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Dear Supporter, welcome to your Summer 2016 newsletter!
A bumper issue covering our July and August news - look out for our next
e-newsletter in September!
Booking for EVOLVE London Now Open!
EVOLVE is a full day workshop giving you the chance to explore career transition with confidence and positivity.
Coming to London on Saturday 10 September, in partnership with DCD Contributing Company Richard Alston Dance Company at The Place.
Dancers will hear first hand from our speakers about their own experiences of career transition: DCD supported dancers Anna Lowe, now Project Manager at the British Council, and Andrew Hurst, now CEO of One Dance UK.
"All dancers need to come to EVOLVE, it doesn't matter what stage you're at in your career, it's important to start thinking about who else you are, outside of dance". Rachael Nanyonjo, Independent dance artist
Open to dancers from all genres of professional dance – from classical, contemporary to musical theatre and commercial.
Places will be limited, so make sure to book your place now!
Watch the fantastic film from the last EVOLVE London which took place at the Royal Opera House in October 2015, created by DCD retrained dancer, Daniel Jones.
DCD Launches Nationwide Coaching Programme
We are delighted to announce that DCD has recruited a new professional coach to join our team as we expand our transition coaching services across the UK.
Jo Wright is a passionate Facilitator and Coach who delights in getting the best out of people and step-changing performance.
Jo brings 15 years professional experience. She is a Licensed Practitioner of Insights Discovery® and a Master Practitioner of Neuro-Linguistic Programming, tools which, combined with her deep intuitive understanding of people and cultures, give her a unique insight into how to get the best out of people in both their personal and professional lives.
She joins DCD Director of Coaching Isabel Mortimer as we expand our coaching programme to now be accessible locally across the UK.
From September we will be able to offer company and independent dancers the opportunity to access face to face coaching nationwide, including in Leeds, Birmingham and Glasgow.
We're so excited to welcome Jo to the DCD team and to have the opportunity to reach and offer DCD's support to even more dancers across the UK.
Supported by the Royal Opera House Benevolent Fund and DCD Contributing Companies.
Sign Up for New Action Learning Workshop
This autumn, Dancers’ Career Development and Independent Dance are jointly offering an opportunity for all dance professionals to take part in a new Action Learning Programme.
Action Learning is a form of peer mentoring, for artists seeking a rigorous, reflective space to develop.
Kindly supported by the Bonnie Bird Choreography Fund, over the course of a year, three peer groups will meet five times to work through real-life projects and problems in a confidential space, with an experienced facilitator.
We are offering a free introductory workshop on 26 September, so make sure to book your place and find out how Action Learning can benefit you.
To reserve your place please call Independent Dance on 020 7091 9650 or email info@independentdance.co.uk.
Photo credit: Ironwood Bluffs Bridge, Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
What a Night!
DCD's First Ever Alumni Celebration Event
Thank you so much to everyone who came along to our first ever DCD Alumni Celebration Event at The Loft at The Club at The Ivy in July.
The place was packed and celebrations continued long into the night as our alumni reunited with old friends, and made new ones, sharing and celebrating their incredible transition journeys.
A very special thank you to DCD supported dancers Josephine Darvill-Mills for her inspirational speech and Stephen Wicks and Mark Welford of Bloomsbury Flowers for the beautiful flower arrangements.
Check out #IamDCD to see more photos from the night, and make sure to put Thursday 13 July 2017 in your diaries for our next London Alumni event, with dates for local Alumni events across the UK to follow!
If you'd like to connect with other DCD Alumni, or support DCD and another dancer through transition, please don't hesitate to get in touch with Nancy.
Run for Dancers in the Spotlight Challenge!
Swap your dance shoes for running trainers and raise money for Acting for Others, a collective of charities supporting performing artists including Dancers' Career Development, by taking part in the Spotlight 10k Challenge run.
Whether you're keen to take on the 10km, the 5km, or just come along and be a cheerleader for our runners on the day - some contributions from Acting for Others fundraising events go directly towards DCD's work in supporting dancers in their career transition journey.
DCD's Executive Director Jennifer Curry will be leading our team of runners on the day - you can donate via our Virgin Just Giving Page and join our team and run for DCD!
The Spotlight Challenge is taking place at 10am on Sunday 11 September 2016 in Regent's Park.
Come join us for what's sure to be a fun day out for everyone!
DCD Hosts Final Session with BBC Young Dancer 2015 Finalists
DCD had the opportunity to get together with the BBC Young Dancer 2015 finalists to reflect on the year that has gone by since the grand final of last year.
"The BBC Young Dancer competition is extremely lucky to have the DCD and it is such a great support system for the dancers". Connor Scott, Winner of BBC Young Dancer 2015
Reflecting on their achievements and on the impact of DCD’s support, the finalists heard from DCD supported dancers Maeva Berthelot and Zenaida Yanowsky about their own experiences of career transition.
We were delighted to be joined by Paul Bullock and Kerry Clark from BBC Young Dancer as well as Chief Executive of The Place and BBC Young Dancer 2015 judge, Kenneth Tharp.
With applications now open for BBC Young Dancer 2017, DCD will continue to provide confidential, bespoke career transition support to the finalists of the Competition.
Photo: from left to right: Maeva Berthelot, Connor Scott, Vidya Patel, Harry Barnes, Keiran Lai, Zenaida Yanowsky, Isabel Mortimer and Jennifer Curry.
Clare Rickard - DCD Transition Tales
Clare is a professional in musical theatre, having performed in shows including Oliver, CATS and currently in Funny Girl at The Savoy Theatre in London.
With DCD's support, Clare now also works as a yoga teacher.
"I have learnt that nothing is impossible! I am so grateful to DCD and happy to be contacted by others who may be considering the same career change!"
Thinking of applying for a Financial Retraining Grant?
The next deadline is Wednesday 17 August 2016 at 5pm.
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.
Photo credit: DCD supported dancer Andrew Ross
Are you a DCD supported dancer? We'd love to know what you're up to!
Recipient of Clore Dance Fellowship Announced
We are delighted that Artistic Director of Company Chameleon, Anthony Missen, has been awarded the Clore Dance Fellowship supported by Dancers’ Career Development and the Linbury Trust.
“This is a huge learning opportunity for me, and I am greatly looking forward to the challenge. I feel honoured by this investment.” Anthony Missen
The Fellowship allows dancers to benefit from an individually tailored programme and is open to anyone who has worked as a dance artist in the UK for a total of at least 5 years, as a dancer, and who meets the required standard for a Fellowship.
Inaugural Recipient of SOLT Bursary
DCD's inaugural SOLT Bursary has been awarded to Nick Searle, who spent 25 years performing on the West End.
“Finding a new dream once my performance career came to an end was an enormous challenge, but now I have the confidence and the practical help I need to keep working in the industry I love. Thank you!” Nick Searle
Supported by SOLT, this bursary for musical theatre dancers, worth £5,000, will enable Nick to complete a Bachelor of Science degree in Applied Sound Engineering and pursue a new career as a music and audio producer.
IOTPD Awards Three Dancers With A Philippe Braunschweig Grant
The International Organization for the Transition of Professional Dancers (IOTPD) is pleased to announce the 2016 IOTPD Philippe Braunschweig Grant recipients.
The annual competitive grant is awarded to dancers at or near the end of their performance careers, to help defray the costs associated with retraining for a second profession.
Naiara Mendioroz, a freelance dance artist, is pursuing a Master in Dance Therapy at Codarts University for the Arts in Rotterdam; Mark Biocca is embarking on studies to become a GYROTONIC® Trainer after a 12 years in professional ballet; and Tom de Jager, currently a dancer with the Royal Ballet of Flanders, will be undertaking a Bachelor of Event Management: Music and Entertainment at VIVES in Kortrijk, Belgium.
DCD is a founding member of the IOTPD and will be attending the upcoming IOTPD annual meeting in Canada in the Autumn.
Photo Credit: Victoria Marr. Photograph by Drew Tommons
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...
- 17 August - Financial Retraining Grant deadline
- 10 September - EVOLVE London
- 11 September - Spotlight 10k Challenge in aid of Acting for Others
- 19 September - DCD Workshop for The Royal Ballet School third year students
- 26 September - Action Learning Workshop in partnership with Independent Dance - free taster day
- 17 & 24 October - Official Acting for Others theatre collection weeks
- 31 October - EVOLVE Birmingham
Thank you
Dancers' Career Development is kindly supported by the following Contributing Companies:
Birmingham Royal Ballet, English National Ballet, Northern Ballet, Rambert Dance
Company, Richard Alston Dance Company, Scottish Ballet and The Royal Ballet
The Dancers' Career Development Independent Trust is generously supported
by:
The Linbury Trust, The Society of London Theatre, Equity Charitable Trust,
The Rudolf Nureyev Foundation, Acting for Others,
The Royal Opera House Benevolent Fund and The Mackintosh Foundation.