Carys Dickens

I've just finished catching up on Wednesday's lecture and thought I'd reflect on what came up during the session. So many of the statements really hit home with me because many of the participants have had similar dance training and working experiences as me.  Some of the thoughts shared about teachers at some of these dance institutions definitely aligned with my experiences and how it may seem that some teachers aren't concerned about how they approach students with different learning styles and they can communicate in impolite ways that may be an ethical concern to students' mental health. Something I have definitely used as examples of how not to treat my students. Also, work/ life balance and time management, this is something I've really been working on in the last  year or so. Being self employed I've found this hard over the years, feeling internal pressure to work as much as possible to earn a decent living, which can be notoriously hard in the arts...

Whilst reading Section 2 of the module 1 handbook I started reflecting on my own learning process when I was creating my blog and how I continue to add to it.  When first creating it, I definitely adopted the 'reflective observation' approach from Kolb's learning cycle.  I have never blogged before and wasn't feeling particularly confident about the thought of writing and uploading my work to the big World Wide Web for all to see! I had many questions popping into my head; How formal does it have to be? How long/ short does it have to be? What subjects do we write about? So I read several blogs before starting my own, to get a feel for others' blogs and how the whole thing worked. I think I tend to lean towards this type of learning and also 'abstract conceptualisation' - working it all out in my head first. As opposed to trying out ideas, like the 'active experimentation' approach, the more gun-ho approach I would say.  I hadn't really considere...

Unfortunately I missed Tuesday's Module One lecture because I was teaching, so I thought I would upload my 'something' here. I chose a birthday card I received from a very close friend of mine that I absolutely love and have framed on my wall. The card is by Spookshow Illustrations. My star sign is Cancer. I also think this card looks quite like me, particularly the hair! Cancer traits are compassionate, artistic, nurturing, loving, loyal, diligent, intuitive, sensitive and sympathetic. I definitely identify with all these traits and like a true Cancer I like to be by the water and luckily I live by the coast. So I couldn't think of anything better to represent me!

Following Monday's Wellbeing session I listened to Gabby Rivera's podcast 'Why I Needed A Joy Revolution' and it got me thinking about joy in my practice and how I can cultivate it more.  There are plenty of moments where I find joy in my practice, whether that be seeing smily faces running round on their 'tippy toes' during baby ballet classes or when a student who is struggling with some complex technical movements in an advanced tap class then masters the technique. Choreographing to music I enjoy. Discussing inspiring performers and performances. I could go on... But there was a part towards the end of the podcast that really hit home with me, when Gabby's therapist was discussing how can we be creative and effectively show up as our best self, when we're constantly stressed. It made me think about my practice and how if I'm feeling stressed/ overwhelmed/ over worked how can I find joy in what I'm doing, let alone pass on the joy of dance to ...

Hello and welcome to my blog! A little bit about me... I am Carys Dickens a Dance Educator based in South Wales.  I trained professionally in dance at Tiffany Theatre College graduating in 2012 and following that performed on Costa Cruise Lines and Tallink/ Silja Lines. I am an ISTD DDE qualified Imperial Classical Ballet, Modern Theatre & Tap Dance teacher and currently teach syllabus and non syllabus dance classes in South Wales & West to all ages from 6 months- 60!  I am now embarking on the BA Professional Practice at Middlesex University in order to reflect on my own practice and expand my own learning. I am a firm believer in continual learning and I think it's an imperative part of being a teacher, so we can be the best teachers we can be for our students. I have just finished catching up on our welcome week zoom calls and I am now very excited to get going with Module One!