DCD visit May 2017
On Wednesday 24 May our 1st years took part in a Dancers’ Career Development (DCD) workshop at our Upper School.
In the workshop the students were encouraged to identify their best qualities and skills as dancers and how these could transfer into a diverse range of careers, from aerospace to fashion design and illustration to psychology.
Former Royal Ballet School student and DCD supported dancer, Lorraine Stewart spoke to the students about her own unique transition journey. As a professional dancer, Lorraine has danced with The Royal Ballet, English National Ballet as well as in commercial dance and musical theatre. Lorraine now works a yoga instructor.
Other Royal Ballet School alumni have gone onto a diverse range of careers after a successful dance career, including medicine, photography, film, leadership positions, fashion and floristry.
DCD’s Schools and Conservatoires Programme is pioneering partnership with The Royal Ballet School designed to broaden its curriculum to develop happy, confident, motivated professional dancers who are prepared for professional life.
The first of its kind in the UK, this ground-breaking programme demonstrates our visionary and practical approach to safe-guarding our students’ welfare beyond their time at school and the ambitious and pioneering leadership of DCD on the subject of dancer transition.
DCD works with students in the final three years of study (ages 16 to 19), as well as with students of English National Ballet School and those in the third year at Trinity Laban. They are given an Introduction to Transition in Year One and in Year Two, students participate in visits by DCD beneficiaries working in diverse careers. They have the opportunity to meet and network with current and former professional dancers, including some of Dancers’ Career Development’s 2,000 beneficiaries. In the 3rd Year, students learn about the practicalities of Transition and the Transition Support Services provided by DCD.
This initiative supports dance students at a key time in their personal development. Through the programme, students are encouraged to consider a wider view of the world around them and to recognise the transferable skills they have developed through their training.
Research shows that early preparation for career transition can help avoid the trauma some dancers experience when they retire from professional performance and even lead to a more fulfilling and successful post-performance career.
