What does it all mean to me?
Need I say more...!?
A simple post from me and the first for a long time! Unfortunately, (I shouldn't say unfortunately but )my personal life has just taken over this semester. Gave birth to a little boy on 7th September and so everything has been a bit chaotic. In Module 2 and 3 I have reflected on my personal struggle with balancing work and family as I found the intensive rehearsal periods, late nights, financial instability hard to deal with with my daughter 2 years ago. That was really what lead me down the path of my Inquiry, and although my question is not directly about that it was that significant period of my life that ignited this "little wonder". I then turned to focus more on the transition as a whole and the experience of my transition professionally. I had been a musical theatre performer but progressed or transitioned into assistant directing and choreographing. At this time I went through a personal struggle with me missing and almost regretting not being a performer myself anymore, being the best I could be at home and being the best I could be at work in my new role on the creative team. Through the reflection of AOL's in module 1 it brought up some perhaps interesting baselines to go from. this expanded and developed in Module 2 until I came to realize what had caused my unease while I was transitioning. And not just the realization but I got to a point where I wanted to know...as sometimes especially with the more negative things we feel, it's easy to want to brush them away and purposely not look into the cause.
In the Handbooks we've all read many times I'm sure, that it's about finding out more and that is where I'm at and could still be at in 10 years! My Inquiry is about transitioning from a performing to a non performing role in the creative industry. Specifically the traits or qualities you need to succeed as a leader, especially in relation to becoming a choreographer or director. Without talking too much about my actual inquiry findings it is important to say that the wider literature on the topic in the performing arts industry is limited, in terms of academia so people's voices have proved crucial.
What I now need to do in my final stages of module 3, are go back to the roots and think about what the question means to me and never forget to always refer it back to myself as a professional practitioner and what it does to my practice. How and if I now perceive things differently. So still a lot to do and the clock is ticking!
I think this post has more so been helpful to me than it will be for anyone else to read, as just needed to do a small review for myself about the journey and process I have taken to get to this point. But it has helped!
What a great blog and although you might not have thought it this has been super helpful to me!! My inquiry is also on the transition of dancers from a career in the arts but I have focussed on those who have complete left the industry and have now found themselves in 'muggle jobs' It's lovely to hear that this topic is also something that someone else has looked into :) I can completely relate to the lack of industry specific literature and have heavily relied on my own experiences and those of my interviewees. I'm really looking forward to your presentation xx
ReplyDeleteOh that's great, and nice that it's a similar topic but with a twist. How are you getting with your presentation preparation? x
DeleteWow ...you've only given birth a month or so ago!! Congrats!! And there was me trying to juggle work and being six months pregnant! That's nothing compared to you actually giving birth and finding the time to do this! Well done xx I've had to cut some bits from the essay and also ideas from the artefact too so thank you for putting that info in my head about the presentation xx
ReplyDeleteOoooooh congratulations on your pregnancy - when are you due? Just looking at your blog and seen that you're a keen snowboarder too!...me too! so you went to Urdang and then worked quite a long time professionally and have then transitioned into teaching? All sort of similar to me.
DeleteYes, new baby and toddler, doing this course has been a tad stressful to say the least.
Hey sorry if this seems kind of bold but I'd love to 'connect' if you fancy? Here's my number 07534434068. Get in touch if you'd like to.
How are you getting on with your presentation prep? x