Summer tips

I have had an amazing, and very unique journey so far this summer on my three month break in between seasons with Vienna Festival Ballet. During adverse times, or venturing into the unknown, when being trustful within your own self, it is amazing what opportunities can suddenly arise. 

After taking a fast decision to join up for an introductory course with the power yoga company, I ended up landing a job at their juice bar! And I am so grateful to have had this offer with the addition to be able to practice yoga everyday, and with such inspirational teachers. 

Later on, with persistence, I became a new boutique assistant at sweaty betty, which is a huge privilege to wear and represent their brand. 

In a nut shell, what I have learnt so far is of the importance in expanding a dancer's interests and opportunities. Especially when there are times when you cannot control a certain situation, and when you have more times on your hands during the long summer break!

Contentment

Having just discovered a very inspiring yoga studio recently, I had one of the best mornings and classes ever!
The practice today was devoted to being content. Instead of worrying about what the future holds, or what happened in the past, whatever had been happening outside the studio, off the yoga mat, should be temporarily forgotten whilst having that mindset of being content with where I was at the present time.

This brought me straight back to the main findings of my professional inquiry, which was to be self-accepting of the circumstances and not let worried thoughts mislead one's emotions and actions. It is great to know how even after everything has finished, I can still relate the topic of emotional resiliency in my every day to day life activities. I am so proud to have completed this whole project and presentation throughout the two years. It has been challenging, mentally tiring, and yes sometimes stressful! However I am so grateful for what I have learnt through the process of the course, learning about the skills and surroundings in my workplace, and most importantly learning about myself. This is something one should always be aware of, what they can learn for themselves, how they can grow, and it is a thought I will continue with and always cherish!

Professional Artefact

After finishing and handing in, I am so proud and happy of how my artefact has turned out!

My professional artefact is a 10-minute audiovisual documentary, consisting of the audio recordings and filming of my experience as a professional dancer with Vienna Festival Ballet. It is designed for an audience of young and up-and-coming professional ballet dancers. This is the stage where we find our feet in the dance world; see where we fit in, what works for us and what doesn't. It is our time to really grow as artists and see how much we can push ourselves, where the limits are, and how to deal with the pressures. This audiovisual pulls from dancers' own personal experiences and opinions on how tough it is and how they cope. The module 3 handbook mentions that the artefact can be a product shown to potential employers of its purpose. If directors were more aware too, this could be beneficial for both dancers, directors regarding support and communication, where a lack of these attributes can create adversities to be trickier to overcome.

Main Challenges and Themes

At the start with trial survey, informal discussions with fellow work colleagues and dancers as well as observing and reflecting myself, I have firstly picked up the main challenges we face as dancers and categorised them into themes:

1. Perfectionism
2. Motivation and Inspiration
3. Rejection
4. Injury
5. Physicality
6. Relationships
7. Uncertainty and unstable, short lived career

Through the whole research process of different literature sources (blogs, mental health and motivational websites, academic articles, a dance book finding balance, magazine articles, a documentary series breaking pointe),
I have thus been able to pick up the main qualities that an emotionally healthy and resilient person acquires.

1. Positive
2. Knows how to accept change and what situations can or can't control
3. Mindful and aware of their emotions
4. Motivated and inspired
5. Confident and strong, assertive
6. Has strong healthy relationships
7. Compassionate and empathetic

Diary Entry

These past few weeks have been a mixture of every emotion a dancer can feel and experience; nerves, stress, tiredness and frustration mixed with excitement, laughter, electrifying energy on stage!

Living the tour life while performing every night is mentally and physically draining, yet so refreshing and energizing at the same time. Yes your body gets tired and sore, and you might not feel on top form the whole time. But I truly believe that from the the opportunities and exposure we are getting, especially when the going gets tough, it is from these experiences that a dancer grows as an artist and comes out stronger than ever.

I have learnt a lot on how to deal with setbacks, obstacles and the pressures we face. I am not saying I have found the answer to it all, as I still have a lot to figure out with calmer approaches to handle at times. But every human being will always find some new experience to learn from. However from investigating on topic of emotional resilience in dancers, i have been able to observe and utilise a few skills and approaches that I have picked up and attempted to put into practice.

Breaking Pointe- Part 2

There were various approaches the dancers had to overcome the challenges they were facing. For instance:

·      When the last show came round: Now they have to give it all they got. Although the dancers were physically and mentally exhausted, it showed that having a specific mindset helps to get through it all.

·      During the performance challenges:

o   You can't get hung up on it, you just got to keep on going…If you had a bad performance you have to put it away.

o   Just need to get out there and do what I know I can do, not get caught up in the wrong things

o   Everybody freaks out during out this time...se we all have to pull it together, no time for drama. Just focus.

·      Believing helps! Ronnie found that you need to believe you are perfection from head to toe, as it is your time to shine. Adam believed that Allison has a technical capacity that she might not feel she has

 

Breaking Pointe

Breaking Pointe is a documentary series about the life of a dancer with Ballet West in Salt Lake City, Utah. It covers all the hardships of a ballet dancer, showing the behind scenes of the emotional stresses they face. However through all the drama and struggles, they express why they go through it all:

Ballet is a beauty unlike anything else I have known, but there’s a side that no one else ever sees. We train more hours than an Olympic athlete. We suffer physical pain and shocking injuries. In a cutthroat world that fears competition. There’s rivalry and relationships. To be the best it takes passion, sacrifice and obsession. Why do we do it? We do it for that one chance, to have that one moment on stage where everything comes together. We do it to be perfect.

There are a few scenarios that are carried out during the whole of the series, portraying the struggles of dealing with being perfect, the physical challenges which affect the mind, jealousy and rejection, injuries, pressures from the directorship, professionalism and relationships (to name a few).  

Another inspirational blog

Touring life can be tough, especially when trying to find time and energy in between each show and many hours spent on the bus. Luckily I have enough inspiration to work on the odd bit here and there on the tour bus...might as well get a few things down. A great way to reflect too, listen to my group discussions so far and analyse on Evernote, and read. Recently I have discovered the most fitting as well as uplifting website for my inquiry, and for myself!