dancer and Patron, Zenaida Yanowsky, former Principal with The Royal Ballet. Both shared their personal experiences of transitioning beyond a performance career at our last EVOLVE workshop, held at the Royal Opera House in London in November.

Here are just a few fascinating insights…

Adam – “I had 13 mostly glorious years of performing in Musical Theatre. Even at the height of my career, I felt there were other things I wanted to do and I had more in me. I talked to DCD and decided to take a foundation course in medicine. I thrived in the learning environment, even though I’d never focused on academics before. It had opened up my mind to all the amazing things that we as performers can do. We have an incredible set of transferable skills. I decided not to pursue medicine, and listened to my heart and I continued performing. I had a panto contract but decided not to do it, I was burnt out. I got a temp job at Jo Loves for the Christmas season. I worked the shop floor and had lots of fun and was surprised by how much I enjoyed it. After 2 weeks I met Jo Malone. She offered me an assistant manager job, which I took. I was still auditioning, it has been a long process. Within 6 months I became events manager and then they created the role of Global Head of Education and Customer Experience. I could never have imagined in a million years that I would have ended up working for a perfume brand, something so different to the world of theatre. I’m the happiest I’ve ever been. I have a very strong work ethic which comes from being a performer, and I’m still ambitious. But I’m happy with my lot, I’m content. Your life will change, but you take the skills with you. Embrace that.”

 

 

Zenaida – “I spent 23 years at the Royal Ballet, and the time went so fast. I experienced so many wonderful and also tough creative moments. I decided to leave the company but continue with dance projects until I was ready to stop. I felt very confused about my decision and my identity. When I retired from performing, I was ready to stop. I spent a year asking myself why I wanted to retire, and what I would miss the most. I was lucky to have my husband’s support to take time out. I mattered in the dance world – but would I matter in the world outside? It took a while for the anxieties to dissipate and feel content with my choices. I still don’t know what I want to do when I grow up, but I feel calm and excited for the future and all its possibilities.”

When did you last step out of your comfort zone, and what did you learn about yourself?

Sign up to our next EVOLVE workshop in Edinburgh on 22 March 2020 and find out…

thedcd.org.uk/evolve

#DCDEVOLVE

 

Photos taken by DCD supported dancer and photographer Amber Hunt

Planting the seed

Posted on by Nat Cowx

DCD’s support for dancers begins from the earliest stages of vocational training, throughout their performance career and through retirement.

Research shows that early preparation for career transition can help avoid the challenges some dancers face when they retire from professional performance and even lead to a more fulfilling and successful post-performance career.

DCD’s Schools and Conservatoires programme, kindly supported by the Linbury Trust, works with students in their final 3 years of professional dance training. The first programme of its kind in the UK, this unique programme is a hugely important part of our work supporting dancers.

“I learnt how versatile and adaptable performers actually are”. “[The workshop] opened my mind to what else I could do”.

Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance student workshop participants

This past year DCD has delivered workshops at The Royal Ballet School, Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance and Elmhurst Ballet School and we have an ongoing relationship with Rambert School, English National Ballet School and The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.

The programme continues to expand its reach as we are working with schools from across the dance sector, from ballet to contemporary and Musical Theatre, across the UK.

As a result of the programme, professional dancers who originally came into contact with DCD through the Schools and Conservatories workshops are now taking part in DCD support programmes from early in their professional careers, better equipping them to deal with the transition beyond a performance career.

To find out more or to join the Schools and Conservatoires Programme go to: https://thedcd.org.uk/why-work-with-dcd/dcd-schools-and-conservatoires-programme/

EVOLVE your skills set

Posted on by Nat Cowx

This Autumn DCD are excited to be introducing a brand new feature to our EVOLVE workshops, practical sessions on how to identify your strengths and transferable skills.

A common term, a transferable skill is an ability or skill you have developed in one part of your career or life, that could be used in another part, whether that’s skills developed from parenting experience for example, or working as a performance artist.

A professional dance career results in hugely valuable skills, that can at times be taken for granted by dance artists.

Skills such as resilience, self-discipline, self-motivation and commitment are critical to success in any field of work, whether you are moving on from a performance career to work for an employer or to run your own business.

Most careers will need the attributes of hard work, willingness to learn and take feedback, an artistic eye or creativity, the art of collaboration etc.

These are skills dancers inherently possess. Where you might feel there are gaps in your skills set for a particular future career path, there are a myriad of ways you could potentially develop these while you’re still dancing – from volunteering on a team, to offering to coordinate a project to develop the skill of collaborating or project managing, for example.

So what are YOUR transferable skills? At DCD’s EVOLVE workshop, we will take you through exercises to help you identify these for yourself, practically enabling you to highlight these skills on a CV or in job interviews in the future.

Register now! thedcd.org.uk/evolve

Dance Mama Live!

Posted on by Nat Cowx

As DCD works with hundreds of dancers each year, it has not been hard to spot that there is a correlation between the point in life when dancers are transitioning and when they are becoming parents.

Parenthood is a huge transition in itself and can present financial, logistical and practical challenges for professional dancers to continue working in the same way. It can be a strong factor in a dancer’s decision to change their working life.

DCD was delighted to recently have been a part of the very first ‘Dance Mama Live!’ event at Sadler’s Wells, hosted by Lucy McCrudden.

This free event was an opportunity for parents in dance to come together (and bring their children along with them) to share experiences, challenges and solutions to maintaining a career in dance alongside parenthood.

DCD are a part of the support available to dancers who are parents or may become parents in the future.

Firstly, to help ensure that dancers can continue performing for as long as it is right for them, regardless of their circumstances. Secondly to ensure that those transitioning within or outside the dance sector have knowledge and access to the best possible conditions for balancing their work and home-life priorities. These factors can allow dancers to reach their true potential in their performance career and beyond.

We are proud to work alongside Dance Mama and Parents in Performing Arts to contribute to this important conversation.

You can read Dance Mama’s blog about the day here: https://www.dancemama.org/post/dance-mama-live