Task 3a: Current Networks

Having connections in the dance world is essential.  However, getting connections can be tricky, so where do you start?  Wayne Sleep, ex principal dancer of the Royal Ballet (who I met at a dance seminar), once told me that to be seen in a ballet class could be enough to get you a job.  He suggested that taking class in London regularly was a good idea.  In fact, he got some of his dancers from asking teachers in London about the dancers in their class (who turns up for class, who is reliable etc.).

Recently, a friend of mine got “picked up” from being seen in a class in London, to do dance in a show staring Leona Lewis, and will soon be featuring on TV.  Further to this, another friend heard of an audition while taking class in London from some of the other girls taking the class, and after turning up to the audition, she got chosen to dance with Beyonce, and from this job, a casting agent saw her.  She has also had the chance to work with Cheryl Cole as a backing dancer.  This shows that from one job, you can be picked up by choreographers, agents and companies, just by taking class.

Another way to network is to send photographs (headshot and dance shots) along with a CV to companies and agencies to see if they would be interested in seeing you.  Asking if you can take a dance class with a company is another good idea to get connections, if the director likes you, he might offer you a job, or even suggest where you may find alternative employment.

In the dance world, the higher up the tree you go, the more and more people seem to know each other.  For example, we all know who Darcey Bussell is as she is one of the people at the top of the tree.  Its like a triangle, we start at the bottom and as we go higher up to the point of the triangle, the greater the connections.  Everyone at the top seems to know each other, no matter how random the connection.  Whether they went to the same high school, worked together in a company or if they met at a barre (note the pun).

Reputation is important, once the reputation has been made, one does not want to lose it.  Having a good reputation means that you cannot lie about someone being amazing.  When they turn up and can’t do a simple step without falling over, your reputation goes down the drain.  One needs to be honest and then the connections will remain strong.

Recently I got a Twitter account, in the hopes that it will aid me in growing my network, while also keeping in contact with others in the mean time.  Twitter is ideal as it keeps all of our connections up to date with what is going on.  This is much easier that sending individual emails to different precipitants, allowing us to remain in connection with others.

Slowly our chain of connections gets bigger and bigger.  Even if we have not contacted some of our connections recently, our reputation will keep us in touch, and the trust will remain.  This is why first impressions are so important.

When starting out, we rely on the connections of others to help assist us in the dance world.  Eventually, people begin to rely on you for connections in the dance world as your web of connections continually grows.