Invest time in your future No Images? Click here Festive Greetings from all at DCD!Dear Supporter, welcome to your December 2016 newsletter!Booking Now Open for DCD Fundraising Gala Performance of the Award winningAn American in ParisThe Perfect Christmas Gift!If you’ve not yet found that perfect gift for Christmas, then look no further – tickets are now on sale for DCD’s fundraising gala performance of the award winning An American in Paris on Wednesday 15 March 2017 at the newly refurbished historic Dominion Theatre in London.Proceeds will go towards supporting Independent Dancers across the UK. Join us to raise funds to enable these dancers to successfully transition into a post-performance career. All tickets are in the Dress Circle at £100 each to include a glittering interval reception. Tickets are limited and already selling fast, so don’t miss out! A Global Conversation About Career TransitionA letter from our Executive Director, Jennifer CurryPhoto: IOTPD delegates, including DCD's Jennifer Curry, at the annual meeting in Toronto Taking an active part in the global conversation around career transition for dancers has always been a key aspect of DCD’s work and it is a privilege to have the opportunity to be surrounded by like-minded, courageous individuals who are committed to delivering the best possible support for professional dancers who are navigating career transition. Each year, representatives from Transition Centres around the world, who together form the International Organisation for the Transition of Professional Dancers (IOTPD), come together to discuss trends, challenges and to ask questions of ourselves and each other, always with the aim of ensuring a cohesive and global voice for dancers. This year representatives from France, Germany, Switzerland, the Netherlands, South Korea, America, Poland, Belgium, Canada, UK and the Czech Republic came together at the Dancer Transition Resource Centre, in Toronto, Canada. Photo: Panel at the LEAP Together Conference in Toronto The IOTPD meeting was preceded by the Leap Together: Career and Life Transitions in Dance and Sport, an international conference devoted to exploring the intersection of transition issues for professional dancers and athletes; an incredibly valuable opportunity to explore partnerships and opportunities. I am eager to continue these conversations with partners in the UK moving forward. I always come away from these meetings inspired by the ongoing commitment of our colleagues and by the new approaches, programmes and ways of working that are being established around the world, many of which we will be looking to take inspiration from and in some cases implement in the UK. It is also a moment for me to reflect on the many achievements of DCD over the last year and how we continue to drive forward in our ambitious programme of work at the organisation. This could not have been achieved without the remarkable work of the team at DCD, including our Coaches and volunteers, who work tirelessly to ensure that we remain an agile, creative and fearless organisation. A very special thanks to the DCD Board of Trustees, led by Chair Zoe van Zwanenberg and members of our Grants Committee and Gala Committee, for their commitment, energy and hard work. I thank you all wholeheartedly. There is much more to be done and in 2017 we will be continuing our focus on key programmes, such as our Nationwide Coaching Programme and the development of our Schools and Conservatoires Programme, amongst others. We also look forward to welcoming you to our Fundraising Gala – An American in Paris on the 15 March, which will raise much needed funds for independent dancers across the UK (tickets are selling fast so reserve yours now by emailing laurajane@thedcd.org.uk) Thank you all for your unwavering support for DCD and the dancers that we serve. We would not be able to continue our work without the support of our many committed funders and supporters including our contributing companies, whose support enables DCD to offer life-changing opportunities for dancers across the UK. We look forward to working closely with you all in 2017. With all best wishes for the festive season, Jennifer Jennifer Curry Executive Director, Dancers' Career Development DCD Transition Centre Christmas Opening HoursPlease note that the DCD Transition Centre will be closed for the Christmas break from end of business hours on Tuesday 20 December and will re-open on Tuesday 3 January 2017. Enjoy the festive break! Register for 2017 Nationwide CoachingPhoto credit: DCD supported dancer Rimbaud Patron DCD is proud to now be able to offer company and independent dancers the opportunity to access face to face coaching across the UK, with our growing team of professional coaches. Coaching sessions are designed to support professional dancers as they develop their careers, providing them with the space to explore what is most important to them in their own development.
Sign up for Birmingham Coaching, or register your interest for Coaching in Leeds or Glasgow now by emailing ellen@thedcd.org.uk. We also invite you to take this short survey about how DCD can make coaching work best for you. Thank you!Behind the ScenesCheck out this wonderful film featured by the BBC made by DCD supported dancer Lewis Landini, now a freelance filmmaker, together with Laura-Jane McRae, with original music by Jay Capperauld. Raise Free Donations for DCD with your Online Christmas ShoppingJoin easyfundraising and sign up for free to raise a free donation for DCD whenever you shop online with nearly 3,000 retailers, including Amazon, John Lewis, Aviva, thetrainline and Sainsbury's – it's so easy to set up and doesn't cost you a penny extra! Thank you for your support! Talking Transition with Dance StudentsPhoto: DCD supported dancer Mark Kelly speaking to students of The Royal Ballet School DCD were delighted to host a workshop for The Royal Ballet School’s second year students in November. We’re so grateful to DCD supported dancers who took the time to come along and share their own experiences with the students: Mark Kelly, former Rambert dancer, now trainee counsellor; Claire Meehan, former contemporary and commercial dancer, now yoga instructor and choreographer; and Jean-Marc Puissant, former Birmingham Royal Ballet and Stuttgart Ballet dancer, now set and costume designer. The students had the opportunity to ‘interview’ each of the DCD supported dancers in small groups, learning about their transition journeys and discussing the transferable skills they possess as dancers. DCD’s Schools and Conservatoires Programme is generously supported by the Linbury Trust. What Makes a Leader?Photo: from left to right - Gosia Dzierzon, Sharon Armstrong-Williams, Georgina Wadham, Dane Hurst and DCD's Ellen Chambers Over 25 dancers gathered at DCD’s Transition Centre for our Clore Open Afternoon and Q&A, to learn and be inspired by the Clore Leadership Programme’s Dance Fellowship, Emerging Leaders and Short Courses. Questions discussed included application criteria and what makes a leader.Participants heard first-hand from Sharon Armstrong-Williams, Fellowship Manager and Georgina Wadham, Partnerships and Development Co-ordinator at The Clore Leadership Programme, as well as Clore Dance Fellow Gosia Dzierzon and Dane Hurst, who completed the Clore Short Course. DCD, with support from the Linbury Trust, offers bursaries for independent and company dancers to undertake the Clore Leadership Programme's Dance Fellowship, Emerging Leaders and Short Courses. If you’d like to find out more about applying for one of these programmes, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with The Clore Leadership Programme. You can see live commentary and questions answered from the day at #DCDClore. DCD at London Studio CentreIn November, DCD’s Dancer Support and Services Officer, Ellen Chambers, spoke on a panel at London Studio Centre to students from across the year groups on the subject of career transition. The panel was hosted by DCD Supported Dancer Jo Meredith and also featured DCD Supported Dancer Kevin Muscat. We look forward to working with London Studio Centre again in the near future. Thinking of applying for a Financial Retraining Grant?Photo credit: DCD supported dancer Andrew Ross Look out for our 2017 Financial Retraining Grant deadlines, coming soon. Make sure you book your one to one consultation at least one week before you submit your application! For more information or to arrange a consultation in person, over the telephone or via Skype, please contact Ellen or call us on 020 7831 1449 to discuss your plans. Tanya Richam-Odoi - DCD Transition TalesTanya is a former professional dancer with Phoenix Dance Theatre and freelance dancer, teacher and choreographer, who, with DCD's support, is transitioning into a career as a Cranio-Sacral Therapist.
Are you a DCD supported dancer? We'd love to know what you're up to!Have You Donated to boundless?DCD is raising funds to provide two Financial Retraining Grants, allowing professional independent dancers to expand upon their unique skills and strengths and gain additional experience and expertise in the career field of their choice. No donations too large or small and all very gratefully received! A big thank you to all those who have already donated. Coming Up in 2017...
Look out for forthcoming dates to be announced including 2017 Financial Retraining Grant Application Deadlines, EVOLVE workshops, Nationwide Coaching and more! Thank you Dancers' Career Development is kindly supported by the following Contributing Companies: The Dancers' Career Development Independent Trust is generously supported
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