Try to get some work experience in an arty or creative company, so you understand the business. Make networks and meet as many people as possible in the field you want to get into.
What is your job?
I'm a freelance Dance Artist and I'm also the Education Assistant at Stratford Circus.
What does your job involve?
I help organise all kinds of courses for Stratford Circus, which involves sending out information by email, talking to people, recruiting participants for the courses, and making sure that people have a good experience when they come here.
At the moment, I’m working with Eliza Williams, the Creative Arts Education Officer, to set up a new activity club – ‘Creative Club’ for 2-8 year olds. It's to promote a creative, healthy lifestyle from a young age and will run every Saturday before Stratford Circlets Children’s Theatre. Part of my job now involves helping Eliza to plan and promote the club, produce flyers, book guest teachers, talk to the kids involved and produce high quality work, as well as teaching on the Creative Club.
How did you get to this point in your career?
After leaving Laban, I worked in retail for a couple of years and got into a management role. But I missed dance. So I started helping some friends who were teaching dance, and got back into the dance world. I worked freelance as a dance teacher, and got a lot of support from East London Dance.
Next I got a job at NewVIc, Newham Sixth Form College, where they wanted a dance tutor and Learning Support Assistant to work with people with disabilities and learning difficulties. Then a job came up as an Education Assistant at Stratford Circus, which is owned by NewVIc. I took up the post at Stratford Circus, but still work as a freelance dance teacher too, including teaching at NewVIc.
What training did you do and where?
I studied A levels in dance, psychology and art, then went to do a BA Hons in Dance Theatre Studies at Laban. It was a great place, but I only stayed for a year because it was so demanding. Altogether, we were dancing and studying for ten hours a day. It was exhausting, and I began to dislike dancing.
Which piece of work are you most proud of?
I’m proudest of the first dance piece I ever produced at NewVIc with the ‘Towards Independence’ group – students with learning difficulties and disabilities. They’d always performed quite short pieces previously. But together with Steven Murphy, a dance artist and colleague, we choreographed a fairly complex contemporary dance piece for the group. They remembered everything and were so pleased with their achievements. We also produced a DVD showing the production, rehearsals and performance.
What do you need to succeed in your industry?
Patience and the ability to compromise. You have to be able to think and adapt on the spot, and deal with things as they come up without making a fuss. You have to be extremely organised, and be able to be creative but realistic at the same time. It’s easy to come up with a really creative idea, but you have to be able to make it happen too.
Who’s your work hero / heroine?
My boss, Clare Connor. Coincidentally, she was also my first dance teacher when I was at school in Islington Green. Before Clare taught me, a PE teacher had put me off dance. But I loved Clare’s classes and haven’t stopped dancing since. She was always very understanding, approachable and creative. She made dance fun, and made all the students proud of their work.
What inspired you to do this type of work?
I get bored quite easily and need to do something creative. I’ve always liked the aesthetic side of things – making things look beautiful. And dance always kept me clicking over and over. I’ve always loved performing, but now it’s working with other people that keeps me going.
What do your friends/family think of the work you do?
When I first said I wanted to be a dancer, I argued so much with my mother. She said there was no money in it and I wouldn’t even be able to afford to eat. She was completely against it. But there was nothing else I wanted to do, and I thought I should dance while I could. Now my mother’s seen my work and seen me train, she’s really happy for me. She’s seen the videos of groups I’ve worked with and can’t believe how much patience I’ve got when I’m teaching!
What are your tips for anyone wanting to do your job?
Try to get some work experience in an arty or creative company, so you understand the business. Make networks and meet as many people as possible in the field you want to get into. And don’t be afraid to sell yourself. If you don’t – who will? Never ever give up. If you want something badly enough, you’ll find a way to make it happen.
Creative inspirations
Amélie
I love the way she makes other people happy – making what seems impossible possible. For me, teaching and facilitating dance are a brilliant way to bring people together and make them happy.
‘The Alchemist’ by Paolo Coelho
This book shows that hope and hard work always pay off and that good things come to those who wait. It inspires me to keep going.
‘Breathing Light’ by Nitin Sawhney
This track makes me feel like I’m in another world and I can let go and go crazy in the dance studio.
Participants on my courses
The participants on my courses are aged 2-94 and I love to see their energy. It doesn’t matter if they get things wrong or right, there’s a real positivity and happiness there.
My friend Karoliina
She taught me to say ‘Oh well’ when things get rubbish. I can be too much of a perfectionist and Karoliina taught me to be calm. You can’t plan life.
Steven Murphy
Steven is a friend and colleague. I love the way his mind works – he always gives me such different solutions if I’m stuck creatively or in life!
James Thiérrée
James is an amazing contemporary circus performer who creates a world of complete magic on stage. The atmosphere is so rich you feel as though you’re in the story.
Clean cut art
I find all kinds of art inspirational, particularly if it’s clean cut, clear and simple. It can be anything from Pop Art to Cubism to Banksy.
My Grandma’s cooking
My Grandma’s homemade Malay cuisine always looks a mess on the plate, but it tastes so amazing!
Tetris
I love the way you have to use organisation to solve a problem as quickly as possible. It’s like life and dance! How can you use your mind and body to make things fit together beautifully?
If you would like advice on creative careers and courses, contact a Creative Way Careers Adviser - either Matt Ball on m.ball@uel.ac.uk / 07889 001764 or Sarah Comerford on s.comerford@uel.ac.uk / 07515 051509.