My First Blog

First Thoughts...

I have Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Google + and now...Blogger! Well one more can't hurt, can it?

This is my first blog about the BA Hons Professional Practice in Arts and quite frankly - I am wondering what to write! However, I think the best way to start this would be to reflect on where I was, where I am now, look into my current state of mind and of course share my ideas and what I would like to achieve from the programme.

Where was I?

I trained at Drama Studio London as an actress two years ago and worked professionally for another two and quite honestly felt I was on a rollercoaster of emotions. As Frank Sinatra once sang:

"Flying high in April,

Shot down in May."

 

I did some amazing short lived jobs, including some small commericals for Disney Channel and taking on the role of Lady Anne in the production of Richard the Third with the New York Oxford Shakespeare Company. Then I found myself taking part in some awful touring pantomime experience that invovled early mornings and constant loading and unloading of vans and amateur music videos where I was treated appallingly. All useful experiences, but also all short lived, temporary and as a result, were making me miserable.

I became very low and my friend from drama school, Zara, told me that a company called Explore Learning, were recruiting for tutors and that she had found her calling; working with children. She told me that with a drama school training and my fantastic performer and social skills that I would be the perfect candidate for the role. So I got the job. I also saw on Casting Call Pro, that a theatre school nearby on the island of Sheerness were looking to recruit an acting teacher. So I went along and got that job. Before I knew it I had two part time jobs that shared something in common. Working with children.

What happened?

Sooner or later, not only was I loving my job because of it's endless amounts of rewards, but I was feeling happier just offering my knowledge of the Arts and using the skills I had aquired at drama school to enlighten, heighten and inspire those young lives. It was the best feeling in the world. The theatre school I worked at, however, was soon in danger of shutting down and we had to think fast... because closure was not an option. That's where I met Kayleigh Carina Smith, a professional dancer who had worked at the theatre school before. She was brought in to assist me in forming what was believed to be the last theatre school pantomime of Peter Pan and whilst we formed this panto we realised that we were an amazing team. Before we knew it we were calling meetings with the director of the school and Susan Rodger, the mother of one of the dance teachers, James Walsh and a woman who already ran her own businesses. In no time at all, it was the Kayleigh Carina Performing Arts School and Kayleigh along with the strong staff unit were running it and changing things for the better.

 

 

Change is gonna come

The new school term under the new name began in February, the same month I won Tutor of the Year 2016 in my Explore Learning centre and became the 'official' Creative Writing co-ordinator. I soon realised that all of my new and exciting experiences all had one link; working with children. So I thought to myself, "I am great at teaching and can't think of anything better than this. Imagine if I could teach full time..."

Why am I here? Why am I undertaking the BAPP Degree?

So I've decided to make use of the Trinity College Diploma I received from Drama Studio and work towards a full honours degree. I want to begin to explore children in Theatre and Performing Arts and to delve deeper into the Kayleigh Carina project in investigating how we can build a school that can benefit these incredible children who may lack confidence, belief, drive, passion and enthusiasm. I'm here so I can develop my teaching skills and learn how to be the best teacher I can possibly be before undertaking a full time role and gaining a degree in order to enter the teaching profession. And also just to see how much a small group of people with a big dream can accomplish. And we have very big ideas.

So much for not really knowing what to write...