Choosing the unstable: Dancing through the mid-career
Whilst professional instability is a lifelong challenge for dance artists, it is in mid career that instability becomes particularly problematic and the issue of sustainability comes to the fore. Mid-career artists build increasingly diverse protean careers in a bid to generate stability whilst deal...
| Main Authors: | , |
|---|---|
| Other Authors: | |
| Format: | Conference Paper |
| Published: |
European Association of Conservatoires AEC
2009
|
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/4243 |
| _version_ | 1848744460977963008 |
|---|---|
| author | Bennett, Dawn Pollitt, J. |
| author2 | Aaron Williamon |
| author_facet | Aaron Williamon Bennett, Dawn Pollitt, J. |
| author_sort | Bennett, Dawn |
| building | Curtin Institutional Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | Whilst professional instability is a lifelong challenge for dance artists, it is in mid career that instability becomes particularly problematic and the issue of sustainability comes to the fore. Mid-career artists build increasingly diverse protean careers in a bid to generate stability whilst dealing with unpredictable work patterns, aging bodies, and increased financial, family and future responsibilities. In addition to this is the sense of physical and emotional loss experienced when the fundamental need to dance is not being fully met. In this study we underscore these big picture issues with a more personal dialogue with three Australian mid-career dance artists. Through these case studies we examine the constant negotiation, reassessment and instability inherent in dance careers. Our research reveals that 'putting the body down' often entails putting down work, status and identity. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T06:01:49Z |
| format | Conference Paper |
| id | curtin-20.500.11937-4243 |
| institution | Curtin University Malaysia |
| institution_category | Local University |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T06:01:49Z |
| publishDate | 2009 |
| publisher | European Association of Conservatoires AEC |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | curtin-20.500.11937-42432022-12-09T05:23:40Z Choosing the unstable: Dancing through the mid-career Bennett, Dawn Pollitt, J. Aaron Williamon Sharman Pretty Ralph Buck Dance Unstable Protean Mid-Career Sustainability Whilst professional instability is a lifelong challenge for dance artists, it is in mid career that instability becomes particularly problematic and the issue of sustainability comes to the fore. Mid-career artists build increasingly diverse protean careers in a bid to generate stability whilst dealing with unpredictable work patterns, aging bodies, and increased financial, family and future responsibilities. In addition to this is the sense of physical and emotional loss experienced when the fundamental need to dance is not being fully met. In this study we underscore these big picture issues with a more personal dialogue with three Australian mid-career dance artists. Through these case studies we examine the constant negotiation, reassessment and instability inherent in dance careers. Our research reveals that 'putting the body down' often entails putting down work, status and identity. 2009 Conference Paper http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/4243 European Association of Conservatoires AEC fulltext |
| spellingShingle | Dance Unstable Protean Mid-Career Sustainability Bennett, Dawn Pollitt, J. Choosing the unstable: Dancing through the mid-career |
| title | Choosing the unstable: Dancing through the mid-career |
| title_full | Choosing the unstable: Dancing through the mid-career |
| title_fullStr | Choosing the unstable: Dancing through the mid-career |
| title_full_unstemmed | Choosing the unstable: Dancing through the mid-career |
| title_short | Choosing the unstable: Dancing through the mid-career |
| title_sort | choosing the unstable: dancing through the mid-career |
| topic | Dance Unstable Protean Mid-Career Sustainability |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/4243 |