"Within RHUC, I am currently involved with all areas, ranging from administration, marketing, tour booking, education bookings, applications, small creative involvement, contracts, invoices and staging. Different areas/roles in particular have ranged from touring technician, to company manager, to administrator to currently senior manager."
"My training was in dance - starting with the Dance Foundation course at SELTEC, now called Lewisham College. Having completed the 2-year course, I then went on to The Arts Educational Schools London for a year and then finally completed my dance training at Northern School of Contemporary Dance."
How did you make the move from dance to management?
"Having graduated, I went on to perform with various companies - Asian fusing with contemporary dance companies as well as European contemporary dance companies, both here and abroad. One particular incident during a show led me to assist in the operation of the sound and lights for our show. Needless to say, my interest was tweaked and I started to work in the backstage areas.
From there I started to merge performing with stage management. The interest was further fuelled by more regular pay and the lack of performance work available within the UK at that time. My roles since have ranged from stage manager, company manager, production manager, freelance management/consultant, to my current role of senior manager for RHUC."
Do you think training is essential for what you do now?
"That's difficult to answer, as my route into my current role has been a collection of on-the-job learning, transferable skills and common sense. Had I known that this is where I was going to end up, I might have been inclined to take some formal arts management training. In short, I have managed to make it work, stuck with it and been fortunate to have worked alongside people and artists I admire, trust and respect.
Currently I am in regular personal development sessions and I am about to embark on CPD training [continuing professional development training] for the newer aspects of the role for RHUC and myself."
What is the best thing about your work - what do you find most rewarding?
"One of the best things would have to be travelling with various companies, touring the world and seeing different countries, cultures and dance forms whilst being an ambassador for dance and the UK. A very close second is seeing the finished project on stage, whilst sat in the audience and seeing the audience reactions, good or bad."
And what do you find the most difficult aspects and how do you deal with these?
"One of my most difficult aspects was trying to establish my new role(s) with the people and companies I had worked with, because of people's need to pigeon-hole things. Dealing with it at first was a little difficult but worthwhile, and as easy as just sticking to my values, common sense and what I aspired to do within the industry my way."
Can you give advice to someone keen to make a career in a similar line of work?
"I was recently asked to advise an individual as to how they could get to do what I am doing. My first reaction was of bemusement, as I thought I'm not really doing anything different from others, but on close inspection, I am. The best way to offer advice in the simplest terms would be 'if you don't ask, you don't get'. I have founded a lot of my work, training, ventures and life experiences by asking first. What is the worst that can happen? Someone will say NO!
Mostly it would be if you want to chase a dream and that is what you want to do, then chase it. But be prepared for the eventful knocks too!"
