Caitlyn Jones
Over the course of this project, I meet individuals within the Creative Art sector who are willing to speak out about their worries and concerns for the future, not only that but the positives that have come from this year due to Covid-19. It has been amazing to see the strength of the Creative industry, coming together to fight for the arts and their future!
Creatives across the UK expressed the general lack of respect shown to the arts industry with the overwhelming majority of British cultural workers such as dancers, musicians, actors – saw their livelihoods shattered in a matter of hours this March with no support given.
This is especially serious for the performing arts world, Music, dance, and theatres are in the mass gathering business, and they will be among the last area of public life to reopen.
The exhibition includes portraits, statements about the participants and a film piece.
Jodie has been a dancer since the age of two and is a part of a dance company in Manchester called Shockout. She loves the performance side of dancing and being able to portray different characters and emotions through different styles of dance. Pre Covid, Jodie would have intense dance training of 8 hours a day, 5 days a week with extra classes on the weekend. Due to the pandemic, Jodie’s dance classes were moved online which meant she had to use her kitchen to practice which was quite demotivating as she struggled not having her dance team around her for the support and encouragement. To remain positive throughout this year, Jodie chose to take the extra time she has been given to work on other things such as fitness, learning French and practising video editing. Due to online classes, she was able to train with choreography professionals from all around the world like LA and Spain. Jodie is hopeful for the future and remains positive that with the strength of the creatives the industry will come back better than ever!
Anna started dancing at the age of six. She remembered her mum taking her to her first tap class and she was frustrated she could not get a tap, but that is what she loves about dance, it is rewarding if you stay resilient. She has a love for performing, meeting new people, and taking part in competitions and dance shows and the atmosphere that comes with it. Anna is currently studying dance at the University of Chester and before lockdown she would attend open dance classes as well as university. She previously danced for the Anamal Dance Company based on the Wirral that competed in competitions like the British and World dance championships. She is currently participating in their online dance classes. Anna feels due to Covid, she is out of practice and is not getting the intense training she needs. Due to online classes, she is tight for space whilst carrying out her training and feels she does not benefit from no contact or partner work. However, Anna has remained positive by seeing her friends virtually through the online dance classes whilst going through the same struggles and coming together as a community has given her a more positive mind set. She has been able to learn new choreography through the online dance classes which for her has been rewarding. Anna is confident for the future and the opportunities coming her way as professional dancer.
Victoria started her passion for acting in high school, where she joined her drama club in year 8 and had a love for musicals such as Annie, Oliver and Mary Poppins and would watch them on repeat in her living room whilst acting out the entire musicals. A few years ago, Victoria played the role of Nancy in the Oliver musical and it was one of her goals as a child and it was a full circle moment for her. Before the pandemic, Victoria would have busy weeks at university which consisted of workshops and rehearsals for various different modules. Her course was very community based and she enjoyed working with others and a lot of her work was group activities. Due to the pandemic, Victoria for the first time in her degree has had to work on her own and she has found that quite difficult. Covid 19 has impacted Victoria’s acting and her motivation as she is not able to be in the space that she loves and work in the studio with others. Victoria feels a positive to come from the pandemic is that there has been a lot more outside theatre productions which a lot of people have been enjoying and it has created a nice atmosphere and she hopes that it continues. For Victoria, Covid-19 has been both a blessing and her biggest struggle, but she is hopeful for the future and is excited to finish her degree and to see what is next for her.
Jodie has been a dancer since the age of two and is a part of a dance company in Manchester called Shockout. She loves the performance side of dancing and being able to portray different characters and emotions through different styles of dance. Pre Covid, Jodie would have intense dance training of 8 hours a day, 5 days a week with extra classes on the weekend. Due to the pandemic, Jodie’s dance classes were moved online which meant she had to use her kitchen to practice which was quite demotivating as she struggled not having her dance team around her for the support and encouragement. To remain positive throughout this year, Jodie chose to take the extra time she has been given to work on other things such as fitness, learning French and practising video editing. Due to online classes, she was able to train with choreography professionals from all around the world like LA and Spain. Jodie is hopeful for the future and remains positive that with the strength of the creatives the industry will come back better than ever!
