Unit 2 - Professional practice in performing arts

Wednesday 12^th October

Today, all of the students at college studying a level 3 course in performing arts travelled up to Manchester for the day for a “Compose your future” fair. The event was hosted by UCAS and took place at the MCCC (Manchester Central Convention Complex). The event was all about looking for the opportunities in further education within the performing arts sector. There were many different universities from all over the UK which we spoke to that told us about the courses that they offer. I spoke to lots of universities and places offering further education such as Northumbria University, University of Sunderland and The Royal Academy of Dance. When I was looking at the courses which the universities were offering, I mostly focused on looking for dance courses as that is my strongest skill within performing arts. However, I did also look at some further education courses specialising in performing arts. From walking around the stands and talking to many lecturers and current students at the universities, I was able to gather lots of information about courses that are available. I came to the conclusion that there are lots and lots of courses that all sound very similar but are in fact completely different to each other. 

Once we had looked around all of the stalls within the main part of the building, we headed upstairs as our lecturer, Cara had booked us in to one of the workshops. In the workshops, the practioners were able to give a speech about an element of the course and then were able to show us some examples with students. Then at the end of the session, they were able to answer any questions from the people in the room. The workshop that we were booked in to was a Shakespeare workshop. At the start of the workshop we were introduced to 2 practioners who were currently rehearsing to be in a Shakespeare play called “A Winter’s Tale”. The practioners that were running the workshop gave us a small insight into what they had been rehearsing recently. They also answered some questions at the end of the session from members of the audience.

Once this workshop had finished, it was time for us to head back to college. Overall, I had a great day at the careers fair in Manchester. I learnt a lot about the courses that are available within universities and further education colleges/ institutions. I have not decided what I would like to do after college but now I have some ideas if I chose to study a performing arts course at university.