Category: Uncategorised

Caroline Miller OBE

Posted on by Ceri Brierley

Our sincere thoughts and support go out to Caroline’s family, friends and colleagues.

Through her role at BRB, one of DCD’s Partner Companies, we had the privilege of working closely with Caroline – a leader with the most incredible amounts of passion, vision and joy. Throughout our team we fondly remember the impact she made both at BRB and across the dance sector through her previous roles.

Charles Glanville, Chair of Dancers’ Career Development, said: “Dancers’ Career Development and Birmingham Royal Ballet are close partners, working together to support BRB’s dancers. We are so sorry to hear that our good friend at BRB, Caroline Miller OBE, has passed away.  Caroline was such a live wire, as well as incredibly good at her job. She will very much be missed.”

Vanessa Lefrancois, Executive Director of DCD said “I first met Caroline when she led Dance UK. I was struck immediately by her incredible energy and passion for dance, which radiated from her and was a driving force behind her multiple accomplishments. Her vision, boldness and tenacity in her role at BRB introduced ballet to new audiences from Glastonbury Festival to Black Sabbath fans. Caroline was a great advocate for the sector, dancers and DCD. We are deeply saddened by Caroline’s passing; dance has lost a true friend, champion and trailblazer – she will be missed by all at DCD.” 

To read more about Caroline’s incredible legacy, and to offer condolences, head to BRB’s website: https://www.brb.org.uk/stories/caroline-miller

Save the Date!

Posted on by Ceri Brierley

50th Anniversary Inspiration Day

Monday 11 November 2024

Rich Mix, London

This one-day event will examine current and future topics around career development for dancers via a mix of guest speakers, panel discussions, inspirational stories, networking opportunities and a market-place of industry experts – with some added pop-up creativity to fuel our conversations.

The day will be relevant to both dancers (at any career stage) and anyone who supports the career development of dancers, including Producers, Artistic Directors and Educators. It will provide connections with DCD and our current grant-giving and support programmes.

As DCD comes to the end of its 50th year, during which time it has awarded training grants to over 2,500 dancers, this day will enable us to continue supporting the career development of dancers today and into the future, in the most appropriate ways possible. We will look back, sharing the learnings and wisdom of dancers we’ve supported to date, address the here and now of challenges and opportunities currently facing dancers, and discover what new support may be required to future-proof our incredible community.

Please join us to consider, progress and celebrate the boundless potential of our dance community.

Full programme and timings to be announced.

For updates, please follow DCD on social media or sign up to receive our enewsletter.

The Inspiration Day forms part of DCD’s 50th Anniversary programme and follows Inspiration Events held recently in Leeds, Swindon and Birmingham, in partnership with Yorkshire Dance, Swindon Dance, The Jam Festival and Sampad. This Event is supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England.

DCD at The Jam Festival, Swindon, April 2024

Posted on by Ceri Brierley

The evening event includes an awesome line-up of artists performing, speaking and sharing films and stories. Artists confirmed to date include Bellatrix, Jamaal O’Driscoll, Niquelle LaTouche and Max Revell aka Silk Boogie, with Luke Lentes facilitating a panel discussion. 

The Jam Festival takes place annually at Swindon Dance. An incredible, international celebration of underground dance, the festival comprises a packed week of workshops with top-tier street dancers, battles and other events. 2024 Programme highlights include New Kidz On The Block, Let There Be Lite and West Country Clash. The festival takes place 2-6 April. 

DCD’s Inspiration evening, on Tuesday 2 April (the opening evening of the festival), is open to both festival attendees and any dancer wishing to find out more about DCD, learn from and network with fellow artists. 

Alongside inspiring performances, a panel of speakers will discuss their careers in dance, hip-hop and beyond, and how they’ve forged their own unique paths. The evening will also be an opportunity for dancers to learn more about DCD, our grants for dancers, other forms of support and to talk informally with members of staff. 

In partnership with The Jam Festival and Swindon Dance, the Inspiration Evening forms part of DCD’s 50th Anniversary programme. It will be a relaxed social event and is free for dancers to attend. 

 We look forward to releasing further details very soon! Keep an eye on our socials and website, or sign up to our enewsletter for updates.  

When: Tuesday 2 April, 7-10pm 

Where: Swindon Dance 

Booking: Via Swindon Dance.

Cost: Individual event is free to attend. If attending the full festival, charges apply, see Swindon Dance website for further details. 

DCD’s Inspiration Evening is delivered in partnership with The Jam Festival and Swindon Dance and supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England. 

Mental health awareness week

Posted on by Nat Cowx

Everyone has Mental Health, which changes along a spectrum from mental ill health to mental wellbeing. This changes during the course of a year, a month, a day or I know for me even in minutes sometimes. All kinds of factors impact our Mental Health; some we have more control over than others. We understand the circumstances that dancers live and work. There is no doubt that mental wellbeing is vital for dancers to lead fulfilled careers and lives. The enormous impact of the pandemic that continues to be felt by our community makes it essential now more than ever.  

DCD are champions of empowering dancers to make active choices in shaping your lives to able to show up as your best selves. This takes daily practice, something I myself am practicing and some days go better than others. The DCD team have kindly shared with us some of the ways that they take care of their mental wellbeing day to day.  So if nothing else, I hope you can take 2 minutes today to bring some awareness to how you take care of your mental wellbeing.   

  1. Rest & Sleep! We were all very inspired this week by Brene Brown’s announcement to take a sabbatical, prioritising the call for rest, over the call to work. Of course extended time off comes with privilege, but what small gifts of rest can you prioritise for yourself when you need it?  
  2. Cooking and eating a favourite or new healthy meal 
  3. Reading a novel or listening to a Podcast episode
  4. Practicing Mindfulness or Meditation 
  5. Journaling or writing a list of 3 things I’m grateful for if that’s all I have time to do
  6. Talking to someone friend/colleague/family without any solutions. Just being listened to.
  7. Exercising, either getting outside or doing something fun with friends 
  8. Do any of the above outside! Being with nature and fresh air is food for the soul.
  9. Take a moment to check in & notice, am I prioritising my own needs? What do I need? Quieten the noise of expectations. Then make any adjustments to my mind-set, or adjust my plans in order to give myself what I need. Coaching helps me do this too. Click here to find out about DCD free coaching service
  10. Asking for help. Communicate how you are feeling with someone you trust or feel safe with, communicate what you need to someone. 
  11. Give yourself permission, to take your time, not be productive, not to have the answer, to be and accept yourself where you are at. 
  12.  Self-Care – take a bath with bubbles and candles and music, paint your nails, do a face mask. Take care of those feet! Have a massage. 
  13. Spend time with people you love. Hug someone. Cuddles with your pet!
  14.  Take up a hobby/learn something new. Try something that you aren’t good at (this is more fun with other people). Give yourself permission to have fun with all the pressure off! 
  15. Looking at photos/reminiscing of happy memories or listening to music that makes me feel good
  16. Seek Medical and Professional Support

If you are experiencing mental ill health symptoms (find out more here) that are persistent and prolonged (more than 2 weeks) you can seek professional and medical support by contacting your GP. DCD staff are not therapists but there’s some incredible organisations out there with those skill sets and we’ve listed some of them for you below. 

Free therapy for current and retired dancers: 

https://www.bapam.org.uk/counselling-dance-professionals-bapam-and-dance-professionals-fund/ 

Mental Health Charities: 

https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/  

https://www.mind.org.uk/  

https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/  

https://sidebyside.mind.org.uk/  

https://www.samaritans.org/  

https://mhfaengland.org/  

https://hubofhope.co.uk/  

Support for Black, African, Asian, Caribbean Heritage Communities: 

https://www.blackmindsmatteruk.com/  

https://www.theempowermentgroup.co.uk/  

https://www.baatn.org.uk/  

Support for LGBTQ+ Community: 

https://www.stonewall.org.uk/wellbeing  

https://www.pinktherapy.com/  

https://www.beaumontsociety.org.uk/transgender-counselling.html  

https://www.transunite.co.uk/  

An interactive check in guide for people who struggle with self-care, executive dysfunction, and/or have trouble reading internal signals:  

https://philome.la/jace_harr/you-feel-like-shit-an-interactive-self-care-guide/play/index.html  

Lucy Glover
DCD Support and Programmes Manager: Inclusion and Impact Lead and Mental Health First Aider.

 

What to expect at a skills for living virtual workshop

Posted on by Nat Cowx

We’ve had lots of questions recently on what is involved in an online workshop, so this post aims to demystify and break down any barriers you may have about what to expect.

 

What is an ACT3 Skills for Living workshop?

DCD’s unique Skills for Living online workshop, in partnership with and developed by ACT3 Psychology, are designed to provide you, as a professional dancer with psychological skills to help you navigate the challenges of your career. The online sessions are fun and creative and will focus on teaching you how to use a full range of ACT techniques, that can be applied to a range of life challenges.

 

How long is the session?

The workshop is 1.5 hours long.

 

What do I need to have at hand?

Mainly an internet connection and to be in a space where you can engage. Somewhere quiet and comfortable without distraction. You can also bring along paper and a pen. But don’t worry, we will send the slides to you afterwards to keep.

 

Who runs the workshop?

These particular workshops are led by former Royal Ballet Principal dancer Jaimie Tapper and Ross McIntosh, Organisational Psychologists and experts in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).

 

Are these workshop for me?

These sessions are open to ALL current and former professional dancers who have worked in the UK regardless of genre, age and location.

 

How much does it cost?

These sessions are FREE to all UK Dance professionals.

 

How do I join the workshop?

All you need to do is register here for the session you would like to attend and we will send you the link to join. All sessions will take place via Zoom. For any access needs please contact dancers@thedcd.org.uk, we will be happy to support you.

 

What happens in the workshop?

Jaimie and Ross will demonstrate how to use the ACT model to build psychological flexibility, creativity and resilience. The session is a mixture of group discussion / sharing, listening and personal reflection. We aim to bring the concepts we are discussing to life using imagery, personal stories, metaphor and research evidence.

 

Do I have to talk?

Participation is encouraged but not mandatory. If you have any questions or concerns during the session but don’t want to talk, you can always send a message via Chat or alternatively as a private DM to Ross or Jaimie if you would like to remain anonymous.

 

Do I have to turn on my camera?

Cameras on is encouraged in order to get the most out of the workshop. It’s always lovely to see faces and we do feel it’s more engaging to be able to connect visually. You do not have to have it on if this is a barrier for you to engage, we understand individuals have different access needs, and we are all experiencing online fatigue. If you have your camera off please use Zoom’s chat function and Reaction buttons to engage.

 

Is anything expected of me?

Just turning up is a great step. We never pressure anyone to contribute but value the insights participants bring and help bring the topics to life. Workshop participants are invited to take part in ways that work for them, by joining the discussions, commenting and posing questions for us in the chat and just by listening and taking in the information. Whatever you feel comfortable with.

 

Is the workshop available publicly?

No, the session is totally confidential.

 

Am I allowed to attend more than one session?

Yes! You can register for as many sessions as you like throughout your career. You can also register for our other workshops like EVOLVE, alongside our ACT3 Skills for Living sessions.

 

How often are the workshop?

Online sessions have been run monthly. Friday 25th March 2022 is our final session in this series. We are planning on running both online and in-person sessions in the near future. Keep checking back to our calendar page on the DCD website or sign up to our newsletter, as we will be updating the ACT3 Skills for Living events page soon.

 

What happens after the workshop?

After the session you will be sent the slides from the workshop. We always provide further resources for anyone who would like to delve more deeply into the topics we discuss. We have also recently introduced follow up sessions where you will be invited to join us for a shorter session to recap and delve more deeply into how the skills and techniques you have learned are helping you and any challenges you’ve encountered putting them into practice.

 

Will you be doing in-person workshops? 

The online workshop have been really successful so we will continue to run these sessions virtually ongoing. Sign up to our newsletter to keep up to date with up-coming ACT3 Skills for Living virtual workshops and in-person workshops when they are announced.

 

I’m still unsure whether this is for me . . . 

Here’s some feedback from our previous attendees about their experiences. . .

‘The session provided a safe and communal space that allowed you to ask questions or shares doubts without fear of judgement.’ DCD Supported Dancer

‘The “matrix” we learnt was super helpful, having a structure to work with is a great tool to keep referring to.’ Skills for Living participant

‘The tools and insight given in the workshop were very useful and helpful in these times.’ Former DCD Partner Company dancer

You can also contact us at dancers@thedcd.org.uk where we can assist you and answer any questions you may still have.

 

We would love to hear from you

If you have topics in mind for the next series or any feedback on how to improve these sessions for you, we would really love to hear from you dancers@thedcd.org.uk

 

Would you like to attend our next ACT3 Skills for Living workshop?

Book now for our last ACT3 Skills for Living workshop of the series ‘Being your best self (a bit more often)’ on Friday 25th March 1:30pm-3:00pm. Find out more here and book your place by clicking this link here.

 

We also run exclusive ACT3 workshops for our DCD Partner Company dancers. To find out more speak to lucy@thedcd.org.uk.

Guest blog – Crystal Nicholls

Posted on by Nat Cowx

Taking the Blinders Off

When theatres closed in March last year, I had six weeks left of my contract with Disney’s The Lion King.

I had been in the show for six years and had finally decided to move on. I already had another gig lined up and was about to start rehearsals. The truth is, I was exhausted, and welcomed what I thought would be a two-week break.

It soon became clear to all of us that this would go on much longer than we anticipated. As the lockdown went on, and the dates for my gig were pushed back further and further, I became nervous, anxious and scared. I was scared that my gig would be cancelled. I was scared of blowing through my savings and not making any money. And I was scared of losing my identity.

For most of my life, I identified as a dancer. Who was I now that I wasn’t taking class or on stage, or doing auditions? What was my identity now? The uncertainty was the most frustrating part–I felt like I was in limbo.

One day I was listening to my favourite podcast–The Model Health Show–and the host spoke about the need for nutrition and health coaches. He said that now more than ever, people needed leaders who could transform their lives and show them how to sustain their bodies through the pandemic and beyond.

The thing is, I always loved nutritional science. I listened to this podcast religiously, and I was always reading up on the latest research, sharing what I learned with family and friends. I just never knew or thought it was possible to have a career in it.

Like most dancers, I had blinders on. I couldn’t see beyond my dancer identity, and with the hectic west end schedule of eight shows a week and one day off, I never had the time or energy to develop any of my interests past a general curiosity.

But now I had time. And energy. So I did something about it. I did lots of research into nutrition coaching and enrolled in the Institute of Transformational Nutrition. What I loved most about their program is the fact that they described nutrition as anything that feeds you–physically, mentally and spiritually. These three pillars make up the foundation of heath, and without one, the foundation cannot be strong.

This stood out for me because as a dancer, I was always so focused on my physical health, and completely neglected my mental and spiritual health. I spent years beating myself up and speaking to myself unkindly. I never felt like I was good enough–even when I was performing in the biggest West End show. I didn’t see the value of balance, of mindset, or self-care, because I didn’t think those things mattered. But I realise that if I had known then what I know now, my journey would have been much more joyful and fulfilling.

In January of this year, I finished my course and graduated as a fully certified Transformational Nutrition Coach. My mission is to teach other artists how to achieve a balance in their lives, so they can achieve their career goals without losing themselves. It has been deeply fulfilling work to coach other artists one on one and give them the tools, support and encouragement I only wish I had received sooner.

I want to tell other artists that it is ok to take your blinders off and explore your other interests, talents and passions. No one in this world is passionate about just one thing. We are artists, yes, but we are human beings first, and it will do us a world of good to remember that.

 

Click here to book your place for the EVOLVE Digital workshop this Thursday 5 August, 10:30 – 2pm and hear first-hand from Crystal: ‘How to get out of your own way, manage negative thoughts, and step into courage’ 

Free, online workshop guiding dancers through managing energy and enhancing wellbeing at this time.

 

Crystal Nicholls Coaching

Credit:
Credit: Mark Mcgee.

 

An invitation to be

Posted on by Nat Cowx

DCD’s Executive Director – Jennifer Curry – invites dancers to approach January gently.

At the start of a new year, many of us look to set new resolutions. What will we do differently in 2021? These tend to focus on what didn’t happen or go well in the previous year.  

This year, I am focusing on intention. Intentions allow compassion, for ourselves and for others. Intentions are not fixed, but can flex depending on where we are at that time. Intentions allow us to focus on moment by moment, day by day. 

I am reminded of the quote by author Cheryl Strayed:

“You don’t have to move fast or far. You can go just an inch.

You can mark your progress breath by breath” 

Breath by breath.  

When we think about career development and future goals, we don’t have to have it all figured out straight away. We can pause, listen in and set small intentions that might help us move forward. Just an inch.  

One conversation, one connection, one opportunity to hear from a new voice, can be a gentle start.  

No pressure to ‘know’ or ‘do’ just an invitation to ‘be’.  

This is all we invite you to do through  DCD’s one to one conversations, personal and career coaching and EVOLVE and ACT3 workshops – all free of charge, online and open to all dancers in the UK. Click here for more: 

https://thedcd.org.uk/calendar/

Breath by breath.