The communication tools that
Internet allowed us were revolutionary as it was already mentioned and worked in
the past tasks. It is not a surprise then to realize that most current sources
used to professional network are done by Internet. However, I don’t get information
and build my network just through the Web world, other activities are also
important. Here, I will list my current sources of information that I use most
and find the most important to keep me into this “Community” and be in touch
with my current “affiliations” and “cooperation”.
Facebook:
Of course Facebook is one of the
most crucial ones. As I told before in the past tasks, for a long time Facebook
was just a social website for me with no professional contacts. I realized that
I had to change and nowadays I recognize as an important tool to keep in touch
and to keep updated. Many companies nowadays have Facebook pages, ballet
dancers as well and recently, dance auditions pages which are extremely useful.
I am part of three of those dance auditions pages. Facebook is also great to
promote yourself. By uploading pictures, sharing your performances and current
jobs your contacts are able to know about your current activities and
approaches. Recently, I posted more about Ballet Dortmund and many talked to me
after that.
Dance websites such as “Tanznetz”; “Danza.es”; “Balletnews”;
“Balletcompanies”
Dance websites are great not just
for auditions but also for interviews and reviews which I enjoy reading. I
constantly check the “Tanznetz” website for reviews from Ballet Dortmund
productions. I think is really important as a professional to read reviews from
pieces which you are taking part. I believe makes you reflect about it. Those
websites are great as well to know companies current productions and some news,
such as if a company is changing the artistic director. I try to read different
nationality websites to have a better overview from the dance world.
Networkdance and DancersPro
Those websites have the main proposal
of promoting dancers, companies, job offers and courses. I find them really
useful to keep updated about auditions and courses however, sometimes I ask
myself how helpful it is to actually promote yourself. Do directors and choreographers
really check our profiles? Do they look for dancers on those websites? If
anyone would like to discuss about that , I would be more than happy! Helping
or not , if a company asks for a personal website I usually give my
Networkdance profile which has my CV , lots of pictures and now , I am trying
to get some videos as well. Recently, I made a profile at DancersPro which has
the same proposal as Networkdance but , I found more organized and detailed.
Also DancersPro informs more about short-term , commercials and freelance jobs.
I just got into it so I still don’t know how effective it is.
YouTube
YouTube is absolutely great. By watching videos from dancers
and companies, you get to know much better about them. Usually before applying
to an audition, I like watching videos from it to know better the style, if it
worth going to the audition and to be more prepared for it. Also , when I
rehearsing a choreography which was previously done , I like watching it to
learn better , improve it and adapt to myself (as we mentioned on Task 2 , I am
a visual learner so nothing is better than a YouTube link to watch the choreography
!) It is also great to find inspiration by watching other dancers and of course,
to promote your own videos.
Magazines
I enjoy reading magazines for the same reason, I enjoy
checking dance websites. Here, in Germany, I am finding harder to read those
magazines as they don’t sell it here, but always when I have an opportunity I
buy them. Some examples are Dance Europe, Pointe Magazine and Dancing Times. They
are great for interviews, reviews and articles about dance (injury prevention, nutrition,
tips etc.).
Travelling, watching performances, taking part in workshops
We studied on Reader 3 how participation and knowledge are
crucial to the process of learning and to be part of a community. I think that
by watching performances, getting to know better other cultures and groups of
dance are examples of this involvement in dance. When I arrived in Europe, I
knew very little about companies, dancers and choreographers. I realized that
it was important to have a better knowledge for the development of my career. I
looked for workshops in the UK and performances. By watching each company and
getting to do a different type of movement, my mind opened so much and I got to
know much more people. I can even say that some courses that I have done were
extremely important to my development and current network. It is a habit that I
keep nowadays even if I don’t have the time I used to have. Here in Germany, as
I mentioned before, there are so many different performance groups. I arrived
here and had the same feeling that I had when I arrived in Europe for the first
time: there is a lot to try, watch, know. So , I believe this habit gives a
better knowledge to dancers and , even if you search on the Internet or watch YouTube
links , the best way to get to know companies , choreographers and dancers it
is by watching them , talking to them and doing classes.
No comments:
Post a Comment