It’s Thursday, which means it’s time for our ‘College Life Update’ blog series. Today, we’re thrilled to chat with Annalia, a former Excel student who has been training to be a professional dancer for the past two years.

1)Which college/university are you training at now?

I go to London Contemporary Dance School – LCDS – or also known as “The Place”.

2)What course are you doing?
I am taking the BA (Hons) Contemporary dance course.

3)How has the last two years been?
The last two years at LCDS has been both exciting and challenging, it is simply amazing to be surrounded by such talented people everyday!

At LCDS, they create a periodised timetable that allows for progressive improvement with increased intensity applied in increments as the term progresses. Allowing my body and mind to both adjust to this new level of training, while reducing the risks of burnout and injury. This is established by implementing breaks and a mixture of both physical and educational classes.
This made my transition feel very safe for my body, whilst still preparing me for the upcoming years of my training.

4)What is a typical day at college?
I have a mixture of both physical and theory based classes where the physical can be separated into; technical and creative classes. Within my first year I studied: Ballet; Contemporary; Improvisation; Floor work; Cunningham technique; Popping…. to just name a few. We then work on projects throughout the year, where we create and devise…. using structured teacher’s input as well as collaboratively working with the other students on the course. Our theory lessons consist of discussions of safe training, body anatomy and dance science. As well as dance psychology with mental wellness in dance. And lastly contextual studies, where we have conversations about gender, society, race, age, ableism and sexuality in relation to our current and pre-existing dance culture.
So a typical day would be made up of a mixture of the above mentioned classes, between the hours of 9am and 6pm. This however changes daily and weekly to honour and reflect the periodised timetable.

5)What skills did you learn at Excel that have helped at college?
Dancing at Excel helped provide me with the discipline and dedication to take my passion and turn it into my career. Excel taught me the importance of taking care of my own body and mind in the dance space. But also to not be scared to push myself just that little bit further, when it is safe to, in order to let myself shine.

6)What is your ideal job in the future?
I am not too sure what the future of dancing holds for myself, as I do not want to limit myself to just one avenue. I believe that I am quite an eclectic dancer, where I love all styles and types of music. So I couldn’t see myself just dancing one style of dancing for the whole of my career. I would really love to dance and tour with a contemporary company, as well as dance as part of a group on a cruise ship, to dance onstage behind a music artist, to be in a music video, to create dance films. And my big dream of performing in the west end, as I love to act as well!

7)What advice would you give to our younger Excel students who might also be thinking of a career in the Arts?
My advice for the younger students at Excel, is to not limit yourself to what you think you are capable of. Push yourself forward! Give yourself a goal, work towards it, review, redefine that goal. As this gives you the chance to fail and by opening up you will learn that not trying is the real failure. Learn from your mistakes, as that is much better than not trying in the first place. Nobody is perfect, strive for excellence that welcomes learning from your mistakes!

Thank you Annalia for your wonderful wise words of advice to our younger students. We absolutely love your passion for dance and the arts, and how you keep pushing yourself forward with new challenges. Best of luck Annalia, we just know whatever you set your mind to do….. you will be brilliant!.