Task 1D: 2d images

The use of images and visuals on today's social media platforms is proving very important. We have gone from telling people about our lives or businesses, to showing them. As human beings we react quicker and more emotionally to what we can see - resulting in a larger impact.

Blogs ~ Micro blogs ~ Multi media micro blogs

Websites/blogs ~ Twitter/Facebook ~ Instagram/Pinterest/YouTube 

100-1000 words ~ 10-100 words ~ No words needed

'The Arts' is a very visual industry. We go to watch a performance, we spend ages looking in the mirror at our alignment, we paint our faces with makeup, we select colourful costumes and analyse/research our craft through video footage. As dancers we have head shots and body shots which are hugely important to our career. Sometimes jobs can be offered on these alone. In other cases, it is from our photos that casting directors and employers decide if you are suitable for a post or request you to attend an audition. 

"A picture tells a thousand words."

"I'll believe it when I see it!"

As consumers we respond better to visuals. We are more likely to buy a product if we can see it. There has been a massive shift to visual social media and visual marketing over the years. We are in the era of the 'selfie'. People are forever taking pictures. We do need to consider ethics and copyright when using images that aren't our own and consumption regarding personal use of these platforms. I think people can become so obsessed with taking photos that they don't always see things through their own eyes anymore. 

LIVE for the moment...before a Kodak moment 

Check out my Instagram page below. I use this for both personal and professional use! I have just uploaded a collage (created on app: Layout) displaying some of the shows I've proudly been involved in during my professional career.

https://www.instagram.com/megan.louch/

Task 1C: Audio Visual

25/2/2016

This is me.....

Working in theatre, I am not used to seeing myself on camera in such a close up and personal way. As performers we are comfortable prancing around in front of a screen, putting on a character or pulling silly faces for 'selfies', but to sit and talk normally as ourselves proves much more difficult and can feel rather exposing. It was strange for me anyway! I must have recorded this clip - bearing in mind it's less than a minute long - approximately 10 times! Haha.

I already had a YouTube channel for showreel purposes but I do hope it's a technology I can use more of as I develop my skills as a practitioner.

Check out my little introduction to the course:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ZXRV1HerR5I

Task 1a) Continued.....

Profiles can include a general overview of your experience, your passions, your skills and of you as an individual. CV's however are directed more to a particular profession and this can be rather difficult for a self employed practitioner in the arts, particularly if you work in various different roles within the industry. I personally have 3 CV's that I use on a regular basis and alter slightly depending on the job description. I have a: performance cv (as seen previously), teaching cv and a mortal cv. Now this doesn't mean you can't cross information. For example, on my mortal CV I would of course mention the teaching that I have done as it suggests good leadership skills, communication skills, planning, organisation and various other qualities. I would be more selective in this area so that I can include the retail experience I've had, the bar job I worked through college and several other bits. Having 1 cv alone would prove extremely difficult and require much more time to make alterations. Having 3 that are tailored certainly helps the process when applying for work. Depending on the job, it may even be that I'd send more than 1 for their perusal, particularly as my experience increases lengthening my CV's. Please see examples of my teaching CV and mortal CV below:

TEACHING CV

MORTAL CV

     

 
I think both of the CV's above have room for improvement. After looking at my peers' blogs I can see that it would be extremely useful to mention the responsibilities included in some of the roles I have fulfilled and to talk about specific skills that they may require or which I have learned during the job. I have decided to think about an opening/closing statement to give a brief profile of myself, this in order to express some personality within my CV. If you can, I think it is really important to try and give employers a sense of the person behind what they are reading; and doing so is a very clever move. What sets you apart from the others? The fact that you are you of course! If 10 people have the same qualifications, 5 of them might have the experience, 3 have taken care in the presentation and aesthetics let's say, but there's only 1 of you. Think about your manner and although you want it to sound professional, keep it real to you and how you would speak. Try and steer away from generic terms and stilted sentences. Show that you are communicative and interesting.


Often, if you are writing to agents or applying to particular job posts, it is good to have a covering letter that briefly outlines what you are actually applying for and what you are enclosing within your email or envelope. This will be the first thing the viewer sees so it should be clear, aesthetically pleasing and to the point. Please see an example of mine below:

As I've mentioned previously, there are lots of other things that we as dancers can use in order to enhance our application in addition to the CV. If you have an apple device then there are some great apps that you can use to give yourself the basic tools in creating a showreel and voice reel. I have found iMovie to be very useful as you can input videos, songs and photos at ease in order to create a whole reel. There are basic editing tools which you can apply to fade in/out, add text etc. As someone who I consider to have had average skills up to now in technology, I can assure you it's extremely accessible and straightforward. It allows you to whip something up at speed and with virtually no cost to set you in good stead when entering the working world. The more material you have, the better. It is essential, in the commercial dance world particularly, to have some sort of showreel. People are very loyal in that field and if you are new, or you don't have the connections from previous experiences, a showreel could be your way in. Similarly, if you are applying for agent representation then they like to be able to see you performing in a production. Unfortunately that can't always be the case but if you have footage, it's a huge advantage. 

I don't ever claim to be a straight singer and would never apply for posts that only require vocals, this is why I don't actually have a voice reel. However, singing is essential in the musical theatre industry and I am capable. The app titled 'garage band' has been of great use to me in singing auditions. I'm lucky that I have been able to learn how to and can competently read music; and this application allows you to play a virtual keyboard as well as record. Through garage band I am able to find my starting note in order to practise and play though any sections that are troubling me before a vocal call. This in addition to recorded voice notes, prove incredibly useful.

(Anyon who is interested in recording and creating professional demos, my step brother owns and runs a recording studio/rehearsal room in Sheffield - click on the link to check out his website and contact details for further info http://www.redfernstudios.com)

The fantastic thing with both of the above applications is that once you have created a project, you have the option to instantly upload it or share it through the various Web 2.0 platforms. They work collectively with social media platforms. It gets your material out there, directly from your device and in no time at all. I made a very short video on iMovie and uploaded it instantly to Facebook, within 1 hour I already had over 200 views - the power of social media!

Talking of useful apps, this one is efficient once within the working world- post CV & seeking employment. Key note has proved to be a god send to me as a swing. I can create my bible through a power point format including videos of choreography, images of positions, diagrams, text etc so that I can carry it around with me and update it as often as I want- without lugging giant folders and having to re-write pages of information. Key note is my saviour!

An interview with 'Clean Eating Alice': Fitness & food fanatic, Instagram sensation wracking up almost 250'000 followers

Blog post 5: 19/02/2016

When I discovered that the first module for the BA (Hons) Professional Practice in Arts was looking at and exploring web based communication technologies, I became extremely eager to get going because it is something so current that allows huge scope for discussion and reflection. At the moment I am lucky enough to be working with a young lady who has a completely separate business created through blogging which has quite frankly become epic. I was very excited when she kindly agreed to answer a few questions for me regarding her business and experiences within Web 2.0. As she is also a friend of mine, it's great that I've had the opportunity to engage in separate professional discussions and conversations with her that I think provides an even better insight than the formal interview or question & answer. A discussion and conversation being the equivalent to today's idea of participation on the Internet.

- Can you tell us a little bit about you, your business and which forms of web based technologies you use for your own professional practice?

"I am 22 years old and I run a successful food and fitness blog entitled 'Clean Eating Alice'. This has amassed a following of over 235'000 people. I use Instagram, Twitter and Facebook in order to run my business."

- When did you start these and which do you feel has been the most beneficial? Why do you think that is?

"I started these around 2 years ago. The most beneficial for me has certainly been Instagram and it still remains my most popular platform. I think because the nature of what I do is extremely visual, Instagram proved to be the most successful form of web communication."

- What are the negative effects of using web based technologies for work purposes?

"A negative, I find, is that it can only show a small insight to what is a much bigger picture and wider context. Also, targeting a large audience on social media sites does open you up to criticism."

- Do these have any disadvantages on your personal, day to day life?

"I don't believe there are disadvantages as such but it does require a lot of organisation and forward planning."

- Do you think it is essential for businesses in this day and age to be involved in social media?

"I do think it's essential because if you don't have a social media platform, even if it's just the one, you're alienating yourself from a whole different market that's out there and can really engage with you. I think it's important for any business to have something be it a Facebook page, Twitter page, something, just so people can access and find out information about whatever your business is. It tends to be the first thing that people do when they hear about a brand or a name, they Google it to see what comes up."

- Are there any ethical considerations that you consciously apply online and what do you consider to be good professional 'netiquette'?

"Yes, absolutely. In regards to what I do, I have to be very careful and sure that I don't promote anything unhealthy or that's not sustainable. It has to be achievable. I had to become a qualified personal trainer so that I felt confident in myself when posting exercise videos. With the food, making people aware that each persons diet is individual to them and that you just don't copy a diet. I don't give out nutritional information as such, just advice. I make sure that I adhere to the most cautioned approach as possible. In terms of netiquette, I always try to keep things as positive as possible to assure I don't open myself up to criticism. Any negativity I receive, I tend to just delete."




It was intriguing to hear that Alice's blog initially started due to her personal interests in food and fitness. A blog is effectively a modern day diary and hers began as a hobby. It quickly escalated however due to to the gross amount of followers she racked up in such a short amount of time. In society we are extremely affected by media, we are surrounded by celebrities, the ideal body shapes, fad diets; there are now massive cases on the news about the NHS expenditure, the rapid growth of diabetes for example causing the promotion of healthy eating and healthy living to have increasingly dominated our press over the last couple of years. It seems there was a hole in the market when Alice first began her online journal and she'd hit the trend square on without even realising. Since then, many people have attempted this style of blog with the intention of creating a business and purposely aiming to get a following but they haven't really worked; timing therefore is essential.
I personally am a follower of Alice's blog and I think the simplicity and consistency in which she presents her page and the accessibility of it, is definitely what draws real people in. I know she has to post everyday at around 8.30am to hit the morning commuters, i.e. The peak time in which people are active on their smart devices. She also makes sure her recipes can be created with products found in your local supermarket so that absolutely anyone can relate. She avoids the elaborate, expensive ingredients such as chia seeds etc that could potentially put the bulk of her audience off. After all it is public demand and public interest that has instigated the development from Alice's personal hobby to merge into a professional business. A similar concept to 'produsage' like in reader 1. I think the communicative and engaging nature of the blog, allowing participation in the form of commenting and sharing, is what has made 'Clean Eating Alice' such a success. It is clear that she is a great communicator when it comes to social media and web based communication technologies.
It is also a given that being in the public eye and exposing yourself to the media comes with a certain amount of responsibility, particularly if you're like Alice who now gets approached to front campaigns, advertise products - she is proudly awaiting the release of her very first book including recipes and exercise tips called, 'Clean Eating Alice - The Body Bible' (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Books-Clean-Eating-Alice-Body-Bible/dp/0008167206) With knowledge comes power, and it is very easy to become criticised in today's society. I'm aware of nutrition courses and personal training courses which Alice has undertaken for both personal and career development, this in order to support the knowledge she already posses. The above links in with ethical considerations and moral authenticity. If you are being looked up to or providing advice in a particular area of expertise, you should ideally hold the qualifications to support this; instilling confidence within yourself, your network and preventing the desire for external sources such as journalists and competitors to critique.
The quote from Alice, "it can only show a small insight to what is a much bigger picture", made me think deeply about the idea of 'perception'. Not with Alice but in general when using Web 2.0 mediums and platforms such as Facebook. Even on a personal level, for some reason people feel the need to get justification or a backing in the form of 'likes' on Facebook. The desire to moan or gloat about how fantastic our lives are when really, are we just writing what people want to see? Or what we think people want to hear? Mental illness, particularly in the form of depression, has escalated. I truly believe that social media could be a hindrance in regards to this topic as we are constantly analysing how great other people are getting on and reflecting on our own achievements and accomplishments - more often the lack of rather than appreciating the ones we do have. In relation to business, management or sponsorships, do we write what we are told to put? Are we pressured into displaying a certain image or persona to get ratings and followers?

Society has become very good at communication through a screen and at creating several contacts, but what are our direct relationships like? Are we becoming consumed by technology and socially inept face to face? We live in a century where children have devices at the dinner table, where free time is spent in front of a computer screen rather than outdoors or doing activities. The concept of online dating is now the norm, granted due to today's busy work schedules, but also because it is convenient perhaps? Maybe because it's easier to paint an 'ideal' picture of yourself? What you 'perceive' to be desirable?
Online dating is actually a really interesting subject when it comes to ethical considerations and moral authenticity. Applications such as 'tinder' where you swipe yes or no after viewing 1 picture, goes completely against all these ethics. Think about why you would swipe either way. A good thing about the online dating phenomenon is that it's a safe way to meet people you don't know from your own home and a god way to build confidence before an initial meeting. The worry I do have is due to the intended ease of accessibility, it's great for the less tech savvy so that they can still get involved but for children who are rather up to speed, it is essential for these sites to create restricted ages and for parents to install appropriate software to block unauthorised access to these sites.

I have been a member of Facebook for years and it's still my 'go to' form of socia media for personal and business use; but when I began my first performing job, the company all seemed to be using and communicating via Twitter so I signed up to that as well. When Instagram came around I really wasn't bothered about having another for of social media on my device as I already felt rather consumed by them. However, I do love taking photos. So, when I finally succumbed to it I found it really worked for me.  Recently I have connected to LinkedIn and Google+. I decided to register to these, as well as creating my blog after commencing the BA (Hons) in Professional Practice. I'm hoping it will expand my professional links and contacts whilst getting my cv and profile out to a wider audience. Skype is really useful for communicating at distance or on the go which is a great tool for me whilst my job involves so much travelling. It has helped me personally in terms of contacting my family as well as in business with meetings and interviews.
I decided to do a quick survey to see which form of web communication technologies are dominating at the moment within my workplace for both personal and professional use. Facebook is currently in the lead for personal use with a whopping 80% of people. Professional usage is currently verging on an even distribution amongst the varying forms of communication technologies. I believe this is due to several reasons. One being dependant on which works best for your particular professional use, like Alice for example using Instagram to promote her food blog for its visual benefits. I also found that the older members of the company still stick by Web 1.0 technologies such as email and websites as it is what they know and are comfortable using. They are already established within their practice and connections so don't feel the need to stay current with the ever evolving forms of social media.
This survey is something I will continue to fulfil and reflect upon so stay tuned for more results!

Task 1a) Professional Profile

Blog post 4: 12/2/16

As part of this task, it was suggested that we take our current CV and rewrite as a profile - improving on its quality. Now my first thought, what is the difference between a CV and a profile?

I found the above table on http://www.mployability.net which I felt explained it really well!

When you set out to write either a cv or a personal profile, there are many things you really need consider - these to primarily draw the employers attention never mind get the job!

What makes a good CV/profile? Think about:

- Layout

- Information

- Image

- Font

- Colour

- Wording 

- Paper

- Opening/closing statement

- Referee

A brief profile about me:

Hello. My name is Megan and i am a professional performer from South Yorkshire. I've been privileged enough to train at the renowned Laine Theatre Arts where I was awarded a full scholarship and obtained a Trinity diploma in dance. Since completing my training, I have gone on to work professionally in the West End as well as on UK and International Tours. I consider myself extremely lucky to work in an industry I am so passionate about and have taken it upon myself to continue personal development over in America. I have experience in a broad range of dance styles as well as in acting, singing and aerial skills; and although the majority of my expertise lies in Musical Theatre, I have also featured in TV commercials and appearances. Teaching is something I would definitely like to do more of in the future as I have found it extremely rewarding and fulfilling up to now. I do feel it is something I naturally excel in. Thank you for your time, please see my CV for more specific information.

This is a first draft of my performing CV:

(Please note I have purposely not included contact details)

In addition to my CV, it is essential as a dancer to have head shots and body shots that clearly display your true image. The picture below is my head shot from 2012. Theses must be kept up to date, particularly when you are younger and still experimenting and finding your image. The collage of head shots below are my most recent from 2015. As you can see, my hair colour has changed to a more natural blonde and the shape of my face has changed slightly. I also wear much less make up in general.

http://www.brandonbishopphotography.com

 http://www.nickjamesphotography.co.uk

http://www.nicholasdawkesphotography.co.uk

The image below is a photograph from a shoot I did for BMG & Sony, this through Topps Casting. It is a great shot for my portfolio of pictures used in modelling or television castings.

What other things can we as dancers have to compliment our CV's and profiles?

- Showreel: YouTube, apps such as iMovie 

- Head shots, photos (as mentioned above)

- Voice clips 

- Website

- Cover letter: agents, studies, jobs

Please click on the link or view the video below to see a show reel that I have made on iMovie and uploaded to YouTube 

https://youtube.com/watch?v=cLt131w0Iyo

Other than having and sending a hard copy, where can we as dancers specifically upload or share our profile/CV to enhance our chances of employment?

Normally, post training, a dancer would aim to get an agent who is someone that sources the auditions on your behalf and arranges meeting for you. Now back in the day, audition advertisements were posted in newspapers like 'The Stage' or around local studios. These were for what we call 'open calls'. Nowadays, in a land that's dictated by the internet, casting directors will post their requirements via a site called 'spotlight' and it is through membership to that which allows you to apply for these posts. An agent has your profile information and is responsible for submitting you to appropriate breakdowns. There are many benefits to this as your profile can be seen at the click of a button by various amazing casting directors. It also means that all the auditions are in one place therefore easier to find. To have someone acting on your behalf is great as it minimises your workload as well as minimising the huge amount of contact and sifting through CV's for the casting directors. It provides a confident and generally, these professionals are very knowledgable providing valuable advice for career development and audition techniques. Receiving a casting via this method tends to mean there are less people in the audition room with you which is another benefit in terms of getting the most out of the audition situation and being seen - it's what we call a 'private call' I.e. Invitation only. You should have a professional relationship with your agent but I believe it is additionally important to feel like you can talk to them on a more personal level if needs be; yes they are technically working for you but they can also guide you and assist with any problems you may have in regards to auditioning or even in the workplace.

Unfortunately, if you don't have an agent, it does mean that it can be quite difficult sometimes to get auditions as some or now 'private' only. However, there are sites that you can register to independently for which you pay a monthly fee to receive emails of the latest auditions. As well as spotlight you have 'Dancers Pro' and 'Talent Cast' to name a couple. On a general professional level, you can create profiles on LinkedIn and Google+. These are two sites that I have recently added to my branches of web based communication technologies and am yet to fully figure out in terms of how they work. From the little I have experienced, they can find links and contacts within similar industries and contacts to your own in order to expand your network. You can post your CV as well as contact information, and send messages via the site. Stay tuned for my progress regarding these!

View my LinkedIn profile here: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/megan-louch-48a735114

PART 1: Professional Communication Technologies - Introduction

Blog post 3: 12/2/16

Professional communication technologies are becoming more and more apparent in the running, advertising and growth of today's businesses and individual practitioners. Over the years, these technologies have developed from what is known as Web 1.0 to Web 2.0 - now what's the difference do you ask? Web 2.0 is about creating communities on the Internet and having the ability to interact; establishing networks of people/businesses with similar interests to form large professional and social circles. A Web 1.0 communication technology could be a website for example, in which you can gather and read information. Whereas a Web 2.0 communication technology may be in the form of a blog, this where people can discuss thoughts and converse in the form of comments or online chats. 

In part 1 I plan to look at how these vast range of methods impact professional practice and what the benefits are - also how I can apply these successfully to myself as a self employed dancer. To begin with, I have thought of a few questions to bare in mind and consider during this unit.


How are web based and information technologies impacting on professional practice today and what are the benefits?

For what purposes do different types of professionals use communication technologies and which technologies are most beneficial for these varying purposes?

What ethical considerations need to be made when using these means of online communication and discuss what conforms to good & bad 'netiquette'?

Which web based information technologies do I use and which do I think are most appropriate for me as a dancer? Am I using these effectively and making correct ethical considerations?

Key points to think about when using social media and web communication technologies for business purposes:

1. Create engaging content that's appropriate and relevant to your business.
2. Participate and engage with others by commenting, viewing and sharing business ideas/posts from those who are involved in similar social circles to your own.
3. Don't bombard people's feeds with pointless activity but do make sure information is up to date and correct.
4. Consider target audience in regards to your manner online and choice of communication technologies.
5. Stay current and on trend in regards to interests and be relatable in your writing so that real people can connect.
6. Conform to good 'netiquette' and always think about ethical considerations within your practice.

Ethical considerations AKA 'Netiquette'

* Language  (swearing, bullying, offensive)

* Copyright (pictures, music, quotations)

* Identity (catfish, lying about ones age or physical appearance)

* Consent (under 16's, surveys)

* Confidentiality (contact details, personal stories, not naming and shaming)

* Spam (repeatedly posting, unrelated advertisements)

* Do your research (write/display correct information)

* Stay on topic, write clearly & affluently (consider non-native readers, don't want to lose interest)

After looking into the ethical considerations required on web based communication technologies, this then led me to think about the ethical considerations in the real life workplace rather than just in the virtual. When working in the arts, particularly in theatre, we have a role known as the 'company manager'. This individual is responsible for various things but most importantly, the pastoral care of its company members of which ethical considerations are essential. This care can range from a wide variety of issues such as: physical health, mental health, travel arrangements, living arrangements, pay roll and scheduling. Now for some productions, there can be cases when males and females are working together, adults and children are working together, people and animals are working together; all of the above of course require additional ethical considerations. For me as a dancer, it is my responsibility to be on time, participate fully in warm ups, be respectful to the creative team and the people that dress me. It is considered good etiquette to tip your dresser for example and walking around in your show pants back stage is disapproved of. If you are in doubt at work or in disagreement, the actors union 'Equity' can be of help in this department and support you. Please see link, https://www.equity.org.uk/home/

We can also look into the ethical considerations that need to be made as a teacher of dance. It is important to encourage constructive criticism and provide positive feedback whilst instilling confidence. It is important for a student to feel empowered and comfortable in their own skin so that they can embrace their bodies fully and develop assured exploration throughout their learning. Knowledge is essential, many 'teachers' set up their own classes with minimal experience and qualifications. This is wrong in itself but can additionally hinder health and safety in the studio. 'Poaching'  students is also severely frowned upon and considered bad etiquette, this fuels unhealthy competition between schools and peers. Another massive consideration should be fair treatment to your students; irregardless or gender, age, background or ability. Favouritism is so common, even more so as training becomes professional and you begin auditions.

Now in regards to moral authenticity on the web Vs face to face, are there things we would say online that we wouldn't dream of saying in person and vice versa? I feel this is an interesting point to think about. A lot of what we read on the internet could be down to perception. Do we write what we think people want to hear or what we've been specifically told to write? If so, why? Personal justification and gratification, career development? In the workplace, does our moral authenticity differ from person to person? Do we treat certain people differently and with less consideration if we know they are more accepting of these behaviours and are less likely to react? Should it be one rule for one and one for the other? Should knowing how far a persons boundaries are, effect fairness in the workplace?

"Dance isn't a long career."

Blog post 2: 7/2/16

Yesterday morning we had our very first group Skype session in order to introduce ourselves to our co-students and tutors. It was really interesting chatting to other people with similar interests and backgrounds but who are also very different in regards to the paths in which dance has led us. When discussing why we were choosing to do this course various things were mentioned, a big one being teaching and another because dancing has a limited life span, both of which sparked a lot of thought.

"Dance isn't a long career"

Now what exactly does one mean by this? I believe when 'dancers' say this they are generally referring to the performing aspect of dance, acknowledging that our bodies can give up on us after years of wear and tear or strain. If they are referring to this then the above statement could be considered pretty valid. However surely if you're teaching dance, then that is still maintaining a career in dance; even though you may not be doing it physically - right? For many people, being on the West End etc is the ultimate goal and teaching is considered a side career in order to pay the bills - something that passionate educators could easily be insulted by. Often if people aren't sure what do post performing or should their career not go quite as planned, they narrow mindedly turn to teaching; something that could also be seen as a cop out and a way of remaining in dance rather than doing it because they have a passion for it. This then led to the questioning of the quality and standard of teaching going on in the industry. Saying that, I also know several people who have decided to become a teacher after obtaining a degree irregardless of subject, which also suggests the quality of teaching across the board could potentially be rather disappointing. This because they've chosen to study something they're interested in generally and then don't know what to do with their degree afterwards, perhaps because it isn't aimed at a particular career and teaching seems like an obvious option. Unfortunately having a qualification on paper doesn't make you a great teacher and if you don't have the passion for it, students will sense that. As a result they are less likely to show you respect, less likely to learn from you and be totally un inspired - and after all, isn't that what teaching is about? Inspiring the next generation?
So what does inspire a student of dance? If you are an ex/current performer and do have a genuine love for passing on your skills and knowledge, then who better to teach your children? I remember being in complete awe, striving to impress and taking advice as gospel when certain members of staff came in to take class at college - they've been there, they know first hand what it's like!
All of the above made me look again at why I wanted to do this course but it certainly did not make me question it, if anything only confirm it. Yes it would be nice to be employed rather than self-employed, to have some stability in the future; and yes it may seem the most natural or easy transition to obtain a degree and then go into teaching but for me it's about more than that. Personal growth through continued learning and development is massively important to me. In regards to the teaching, I've enjoyed passing on the love and skills I have in dance from being in my early teens, this by voluntarily assisting in lessons on a Saturday. It then developed into covering and running my own classes. In between jobs or even whilst working, I've set up musical theatre workshops around the local area focussing on warm ups, repertoire, and question and answer sessions to give young students a taste of further training, professional musicals and to find out what auditions etc are really like. It's a great feeling watching students grow and improve, sometimes in the space of one lesson alone. At the beginning of this year I proudly covered a maternity leave at an academic post 16 establishment teaching BTEC level 3 in Dance. This role was given to me purely on my experience and outstanding delivery during a lesson observation by the principle and head of departments. I must admit that it was one of my proudest moments to date, being technically unqualified with no academic teacher training. It was hugely rewarding to gain such positive feedback from both the students and from the management team. They all said how impressed they were with the respect and rapport I'd built up in such a short space of time, as well as how much the pupils had learned. It was amazing to have created such an impact amongst a group of young, aspiring adults.
Unfortunately performing can sometimes be put on a pedestal above other professions in the same industry but I also find that it is the performers who create this pedestal for theirselves. So many people have a huge love for dance, the arts, theatre etc but they don't all want to be in the 'lime light'. The jobs related are endless! Besides teaching we have roles amongst the backstage crew, company managers, agents, wardrobe, designers, reviewers, casting directors, producers, community workers any many more.
A career in dance can last a lifetime but what I'm trying to say is that you should still have the drive for it. Don't conform to what you think you should do. Don't be afraid to explore and find new interests in life. Don't consider yourself a failure if after all the years of training, auditions and hard work you decide to change paths completely. If you heart isn't in it then why do it to yourself, find something else that inspires you and provides you the happiness dancing has done but in a different way -something that is equally rewarding.

'New Horizons'

Blog post 1: 4/2/16

Hello and a warm welcome to my blog! If you are casting your eyes upon this then you, my friends, are witnessing my very first post and I thank you enormously for dropping by!

My name is Megan and I am a professional performer from the land of Yorkshire, and have recently turned the 'quarter of a century' milestone - eek! I've been dancing since the tender age of 5 and after completing a 3 year scholarship at one of the most prestigious colleges in the UK, I have been lucky enough to work on 2 of the most popular musicals to date as well as one original musical in London's West End. In addition to being passionate for the arts, I am a keen academic and have always loved the idea of developing my Trinity diploma in Dance to a BA (Hons) Professional Practice in Arts through Middlesex University.
Both personal and career development is hugely important to me; and I believe exploring, reflecting upon and querying elements of the professional practise that I have been involved in and am currently experiencing will give me better tools and understanding in the working world. This aiding a mature approach to the professional environment and allowing me to make more successful and intelligent choices within it.

So, here goes. With this being my first written blog I was at a bit of a loose end as to where to begin. Currently, I am on tour and residing in Stoke for the week. I know I am super lucky to be doing what I love every day and touring can be great fun but sometimes it can also take its toll. This morning in particular the weather was beyond gloomy, I looked around at the run down streets of Stoke on my walk into work (which were also dead to the world) and after 2 weeks of a very busy schedule, I was feeling extremely exhausted and missing my family at home. Just as I was approaching the Regent Theatre, I noticed a beautiful piece of street art plastered across one of the city's walls titled 'New Horizons' by nature inspired artist, 'Fauna Graphic'. I was instantly stopped in my tracks and consumed by a feeling of what I can only describe as refreshing. At that single moment in time, the image before me somehow managed to alter my outlook to one that was positive again. The stunning colours of pale blues and pinks gave me a cool and calm sense of being and the grand images of these stunning birds gave me an overwhelming rush of inner peace and contentment.
When I saw the title 'New Horizons' the artwork immediately connected with me and it is that what made me believe this particular image would be a perfect way to begin my blog. After all, I am coming towards the final leg of my current tour so auditions are starting to filter in and I am just about to embark on this exciting new journey with my studies. According to 'the Cambridge dictionary', the definition of 'horizon' is 'the line at the farthest place you can see' and that's exactly why I wanted to begin this course - to broaden my own horizons, look at the bigger picture and to gain perspective through self managed learning. I decided to research the street artist and discovered that she wasn't actually from Stoke, but Sheffield - my home town! The powerful warmth I got from seeing the art, relating to the title and then discovering a link between the artist and I, rekindled my sense of being at that very moment and I instantly felt okay again, that I wasn't alone. For that I am eternally grateful and appreciative. 'Fauna' refers to 'living organisms that are categorised by voluntary movement' (www.vocabulary.com) and nature is what inspires this particular artist. Today 'Fauna Graphic' inspired me.

Never underestimate the power of your art.

You can check out other pieces of work by this extremely talented individual at www.faunagraphic.com and don't hesitate to visit their Twitter or Facebook page!

www.faunagraphic.com