At the end of the day, the qualification title doesn’t really matter if you can’t express yourself on stage
Where did you go to school?
In terms of dance education I only did a Dance Performance Diploma at Birkbeck and was also doing classes at The Place and GDA.
Which course are you studying?
I’m completing my BTEC National at Lewisham College
How did you choose this particular college?
Because it was near where I live and I desperately wanted to go into full-time dance training. It was the nearest option and in the end I’m glad that I accidentally moved near the college in 2006.
What's it like doing this course?
It’s just practical training. If you want to improve your technique, I highly recommend it. I’ve already got a diploma in dance but I still wanted to practice it more intensively, so I went on this course. At the end of the day, the qualification title doesn’t really matter if you can’t express yourself on stage.
What's the most surprising / interesting thing you've learned so far?
You have to forget about yourself as an artist and instead follow the teachers’ movement. They train you in the basics in order to create a solid foundation of dance ability which you can build on in the future.
Would you like to do more training after this course? If so, what type of course and where?
I would like to continue by doing a BA at The Place or Laban - realistically it might be Laban (1 year professional dance diploma if I find a sponsor…) followed by an MA in Dance Performance and later on in Dance Movement Therapy. Apparently to become a highly skilled dancer you need to study for at least eight years. So I’ve got four more to go!
What kind of work experience do you have so far?
I’m running a dance theatre company on my own www.jawafdancetheatre.com and with my friend/dance partner www.laschicasproduction.com. We’ve developed a few projects based on release dance technique, contact improvisation, narrative and gestures exploration of our bodies’ vocabulary. We incorporate multi-media within the performance and interact with other musicians as opera singer, drummer etc. A very strong part of our work is dance film production, which we project on stage.
What kind of job do you want to do eventually?
I want to continue being a dancer, choreographer and arts director. Eventually I want to be a Dance Movement Therapist.
What do your family and/or friends think of your course, your job prospects and your career ambitions?
I think they’re not surprised that I decided to end my career in media and start a completely new chapter in my life as a dancer. I’ve always had lots of ideas and lived a very active lifestyle. I’ve always done what I felt passionate about, and I’m doing so now. Before, I was always searching for the right direction in my life and finally I’ve found it in dance. I’m a mature person and there’s no way I could give up on my dreams – there’s nothing to stop me from achieving what I am confident about. I will always find the way to follow my destiny, and that belongs to contemporary dance.
What are your tips for anyone who's thinking of doing your course?
Just focus on what you are at the dance course for and don’t let anyone distract you from what you are doing. Be confident about your skills and let yourself dance like never before!
If you would like advice on creative careers and courses, contact a Creative Way Careers Adviser - either Matt Ball on m.ball@uel.ac.uk / 07889 001764 or Sarah Comerford on s.comerford@uel.ac.uk / 07515 051509
Creative inspirations
Fame
I watched the TV series when I was a child living in communist Poland. When I first saw it on TV I went crazy - I wanted to dance with all my heart. There was no dance school nearby so I couldn’t proceed with my dream but I watched the series over and over again. Dancers’ movement and flexibility amazed me. I was always very active physically but I had never defined my body vocabulary until then.
Flash Dance
Who hasn’t watched this movie?!? It was a revolutionary moment in my life. I saw it as a teenager and was shocked, in a positive way, by the courage and power of the main character who, in spite of doing a really hard job to survive, never gives up her dream of becoming a dancer and eventually succeeds. This film, which is always on my mind, was an inspiration in my career when I suddenly decided to quit my secure office job to do full-time dance training at the age of 30.
Martha Graham
She started to dance at a later age and set up her own dance company when she was 33. Just like me! She never gave up, even when she was told that she was not an extraordinary dancer - I hope that does not apply to me! However, age is always an issue which I am fighting against by keeping fit and training in contemporary dance full-time.
Alston Dance Company
This was the first time I got in touch with contemporary dance. In 2005, when I came to London, I found out about Sadlers Wells and went to watch a dance performance by Alston Dance Company. During the interval, I read on the back of the flyer about the Contemporary Dance School of London and went for an audition - without having a clue what contemporary dance and ballet were about!
Ballet Boyz
I admire them for setting up their own dance company, initially with only themselves acting as the company’s founders, dancers, choreographers and directors. I’ve also set up a two-person dance theatre company, with my friend and dance partner, as they did.
My mum
She’s the most incredible person in the whole world. The sense of freedom and self-esteem she gives me is enormous. She made me strong and sensitive, and her tolerance and patience helped me choose what I really wanted to do with my life. She helped me realise that I was born a dancer and must continue this incredible career and life path in spite of age and circumstances.
My friend Robby
He has always done what he wanted and has never compromised on anything. He always believed in me and is one of only a few people who have never pulled me down because of my unusual ideas.
My friend and fellow dancer Debora
When I first saw her warming up at the beginning of the Birkbek Dance performance diploma course, I knew that our professional lives would come together - and half a year later we started rehearsing for our first show ‘Up and Down’ (2006). We created our dance theatre company ‘Las Chicas Production’ and are still developing new dance projects each year. I don’t know anyone else with such an immense passion for dance.
My friend and work colleague Heather
She used to teach me yoga on the roof of the office where we worked in London. We were very energetic and wanted to do our stuff, so she decided to explore yoga more intensively and, for me, it was contemporary dance. We then both quit our jobs and went to follow our destiny. Later, while on full-time dance training, I got injured and was so frustrated because I had to stop dancing for a while. But I followed up on Heather’s experience and went to India to become yoga teacher.
Yoga
While I’m training in dance, I also teach different types of yoga and have developed my own style of yoga dance - www.jawafyogadance.com. This helps me keep in the necessary physical and mental shape to proceed further with dance.