Rationale for Award title

The award I seek as a result of doing this programme is BA (Hons) Professional Practice (Performing Arts).

After a lot of thought into what I want my award title to show I have decided on this title which not only relates to my previous study but also to other areas I wish to break into of performance. This titles shows where my skills and knowledge lie without limiting me to specialise in one area or another. My research has shown how common it is for performers to make transitions between one area and another and how something as simple as an award title can affect this; therefore this has proven to be the most logical choice for my award title in helping me pursue a career in performance.

Prior to studying my degree at Middlesex University I trained for two years under the title Musical Theatre towards a Trinity Diploma. Although the course was titled as Musical Theatre the training it provided was specifically focused on preparing performers for all areas of the performing profession. It had the three main elements of a Musical Theatre course; dance, singing and acting but also focused on classical text, acting for camera contextual studies. This was an intensive training course running on a minimum of 37 hours a week which helped me develop the skills to pursue a career in performance in a variety of areas of the industry

From a young age I have always been involved in performance both in my education and as extra curricular training. At the age of sixteen I enrolled into a BTEC National Diploma course in Performing Arts achieving the grade of triple Distinction as well as studying towards a BTEC National Music Award achieving a Distinction and a BTEC National Technical Award achieving the grade of Merit. During this time I also trained outside my education towards my grade 6 LAMDA, grade 6 Singing and Intermediate and Advanced grades in various areas of dance. This gave me not only the opportunity to perform in various areas of amateur performance but also the means to work professionally for the Welsh television channel S4C as a guest actor and extra and for Ballet Russe as a lady in waiting for their local performance of Swan Lake. This not only helped towards supporting my main study but also to the beginning of a career in performance.

As well as having performed in many amateur performances both within and outside my education I have been successful in gaining professional experience playing the lead in a road safety tour for Health Challenge Wales, lead roles in theatre productions in all areas, lead and supporting roles in short films and television, modelling work in an advert as well as touring pantomime and performing in musical festivals.

Since completing my training I have continued to perform professionally in all areas. I have been successful in gaining an agent and promoting myself as a professional performer as part of my professional practice. I regularly travel across the country to auditions for both paid and unpaid work creating networks with industry professionals such as production companies, directors and other performers. I not only do this through my agency but also independently. This has resulted in gaining successful connections with many professionals whilst pursuing a career in Performing Arts.

Working towards my degree at Middlesex University has been beneficial to my professional practice in many ways not only helping me develop new skills in the way I conduct myself in the professional world but also by helping me use the skills I have already gained in a more academic and sufficient way. It has enabled me to promote myself professionally by using the experiences of others as well as my own. It has given me the information I need to showcase my skills academically whilst promoting my transferable skills as a performer.

My short-term goals have been to use my previous training in the Performing Arts to gain employment in a variety of areas and make connections within the industry. I have succeeded in doing this and will continue to pursue these goals throughout my career because of my love for performance. I now aim to focus on certain areas of Performing Arts separately enabling me to solidify my connections and establish myself as a performer without limiting myself to one area or another. I will not only be able to use the skills learnt whilst studying my degree at present but it will give me the academic back up and knowledge to branch into the areas of the performing industry I desire and long to be a part of.  

In conclusion; I have chosen the award title of BA (Hons) Professional Practice (Performing Arts) because it represents the vast amount of previous training I have gained as an amateur and professional performer in the industry. A career as a multi-skilled performer is one I intend to continue pursuing as I have a love and passion for many areas of the Performing Arts and want my award title to represent this.