Looking back at the very first session of us all waiting to hear what our idea was, cake sales, arguments, tears, and funny moments to standing in a circle sending the energy around the space is amazing to look back on.
As a company I think we did really well to pull it out of the bag with our intention, and successfully portray our interpretation to an audience. I am proud of us for taking risks and keeping up with the ground-breaking status we have at BRIT. Ever since year 10 I've always loved the year 13 productions and I've been to see most of them from last years MH370, to Colour Blind.
I've learnt so many new skills from how to successful climb a fence, to really being able to read and embody a story to represent a character. It was fun to be able to think back to physical theatre, and be able to unlock all of those emotions and skills that I learnt through acting. From the intake of so much choreography with the mix of assessments, a levels, general life and Open Invitation, I feel like I have become a quicker, and more efficient person when it comes to stress management.
I have lots of skills that are now transferable in many borders, for example this year I don't know whats happened but I've started to enjoy contemporary. I have to admit for the last 3 years I've really hated it simply because I had no confidence "that I was doing it right" and because I would watch everyone else, and compare myself to them and feel down. After being in Gabby and Theia's, piece and being taught by my peers in a 'no pressure' way, and receiving positive notes from them and just allowing myself to be involved in the piece I have much more confidence in what I am doing, I did find the piece really challenging in some aspects, but looking back on the piece, I hope we did their choreography justice as I thought I danced it to the best of my ability for them.
In regards to the actual performances, what went well?
As a company member I thought that I did well within my role, and well as a performer helping to carry the interpretation, concepts, and emotions throughout.
When dancing I believe I gave it my all and stayed in character the whole time, taking on all of the feedback that was given to me. I hope that this is evident when the show is watched, and is evident through this evaluation process. I really enjoyed the journey we were able to take the audience on as a company and hearing the feedback was even better. From the outset we weren't expecting any applause or any cheering because it wasn't 'that type of show'. So at the end when it came to our bows, and we received a standing ovation, I can speak for all of us and say that we've never felt more humble and joy in our lives. At that moment, I remember us all looking at each other very confused, and shocked because we weren't expecting it at all, and we all couldn't help but smile.
That buzz pushed us to keep tirelessly going onto the next show to bang it out for the last time all over again.
At first I really wasn't excited or keen on dancing about the refugee crisis, because it was so current I was worried that everything would change or we would offend people or that people wouldn't get it, but it was such an awakening and opened my eyes to a lot of things I never knew, never thought I would experience, and never thought we could successfully pull off. The impact that it has had on me is much greater than I ever thought it could be. To say that it has been an emotional roller-coaster would be an understatement because as a company we've loved each other, been divided, wanted to kill each other, and then felt a little closer again by the end of the process, and with it being such an emotional time being auditions season, A-levels approaching, and university applications, everybody has been in such a range of moods, mindsets and more trying to juggle everything at once.
What would be even better?
When it comes to reflection I always find it hard to talk about what would make the show better,a nd my targets for improvements because I am so hard on myself in general, but I think the show could've been even better if we were more united as a strand like we were after bonding in New York, as troubles with friendships, arguments, shouting and everybody not having enough tolerance for one another made the process harder than it needed to be. But apart from that I believe the show was successful, and I really hope that we did Julia and Jodie proud for all o their hard-work, commitment, and time that they put into us and this production.
Targets!
The targets I would set myself would be to transfer all of these skills and new approaches I've learnt into the main show, and just to really learn from this process and use all of it in the real world as it contributes to shape me to be a better adult.
