In 2022, I performed a duet and my OSC both self-choreographed as well as a number of group pieces choreographed by our teachers. This was a great opportunity to further my skills in dance and performance. I enjoyed helping out the teachers with the younger students, helping them master the choreography.
I had the pleasure in 2023 to play the lead role of ‘Mortica’ in the school’s Musical production of the Addams family. This was an amazing opportunity that allowed me to apply all my skills and combine my loves for dance, drama, and music. I learned so much about all three disciplines and loved working with the cast and crew, making friends that will last a lifetime.
This years 2022 production was Peter Pan and though this production did not go ahead due to covid, I learnt a lot about the audition process. This process began with a group audition work shop in which we were given a series of activities to complete. This taught me to be bold and brave, we then had smaller pair auditions for the leads this was a good opportunity to perform on script. I then received a call back for the role of Tiger lily. The experience of the callbacks taught me to go for what you want and not to hold back if you feel intimidated. I was cast as the dance captain ensemble and understudy for Tiger lily, this was an amazing opportunity, we started rehersals though rehersal did not go on for long this taught me leadership, teamwork and what it is like to be an understudy. Though the production was cancelled this was an amazing opportunity that taught me a lot.
Over the course of 2021, I was given the opportunity to mentor a year 6 student with dyslexia. Rahani and I met weekly in tutor group over the course of two years, each week discussing how she was going and getting to know each other. I gave her advice on school and coping with dyslexia sharing personal experiences and trying to create a connection and make her not feel alone. this was an amazing opportunity which I hope she benefitted from too. It was amazing to be able to give back and try and help her as I knew that the support was something I would have loved to have to go through school. This opportunity taught me about mentoring and communicating and is an opportunity I am very grateful to have been given, to continue helping students with dyslexia, struggling through school.
Each year my dance studio holds a week of small dance concerts at our studio during the July holidays in order to give our students an opportunity to show our progress. I performed in these concerts nightly both in groups and solos and attended a class each day prior to the show due to teachers being unable to attend due to covid. I took on many administration roles trying to help where I could, this included making food and helping with the kiosk before and after shows looking after students in the dressing room and looking after the door entry to the stage as well as running the student choreography and looking after my twinkle toes that I teach. This was an amazing opportunity to take part in as well as help with the concert with the community and work with younger students and help out my dance school.
My job at DanceXchange has given me an amazing opportunity to build my negotiation, flexibility, accountability and leadership skills. I have been working at danceXchange since year 7, performing tasks like serving customers which includes designing and putting together costumes and accessories, restocking shelves and organizing our stock. Recently in 2021 I was promoted to Junior Manager in which my role was to lead, train and support the staff as well as opening and closing and running the store when the owner was away. This recent promotion and this job has taught me so much about design and costuming as well as many real life lesson and skills about working in the real world, I am so greatfull to work in this job as it has taught me about hard work.
I was lucky enough to be chosen to be a ‘Peer Support’ leader for 2022. This journey first started
With one personal development week which began with us working along side our heads of houses and our house mates to take part in a series of exercises showing and developing our leadership and teamwork skills. We then submitted an aplication with a self lead activity to the rest of the group, after we had been accepted we split into our smaller groups and began planning for the year following a series of prompts to base each session on. We began meeting with the year 8’s every Thursday morning in tutor group. We had to lead and take part in activities working to creat a connection between year 8’s and us working to send the message of each activity. This was an amazing opportunity to work with and mentor the younger students as well as to make connections and work on my leadership, team work and communication skills.
This year I was able take my place for the second year as a ‘Student Choreographer’ for the 2022 dance concert ‘Rise’ based on empowerment. In order to acquire this position I had to undergo a selection and audition process. This process included submitting a cover letter, resume and an audition where we were required to lead a warm up and teach 16-24 counts of previously choreographed work and submit our over all themes and concepts. My concept based on the idea of empowerment was on ‘Time’ and the idea that time or the lack of time we have empowers us to live our lives to the fullest. Once my application was accepted, I was employed by The Agency. I chose students from years 11 and 12 who were interested in being in my piece I lead a warm up each session teaching my choreography and preparing my girls for the audition and concerts. I had to do all my own admin work as well as order costumes and design my lighting. This was an amazing experience yet again allowing me to work on my leadership, organisation, and creative skills and teaching me how to lead and manage a team .
From the beginning of year seven I have worked as an ‘Assistant Dance Teacher’ at my dance studio Dance Venture along side the dance teacher, working with children aged 4-6. Whilst teaching, I demonstrate steps and help with choreography and lead a warm up. I often have to deal with separation anxiety with such a young age group making sure all the students feel included and enjoy their time learning ballet. Helping out by dancing along side the student’s, gives them confidence in class and in our concerts helping them not to get stage fright. I help with costuming and looking after my students in the dressing room. I love teaching and find it is an amazing opportunity to help ,inspire and nurture the next generation of dancers.
This year I had the privilege of choreographing my Own piece for the 2021 Dance Concert Unite. My piece ‘Face to face but not eye to eye was about how technology gives us some things but also creates a sense of fake connectivity and unity limiting our face-to-face connectivity. This experience was an amazing opportunity, I learned how to choreograph, plot my own pice, choose stage lighting and decide on costumes and budgeting. Running my own class and dealing with different skills and personalities was a valuable experience that I will never forget, teaching me so much about dance and choreography, an experience I am so grateful for.
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