Well, module two came around quick…
I thought I’d start with a little life update. I spent January on vacation in Mexico and LA with my boyfriend, it was the most amazing time and I feel so luckily and grateful for the moments we can share together. We are long distance so every moment is precious. I came back from vacation and did some serious thinking… I’d been contemplating this decision for awhile, but it just seems like the timing is right, so I’m going to take the leap. 2023 will be my last year as a performer. I’ve been lucky enough to be on stage professionally for over 10 years and thankfully without many injuries. Unfortunately my knee injury from last season seems to want to stay with me and gives me a lot of pain and discomfort I don’t want anymore. But I feel very positive about the change and I believe, in part, this course has given me the confidence to take the leap! So I plan to push through this year and retire in December. Next year I will move back to the uk, by which time I will started my own business, in the hopes that I will be able to move to NYC to be with my boyfriend at some point, shortly after. It’s scary and a massive decision, but I feel so ready and confident for that change.
I was feeling a little overwhelmed reading through the handbook for the first time, but after the first session I felt so much better. The module is planned out so well and I really understand what I’m supposed to be doing… I am however, a little daunted in choosing my topic….
Before we started I came up with a few idea that I thought were great, but during my 1:1 session Sam said something that made me rethink. “Choose something that will help you in your future career.” As I’m at this crossroads, I really want something that will benefit me in my next chapter. I love the arts and everything it stands for and I believe it can have such a big impact on the lives of others, whether that’s taking part or just consuming.
So some of my little wonders are
- How do we know when it’s time to stop?
- How can I use social media to improve my practice?
- How can I take the knowledge I have learnt from my career and apply that to a new career in arts management?
Big questions
- What impact did covid have on our industry? Specifically with social media
- How can we expand the reach of the arts to people who don’t have easy access to it or don’t know it’s there?
- Why is communication within the arts so weak? - I’d love some feedback on this one… maybe it’s just my experience, but everywhere I’ve dance or been apart of the communication and organisation has been less than acceptable… maybe it’s because creative people just don’t communicate well? Or the fact that so many of the office staff don’t have an arts background?
I think this is a start and I definitely feel drawn to an area of study now, but finding how I can use that and turn it into a project is where I still need some clarity!
Wow, what a big decision Lewis but sometimes you just know when its time. It sounds like you have a great plan of action and I hope it isnt too soon until you are reunited with your partner. Enjoy your last year performing x
ReplyDeleteYour litte wonder question about knowing when to stop resinated with me as I stopped performing when it felt like it was a job. I had been working for the same employer for a while and they drained me of passion and I needed a break. But perhaps if I had been working for someone who cared for their performers I might have carried on for longer?
Thanks so much for the support. I also feel similarly, I decided this year that I just want to be happy and unfortunately performing isn’t making me as happy as it once did right now, that’s how the slight change in career path came about. The hate disposable feeling that artists are made to feel. Hope collectively we can make that change.
DeleteDitto on the long distance front here- Cardiff to New Mexico, USA!
ReplyDeleteThat is a big leap isn't it and knowing when to change career paths is a tough one, I think everyone struggles over this one unless their hand is forced. I hope though that having a set finish line you can now enjoy, embrace and make the most of your last year performing :)
Yeah long distance can be very challenging, can’t it… but I think if you can make it work something beautiful comes out of it. Although it is a change, I don’t feel it’s a massive deviation and my experiences over the last decade will help shape my next chapter and allow me to still support and be involved with the industry I love so much!!
DeleteI’m excited and trying to enjoy my last year on stage, for now..
So happy you are feeling at peace with your decision, and I'm wishing and praying for the best for you in your upcoming travels, life mileposts, training, and relationship! Sounds like you have quite the year ahead of you and I think it is awesome you are willing and ready to try something new. I love your idea of exploring how you can incorporate what you have learned in performance into arts management- I think this could blend well also with your 'wonder' point about social media in your practice. These are all great points! Excited to see where you take it. PS- when/ if you end up in NYC lmk I am only a few hours away and have tons of friends training in the city :)
ReplyDeleteThank you so much that’s so sweet of you to say!
DeleteI’m so excited to still be a part of our industry, but from another angle. I one hundred percent agree with you and I’ve decided that that’s the direction I’m going to take my project! Being a part of this course, and meeting, so many different people from many different practices has a really opened my eyes and allowed me to think about the performing arts industry as a whole rather than individual forms. I’m sure it’s the same for everybody within the industry, but I feel sometimes dancers are very blinkered and only think about dance. I hope that within this project I’ll be able to break those boundaries and look at social media within the performing arts as a whole. And when I do move to New York City, I would love to meet up with you and see how you’re getting on. Or maybe I’ll just come visit you wherever you are.
I think the question how do we know when to stop if very interesting. ultimately there is not one answer. this is very individual to the person. and its a tough reality to face. this career is not sustainable long term unless we change it up, e.g teacher, choreographer, agent etc
ReplyDeleteI agree with you, it’s a very interesting subject and although we are all trained to be performers that doesn’t mean that our expertise is only limited to performing. Having come to my decision to finish at the end of the year and planning new business I realise that my passion for the arts isn’t just limited performing and that my next chapter will be just as enriching!
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