Pivotal Moments of Pain

As I near the end of my time at NSCD, I’ve been taking the time to reflect. And one of the things that I’ve realised is that my injuries have been some of the pivotal points of my training here. One of the things that comes up again and again with myself and my classmates…

More than Moving

Whilst watching television and reading articles recently, as well as living real life, I’ve reminded of things I have been questioning a lot, and the fears I have been sharing with classmates and housemates. In our world there’s all this suffering and injustice and poverty, people are homeless and dying from treatable, preventable disease, others…

On knowing and not knowing

I originally started thinking about this post after a conversation with our Principal, Janet Smith at the Access graduation performance. She talked about how the students danced so confidently and openly, and that perhaps this was because they hadn’t begun to analyse their performance to the extent that students do on the degree programme through…

STOP, LOOK, LISTEN, LIVE

Every day at college, we have advice handed to us: ‘You have to love dance to stick at it’, ‘You don’t have to love dancing every day of the week, it’s just a job, people have this ‘passion complex’ as dancers, that I don’t invest in’, ‘Show me your passion, that’s what people look for’,…

MY BACK-STORY

Not knowing my limitations has recently led to me spending the majority of my spare time lying on my back in ‘constructive rest’, staring at the ceiling wondering how long I can expect to feel like this and when I can get back to dancing properly without the delayed pain that often doesn’t set in…

AN EXISTENTIAL EXPERIENCE

When I first started at Northern, I was aware of how creative, individual and unusual contemporary dance could be, but I have to say that sometimes I didn’t really get it all. I came from a dance background where everything was focussed around ISTD ballet, modern and tap, technique, technique, technique an performace quality. It…

LIVING IN THE STUDIO

So I’ve done it, and I’ve survived. I just completed my first six weeks of full time training at NSCD. It’s been a fair journey, but I wouldn’t change a single moment of it. I don’t think life has ever been so busy for me as it has this first half term: I wake up…

TO REFLECT

So this week at college we’ve been talking about the importance of meaningful reflection, which is something that I really value, and do a lot of on this blog. The thing is that I like to reflect on big experiences, as a whole, and this doesn’t necessarily have a lot of value in my current…

THINGS I’D LIKE TO ACCOMPLISH THIS YEAR

So it’s actually happening. Right at this moment I find myself as a dance student at my dream dance college. I’ve just finished my first week of my degree course, and it’s fair to say it’s been an incredible experience so far. I never thought so much could happen in the two weeks since I…

THINGS TO REMEMBER ALONG THE ROAD

 Never let self-doubt rule you. You are talented, you are creative, you are here for a reason, and if you work hard you will be great. Self confidence is half the battle, and if you’re not feeling it, follow your own advice and fake it unitl you make it, it’s got you this far. Don’t…