Monday 29 February 2016

TASK 1a: Professional Profile

Preparing a strong CV is the first thing one should do in search of a job. In performance related work, experience is key to having an impressive profile so that you can then be chosen for an audition/interview. Nowadays companies are asking for experienced dancers. and that counts for any style company, whether it is a ballet company, contemporary or musical theatre. Directors want to know that the person which they'll hire is a reliable choice, once that has worked in a professional environment before, rather than having to nurture a young dancer all the way from A B C. Regardless or not of talent and technical ability, experienced dancers would most commonly have a priority. I have noticed a vast change in having success with being accepted or invited to audition between the year I was graduating from my dance school and only just one year after working professionally in a company. Having tested it out by sending the same photos or video links, the only thing that had changed was my CV! Naturally, in any case, your Resume would change accordingly to the amount of experience that one has gained throughout the years. If I look at my CV now it doesn't look quite the same as my first draft I had ever made. Ofcourse, being a student the experience if minimal, so one would have to make their CV sounds as professional as possible regardless to how much they have danced on stage. Emphasis should be given to quality of training and eagerness and passion to learn. This is what my first draft looked like back in 2013 when I was auditioning for a company for the first time. 

 I start by giving my basic information
  • where I can be reached/contacted > address, email , telephone number 
  • date of birth, nationality, height, weight > sometimes there is a height min/max to help match with the requirements of the company. 
  • A summary of where you are currently working/ studying 
  • experience
  • achievements
  • creative work/interests >  Involve any creative work that I have done in the past, ie:choreogrphies,  
  • Contact details of your current work/school > in order of reference 

 ..................................................................................................................................................................

Nastazia Philippou
Address:xxxxxx
Telephone: xxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxx@hotmail.com

Date of Birth: 19/02/94                                                                                                           Height: 164cm                                             Nationality: Cypriot                                                                                                                 Weight: 49kg         

Personal Profile
Currently a graduate from Elmhurst School for Dance under the direction of Robert Parker with a Diploma in Professional Dance and performed with the Birmingham Royal Ballet. Classically trained with experience and further training Contemporary (Graham, Cunningham, Release), Folk, Jazz and Tap. I have trained with Errol Pickford, Gloria Grigolato, Robert Parker, Samira Saidi, Desmond Kelly, Lei Zhao, Nadina Loizidou, and taught by Marion Tait, Elizabeth Platel, Tadeuz Matacz, Isabelle Ciaravola, Christopher Hampson, Lynn Wallis as well as Ana Garcia in Flamenco. Also studying Stott Pilates teacher’s course. 

Acadamic Achievements
A level- Maths, Dance Studies
Diploma in Integrated Proffesional Studies
Benesh Notation Level 1

Performance Experience
2013
SWAN LAKE (Sir Peter Wright) – Odette – Elmhurst Summer Show
STILL LIFE AT THE PENGUIN CAFE (David Bintley) – Zebra Lady – Elmhurst Summer Show
JAZZ SUITE (Mikaela Polley-Rambert) – Elmhurst Summer Show
2012
SWAN LAKE (Sir Peter Wright) – Swan (corps), Lady in Waiting – Birmingham Royal Ballet – The Lowry in Salford, Birmingham Hippodrome, Theatre Royal Plymouth, Sunderland Empire Theatre, Wales Millenium Theatre                                                     
RAD filming for ADVANCED 2 new Syllabus DVD
THE NUTCRACKER (Sir Peter Wright) – Mirlitons – Elmhurst Graduate Showcase
2011
LES RENDEVOUS (Sir Frederick Ashton) – Elmhurst Summer Show
2010
THE NUTCRACKER (Sir Peter Wright) – Snowlfake, Flower, Maid - Birmingham Royal Ballet – Birmingham Hippodrome and O2 Arena, London 2008-2010       
<2010
Performed and toured with DIASTASIS cultural dance group of Cyprus at St Petersburg, Moscow and Shanghai 

Awards / Competitions    
Elmhurst Solo Competition Finals- LA BAYADERE- Gamzatti variation 2012    
Winner of Elmhurst Choreography Competition and ‘Bintley Award’ with ‘InteRlinK’ 2011    
The Ballet Association’s Annual Award 2011    
Elmhurst Solo Competitions Finals- RAYMONDA- The Dream variation 2011   
Genée International Ballet competition in South Africa- LA BAYADERE- 2nd Shades variation and ‘Far Closer’ by Kirsten Isenberg  2010        
Varna international Ballet Competition- SWAN LAKE Pas de Trois- 1st Variation and GISELLE- Act 1 Variation 

Choreography
‘Un Amore’ - Tchaickovsky Gala- Estonia Venemuine Theatre 2013             
‘Lapse of a Moment’- Graduate Showcase 2013            
 ‘InteRlinK’- Elmhurst School of Dance Choreography Competition 2012- Winner 2011   
‘Interruptions’ - Elmhurst School of Dance Choreography Competition 2011-Finalist           
 ‘On Strings’(solo)

References

 r.parker@elmhurstdance.co.uk                               phone: xxxxxxx


.........................................................................................................................................................................................................................

After 2 years of working in a professional company I have had quite a lot of work that I can add to my CV concerning the repertoire I have danced on stage. However, this would mean that the CV would be more than a page long. The CV should be a simplified clean list with what you are currently working on and your achievements. The director/ boss should be able to have a swift look at your CV and not have to look back twice because what you have written down is hard to read. There is a structure to your profile that should capture the interest in seconds, because at that time when a director has more than a hundred CVs to review, the last thing he/she would want to do to is waste time on trying to make sense of a disorganised profile. 

I have made a few changes to my recent CV, creating a cleaner structure, taking out a few details in order to have a clearer view. I also added a Headshot on the top right corner so that when the director is looking at my CV he/she can have an idea of what I look like to avoid confusion with other dancers. The information on a CV can change also according to what job one is going for. For example, if I was going for a cruise ship audition I would draw attention to any alternative and jazz experience I have had in the past so as to show my versatility. This below is my recent draft of my CV that I would send in case I needed to. 

.........................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Nastazia Philippou
Address xxxxx
Telephone xxxxx
nastazia.philippou@gmail.com 


Date of Birth: 19/02/94                                                             Height: 164cm
Nationality: Cypriot                                                                   Weight: 49kg

Personal Profile
First Artist with the National Opera of Bucharest, under the direction of Johan Kobborg, since Septemper 2014. Past experiences include working with the National Theatre of Brno (2013-2014) and dancing with the Birmingham Royal Ballet while a student at Elmhurst School of Dance (2013 Graduate with a Diploma in Integrated Professional Practice and Benesh Notation Level 1).  

Work/Perfromance Experience

2015-2016 (Opera Nationala Bucuresti)
§  Courtezan , MANON (Sir K.MacMillan)
§  Hermia, Mustardseed , THE DREAM (Sir F.Ashton)
§  3 couples , DSCH (A.Ratmansky)

2014-2015 (Opera Nationala Bucuresti)
§  Pas d’Action, 3rd Shades , LA BAYADERE (Babushka)
§  4th Duet, PETITE MORT (J. Kylian)
§  CLASSICAL SYMPHONY (Y. Possokhov)
§  Two Willis (Julma) , GISELLE (E.Steifel and J.Kobborg)
§  Flower Girls (Juanita) , DON QUICHOTTE (J.Slavicky)
§  The Sylph, LA SYLPHIDE (J. Kobborg)
§  Girlfiends , LA FILLE MAL GARDEE (Sir F. Ashton)
§  Birbanto’s Girlfriend , LE CORSAIRE (V.Medvedev)

2013 -2014 (National Theatre Brno)             
§  Parent, Snowflake, Waltz , NUTCRACKER (V.Medvedev)-
§  TRUE LOVE (triple bill)- LOVE STORY (Mario Radacovsky)
§  LUCIDOR AND ARABELLA (Youri Vamos)
§  Odalisque, Waltz and Shades, LA BAYADERE (Jaroslav Slavický)
§  Aristocrat, DANGEROUS LAISONS  (Krzysztof Pastor)
§  Swan (corps) , SWAN LAKE (Robert Strajner)

2010-2013 (Elmhurst School For Dance)
§  Odette, SWAN LAKE (Sir P.Wright) Elmhurst Summer Show                         
§  Zebra Lady, STILL LIFE AT THE PENGUIN CAFE (D.Bintley) Elmhurst Summer Show
§  JAZZ SUITE (Mikaela Polley- Rambert) Elmhurst Summer Show
§  Swan (corps), SWAN LAKE (Sir P.Wright) Birmingham Royal Ballet – Birmingham Hippodrome and UK Tour
§  RAD filming for Advanced 2 new syllabus        
§  LES RENDEVOUS  (Sir F.Ashton) ~Elmhurst Summer Show 2011                
§  Snowflake, Flower and a Maid, THE NUTCRACKER (Sir P.Wright) Birmingham Royal Ballet – Birmingham Hippodrome and O2 Arena, London 2008-2010       

Awards / Competitions    
The Ballet Association’s Annual Award 2011    
Genée International Ballet competition in SA 2010 - La Bayadere-2ndShades and ‘Far Closer’ by K.Isenberg
Varna international Ballet Competition 2010- Swan Lake Pas de Trois- 1st Variation and Giselle- Act 1 Variation 

Choreography
‘Eye for Optical Theory’ Choreo Lab with Opera Ntionala Bucuresti
‘Un Amore’ - Tchaickovsky Gala- Estonia Venemuine Theatre 2013             
‘Lapse of a Moment’- Graduate Showcase 2013            
‘InteRlinK’- Elmhurst School of Dance Choreography Competition 2012- Winner 2011             

References   email:xxxxxx     +xxxxphone number 

.........................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Things I changed:
  • prioritised information
  • smaller summary
  • added a headshot
  • changed the structure of my performance experience from -Ballet>role>choreographer>venue- to -role>ballet>choreographer- and mentioning the venue and company on top so that I wouldn't have to repeat myself 
I believe there are always way that one can improve the quality of their CV however we must not forget that to have an impressive CV, one must work for it! I am open to any suggestions regarding the improvement of my profile :) 


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4 comments:

  1. Unknown29 February 2016 at 06:10

    Wow Taz! You certainty have been busy since leaving Elmhurst, glad to see you're doing so well!! It's really interesting seeing your CV because although we have trained in the same place it's intriquing to see how our professional paths differ. I look forward to reading more of your posts!

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    Replies
    1. TazPhilippou6 March 2016 at 23:05

      Thank you Maddie :) I am hoping that when it comes to any auditions I can support the experience on paper with my dancing. The CV is just the first step, yet very important for any director to have a clear sight of who they would wish to hire!

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  2. Paula Nottingham5 March 2016 at 07:04

    A conversation stater Taz - what you have said about change " Having tested it out by sending the same photos or video links, the only thing that had changed was my CV!" - the CV however it looks represents us in some way - it is good to hear that your work is going well and that it is presenting you and your experience.

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    Replies
    1. TazPhilippou6 March 2016 at 23:20

      I hope I make it justice! I try to stand very honest to my work, no lies or exaggerations because I believe that then it would be no benefit to anybody, neither the dancer or director. It's easy to write things on a piece of paper however to be able to support the experience you have had is another situation. Besides, as an art form, just like literature or art, a lot of it lies on the opinion and interests of the one hiring. Many things play a role to getting a job. Talent can sometimes be overlooked simply due to the number of contracts a company has and is able to give away, vacancies due to people leaving the company for A or B reason (ie: maternity leave, retirement ). Your height even the colour of your hair could be a big factor, as well as being in the right place at the right time. I find it very interesting as to how a director would choose the dancer that he/she would like to work with and what their values are.

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