Working Title:
An inquiry into the most effective ways to make a successful career transition from one industry into another, specifically from a dancer to a television presenter.
Aims and Objectives of the inquiry:
· Use literature to identify existing theories on career transition both in a general sense and those specific to dancers.
· To prove or disprove those theories by researching and interviewing professionals who have undergone/attempted to undergo career transition.
· To identify the common factors between those who have undergone successful career transition which may lead to the discovery of successful methods of career change.
· To investigate the skills which are necessary to work in both industries in order to identify those skills which are acquired by a dancer that can be transferred to help towards a successful career in television.
· To learn about the nature and characteristics of the television industry by participating in courses/workshops and interviewing those working within it. This could help prepare aspiring presenters for the obstacles they may face before they arise.
· Observe existing and aspiring presenters in order to identify the similar and different attributes between the two in order to help identify what may be necessary to succeed as a presenter.
· Identify the pressures and demands of the television industry compared to those in the dance world to see the importance of various factors and how they differ. This includes research into the pressures of age, body image and physique to see whether they are as strong as they are in the dance world.
· Discover and highlight other possible career options which come to light to help other dancers in transition, either through choice or injury.
· Make a new show reel to be used as a television presenter within the industry. This should reflect all new information learned during the inquiry, which should, in turn, improve the likelihood of a successful transition.
Inquiry tools to be used:
· Surveys: These will be sent out using www.surverymonkey.com to at least 20 professional dancers. The aim is to research their opinions on the process of career transition, whether they are interested or worried about career transition for themselves and the main reasons they believe dancers may undergo the process.
· Interviews: Three dancers who took part in the survey will be selected for interview. These dancers will have undergone/ be undergoing career transition, one will be from the BAPP network and the others will be dance professionals. They will be interviewed on the obstacles they have found/overcome and their personal experiences of the transition process. A dancer named Jessica will also be interviewed to discuss her situation where she is being forced into career transition through injury as opposed to choice. Max Clifford (TV celebrity publicist) will be interviewed for his views on the television industry and what is needed to be successful within the industry. Lastly, Stacey Solomon (Singer turned presenter) will be interviewed for her story on breaking into presenting and the main pressures she has found so far.
· Observation: I have undertaken the role of an insider researcher during a presenting course I attended. I observed the participants who were also on the course, particularly focusing on their current careers and how these careers helped or hindered their ability as a presenter during the course. This has helped me to identify many skills which are transferable to a career in television and those which are vital to have a chance of success. All findings have been recorded and I will be posting about them soon!
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