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I think overall this experience has been a massive learning curve. From utilising all the training I have learnt throughout my degree and finalising it all into one showcase was daunting but exciting. I now understand why all the hard work we have put in over the last 3 years has built up to this very show. I am extremely grateful that I was able to showcase the skills i have learnt along my journey and show them in a way that could be a future career path for me. It has shown that all this hard work hasn't gone unrewarded and every significant detail I have learnt in some way or another has been showcased. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to learn new skills as part of the production team, as these are valuable lessons I could take away as part of the performing arts industry and has given me wider knowledge on the amount of work needed for productions. It has also increased my interest in different elements of the arts and that there could always be more than the one window of performance.

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References

Bond, L. (2016). 7 June 2016. [online] YouTube. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DjHmAyhKunA [Accessed 7 Jun. 2016].

Bond, L. (2016). 7 June 2016. [online] YouTube. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M0uyCWdAIs8 [Accessed 7 Jun. 2016].

Bond, L. (2016). 7 June 2016. [online] YouTube. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GOpmqKrJ6aY [Accessed 7 Jun. 2016].

Bond, L. (2016). 7 June 2016. [online] YouTube. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dY_NkNDpqvI [Accessed 7 Jun. 2016].

Bond, L. (2016). 7 June 2016. [online] YouTube. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNdwvDnEIIY [Accessed 7 Jun. 2016].

Bond, L. (2016). 7 June 2016. [online] YouTube. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aubaG9FetlY [Accessed 7 Jun. 2016].

Lydia, B. (2016). 7 June 2016. [online] YouTube. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5bI6U-UDCSw [Accessed 7 Jun. 2016].

YouTube. (2011). Dreamgirls - Hard To Say Goodbye (Tour). [online] Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tz0L98cUnZM [Accessed 7 Jun. 2016].

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Basic costume list required

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When we arrived on the day, another job in the marketing role was to help organize and set up the event room. This included taking out 25 6ft by 6ft round tables with 10 chairs each and setting them up on the morning of the showcase.

I also assisted in helping with the table decorations for the centerpieces, putting down the table clothes and arranging the food with Anna. This was very stressful as we also needed to rehearse our pieces and make sure we were ready to perform in the showcase, alongside making sure arrangements were perfect before the guests arrived.

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Prior to the showcase I now understand working behind the scences is actually a much more stressful jon than I had initially realised, and it has made me appreciate all the hard work that has gone into previous shows and what it takes to put it together. The challenges I faced were really stressfull at times but watching them come together to create a great showcase was definitely worth it!

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During the process, I helped out in the wardrobe department. This included going to primark with Mr needham and harrison and collecting the right sizes for the dreamgirls costumes. This was harder work than expected as all the boys had different sizes waist and leg and all the girls are quite versatile sizes, and especially because a lot of things were not in stock that we required. This resulted in me returning back to primark 3 times changing the sizes of clothes even though I wasnt part of the wardrobe department I was happy to help out as it was probably one of the biggest job roles to hand which needed lots of extra workers involved.

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Although I was a performer in the show, this role made me realise that a lot of work goes into promoting and advertising a show properly, down to the detail of the poster and sharing through social media. It has made me interested in behind the scenes work and how much effort goes into putting on a good show and it would definitely be something I would consider doing following my dance career as I feel there will always be available work.

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I felt a big amount of pressure with this job role, as at the end of the day the graduates career could depend on the right person noticing them as they came. Although I cleared the email with the Principle before I sent any invites out - I was intent on making sure I sounded inviting and they would be eager to attend. Finding appropriate agents to attend wasn't easy and there are a number which aren't easy to find over the internet, and it was also crucial I contacted the right email addresses or phone numbers incase they didn't recieve our invite.

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5 Members of The University of Bolton

Pearson Casting

Urban Casting

Regan Management

Boss Casting

KMC Casting

JKDance

BBA Casting

The Arts Council England

The Hammond School

AMCK Casting

Heather Roberts

Dancers INC.

Daniel Lauder

DanceWorld

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This is an example of the email I sent out to agents, which i tried to make both professional and friendly. Although it is key to sound professional i also think it was important to come across friendly and approachable. I kept email inviting guests to the showcase short and sweet as the invite photo with our shockout arts logo on was the main focal to entice them into coming.

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This was the invite created - which was similar to the general invite except this was specifically for guests. I sent this along with an email to a number of agents.

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My main role as part of the production team for the graduate showcase was marketing. This included roles such as making and distributing tickets and posters, organizing the event (such as tables, chairs, food), and emailing agents invites to the show. Between the 3 of us we split up the roles and I was in charge of finding and contacting suitable agents for the show and offering them complimentary tickets to our showcase.

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My role on the production team for the Final Major Project

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My role on the production team for the Final Major Project

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Although we did not end up performing this piece in our showcase, we spent a number of rehearsals with Anthea Garratt rehearsing this number, called the secret. The intention was to showcase our technique with elements of our own choreography to show off the best of our abilities. Although this was not included in the show I feel like i learnt a lot from these rehearsals as I have never choreographed contemporary before and it is the style I am least comfortable in.

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(Bond, L 2016 Youtube)

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Although I didn't end up performing this piece due to commitments helping out in the production - This was one of the rehearsals for the contemporary piece which was self-choreographed by the third year students.

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Ramzan Main Munafa Khor Sirf Pakistan Mein

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In order to try and reach my full potential as a dancer I was keen to learn new tricks to make me more versatile and employable. Practicing a front handspring

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(Bond, L, youtube, 2016)

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(Bond, L, youtube, 2016)

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Ramzan Main Munafa Khor Sirf Pakistan Mein

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(Bond, L, Youtube, 2016)

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This is the Dreamgirls tour upon which our finale piece was based on.

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Latest Dreamgirls Tour..... I KNOW...... so much better than this, but I had to....

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For our finale piece for the graduate showcase, Mr Needham wanted to choreograph a piece to 'Say Goodbye' from the musical Dreamgirls. The intention of this piece was to showcase us in a dignified and sophisticated manner, with simple choreography and steps but highlighting us as professional dancers without the choreography being simplistic, much like it is in a Broadway show. I loved doing this piece, as sometimes I lose performance skills when I am thinking about the choreography too much - and I think this was the perfect way to showcase us and say goodbye to our training. I was one of the 5 girls at the back in the company, which included a small partner section. The intention of this piece was to mainly enjoy it, but have the poise and presence of a broadway show and give that to the audience. The biggest challenge of this piece was to keep it simple and not over-do the choreography - but not to be too relaxed and forget small details such as pointing my feet.

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As another last minute piece, Chad taught us some choreography to 'The Zone'. Before I started Shockout this particular Hip Hop style was completely out of my comfort zone, and with only 3 rehearsals I was really proud of myself for picking up the choreography as it was so intricate and fast paced. It made me realise the journey I have come on and the versatility I now have as a dancer, as 3 years ago I wouldn't have thought I could ever pull a routine that complicated off. I really enjoyed performing this piece and felt it was a really big personal achievement.

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I found this piece the most challenging in the rehearsal process, as from all the pieces performed in the show this included lots of technique and a style I am not comfortable with. This piece was from the musical 'Jersey Boys' to the song Who Loves You. Julius explained to us the piece was titled city lights, and the whole theme was based upon sleek, classy ladies intriguing the men, who were cool, smooth and suave.
Upon starting this piece I was exciting about doing something new and different, as I had never heard of this musical before I knew that it would be a challenge for me.

During my training at Shockout we have built our technique up to a professional level, which Julius was keen to showcase within this performance. This number included double pirouettes, chene's and kicks. The added pressure of performing this to an audience in 3 inch character heels was prominent but I believe that showcasing this to potential agents was bound to show that we are ready for the professional industry and can perform technical elements to a high standard.

During the rehearsal process I found it very hard to keep my energy and performance up, as I was focusing to intently on the movement rather than performance, which is a very big part of what musical theatre based numbers are about. On numerous occasions I was told my facial expressions weren't good enough and I was lacking a certain energy compared to the other girls.
As it drew closer to the show, each rehearsal I tried to give it more but I was still afraid it wasn't enough. This was the main challenge I faced although I was focused on making the performance on the show right as I never like to be comfortable with my performance and like to give myself things to work on.

Since performing this number in the show and viewing videos back, I really believe I did myself proud within the performance. Even when I was a the side of the stage I kept up the acting and the style and intention of the number, which is key as if i came out of character and an audience member noticed it could've ruined the whole feel of the number.

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After working with Jamie Luke for 3 years and him being one of our main influences throughout our Shockout training, I am well accustomed to the way he teaches and his rehearsal process.
Jamie is extremely creative, and likes all his pieces to not be just choreography, but stories with a meaning. This year to save time constraints, Jamie was putting together a piece from old class choreography, and incorporating a story within these pieces. Although I do personally struggle with commercial choreography I really like the fact that Jamie sits us down and tells us what he wants his piece to be about and the connotations behind it. This really helps me in a performance because if I know the emotions I am directing my performance towards it really helps me channel my energy and make my performance more realistic.

Jamie titled his piece 'walk through love' - which was based on young relationships progressing and going through different key stages. The first choreography 'Bad Blood' - we were all lay on individual mattresses and the concept was to be in your bedroom, daydreaming about a particular individual. The mattresses would become a focal point of the set, as the next section of the music was us maneuvering them and turning it into choreography, but as the music had quite specific beats it was a really big challenge, not just for me but I think for the whole class. After a few rehearsals Jamie decided to cut the mattress section as the risk of dropping them on stage was becoming more apparent as we continued to make mistakes.
After we insisted we could make it work with the promise of extra practice, Jamie put back in the mattress section. I think it was one of the most effective sections and really stood out if executed properly.

The next section was to represent sexual chemistry and that area of a relationship - with Alice and Dennis doing a partnering duet which I think was a really strong partnering. I initially learnt this choreography with Harrison, but due to his absence we thought it was best not to learn as the choreography was very intricate and I also believe Dennis and Alice looked more effective with just them two performing it. The story line then followed the confusion path with the song 'come and see me' - which is about the uncertainty of a relationship. I felt I could connect with this and really use the music and meaning to add an extra element of my personality to this. The final section to the song 'Dangerously in Love' was to portray those feelings of love and admiration, which i again felt was relate-able. Although for the most part of this section of choreography i was on the sides on the mattress it gave me chance to feel the music even more and express movement and the story and act through the beats.

I enjoyed the rehearsal process of this piece, as i feel it gave me a chance to understand the deeper meaning Jamie was trying to bring across within his choreography, and ultimately i think this came across exceedingly well due to feedback. It gave me an insight to what it would be to be more creative rather than just doing choreography for the sake of it and put into perspective what its like to create a whole story rather than just any old dance.

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As choreographer and director of the Graduate Showcase, David Needham was the first teacher to start his number, as the high intensity and detail of how his pieces are done require no less than perfection. He has a different way of choreography than I have ever experienced, with all his notes being hand written and everyone having a 'number' - which was indicated with spacing and what particular sections you would be in.

At first I was given the part with a replacement, as sometimes I know my retention and pick up isn't as it's best, Mr Needham wanted to ensure that his piece was smooth running. This was immediately extra pressure on myself as I had to keep up or else I would be cut from the piece.

I initially found these rehearsals extremely intense, as Mr Needham teaches very professionally. He likes to get through the steps as quickly as possible and teaches at a very fast pace, in order to focus more time on cleaning and perfecting the routine. My first rehearsal was a bit shaky and I struggled to pick up the choreography, which I was nervous would result in me getting replaced in the number. In order to prevent this I rehearsed myself on my own that night, making sure I had the choreography he had taught perfect and I knew it inside out.

This was the piece i felt most comfortable with as it was finished at least 2 weeks in advance and we had time to keep going over it and ask any questions and clean it thoroughly. The final section of this piece was with streamers which was a new experience, I find working with props quite a challenge as there's an added risk factor that they could malfunction so I made sure I put aside extra rehearsal time for this.

Overall in this piece I felt i learnt how it is to work in a professional company or job, such a cruise ship. You are expected to learn the steps and perform them to the best of your ability in little time. This is the way it would be on a professional job and I believe this has given me the confidence that I would be able to do this as a career as before I was unsure, but this piece has made me revive my love for dancing and this particular style of jazz.

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Me as an Artist in the Final Major Production.

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Me as an Artist in the Final Major Production.

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Although I know and believe training is the core foundation of putting on a spectacular showcase, for me performances are where I really shine as a dancer. As someone with little confidence in myself, I am constantly critiqued in class for 'not using my face' - I believe this is solely down to the pressures felt of self belief (such as staring at yourself in a mirror for 7 hours a day!). All these anxiety and tensions are evaporated once I get on stage and in front of an audience. This has always been the case, prior and during my training at Shockout Arts. I was keen to get rehearsals and pieces started for our showcase, as the longer we have to work on the choreography the more I can focus on my own individual performance.

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In this blog I will talk through the rehearsal process leading up to our final major production, what I have gained and new experiences I encountered.

I will them explain my allocated job roles in aid to assist production and behind the scenes management of the show - I will go in depth about these roles and the new things I have learnt during this process.

I will finally evaluate how the overall production went and how the build up and production of the show was a result of my knowledge and experience within this process. I will also talk about my personal development as a perform and what I have gained from this experience as a whole