Transitioning is a career-specific process of change for all dancers, no matter where. The Foundation Dance – Transition Centre Germany is part of an international network beyond European borders. In the following newsletters, we would like to provide information on contact points for dancers in transition in other countries und today we will start with our colleagues in Great Britain.
The DCD was founded in 1973 and looks back on over 40 years of experience in counselling dancers in transition. Support and aid is provided for all dancers who have been working professionally in GB for at least 5 years. Just like in Germany, dancers are accompanied during the changeover from professional dancing to a new career after dance by building trust and finding their individual strengths and competencies. The transitioning process is professionally and financially supported, psychologically accompanied and sustained by holistic career development services on offer. Naturally, counselling with the British colleagues is also confidential.
Since the DCD is a member of the IOTPD (International Organisation for the Transition of Professional Dancers) just like us, networking, international cooperation and a worldwide exchange of expert knowledge are self-evident. For example, in their May newsletter, the DCD published following “Top Tips” by Clare Meardon and Dane Hurst, that are worth remembering during transition:
– Don’t overthink things, go with your intuition, the journey along the way will surprise you
– Anyone can make a success of themselves, a role model can help you navigate the journey
– Try new things, write a list of things that inspire you and try them
– Start noticing what’s pulling your interest and why
– Stay focused, be brave, be proud of what you’ve achieved.
We wholeheartedly agree with this – seemingly simple – advice by our British colleagues and therefore gladly share these words of wisdom with our readers and clients.
English source in the DCD-Newsletter May 2016:
createsend.com/t…
Further information on the Dancers’ Career Development (DCD) website:
thedcd.org.uk/
And our DCD-Facebook – Post from 25th of April 2016:
www.facebook.com/Sti…
If you think BREXIT, the referendum leading to Great Britain leaving the EU, will only have political and economical consequences, you are unfortunately very wrong. The EU member states are interlinked and benefit from each other in ways that go much further, especially in the artistic and cultural sector.
BREXIT could bring some disadvantages for Britons regarding hitherto existing EU-scholarships (such as the Erasmus-Program) or national programs, for example the Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst (DAAD) in Germany. This is important for British dancers in transition, who want to take up further education here, or dancers in transition who want to take up further education in GB. After BREXIT, British students and graduates will be considered foreign students and can no longer benefit from free movement like their fellow EU- students. This not only limits their options for choosing courses but also for financial aid. Of course this also applies the other way around, for EU/ German students hoping to study, graduate or do research in Great Britain, which in future will be a non-European country.
If you are a student or graduate and have any questions about the BREXIT- consequences, you can contact the DAAD and ask their experts.
Further information: www.daad.de/med…
There are plenty of options for scholarships but most come with an age limit. Only few are without age limitation even if this explicit restriction technically breaches the principle of equality within the EU, which stipulates that no one can be discriminated against for their gender or age. (Basically, you could apply for any scholarship with a little nod to this clause. 😉 – But there are also scholarships WITHOUT age restriction!
The business orientated Claussen-Simon-Foundation was founded in 1982 and supports MA- students of all ages depending on income who are studying at a German University and have excellent academic records (B.A. final grade of 1.7). Applications for the summer semester of 2016 are already closed, but you can still apply for the winter semester 2016/17 online from 1th until 14th of August, provided you haven’t started the MA-course yet. The scholarship is open to students of all subjects, even the arts.
Further information here: www.claussen-simon-stiftung.de/wie… ( adapted source)
Excellent grades are also required if you apply for the Studienwerk der Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung. There is no age restriction but you should prove your political engagement in creating a fairer, more democratic and ecologic world. But this doesn’t mean applicants have to be members of the Green party!
The scholarship of the Studienwerk der Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung for MA-courses is open to so-called foreign students: Non-EU citizens studying at a German university. Applications always open on 1th of March and 1th of September every year for MA-students and graduates. The application process starts 6 weeks before closing date and is exclusively online. Attention: as part of the application, a specialist assessment is needed, evaluating the potential of the candidate. Further information here: www.boell.de/de… ( adapted source)
An overview of scholarships on offer can be found on the following websites:
Scholarship database of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research:
www.stipendienlotse.de/
Scholarship database of the Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst (DAAD):
www.daad.de/deu…
Scholarship database of the ZEIT-online:
www.e-fellows.net/Stu…
V = Vermitteln / I = Inszenieren / E = Evaluieren / W = Wissen (communicate, create, evaluate, know)
This is the central idea for the further education Master in Dance Culture starting in the winter semester 2016/2017. You can find all relevant information on the website of the Institute for Dance and Movement of the Deutsche Sporthochschule Köln: www.dshs-koeln.de/stu…
The course combines artistic (dance and directing) and academic contents (cultural studies, educational theory and movement sciences). Requirements are:
– a first higher education degree (usually a B.A.) OR proven professional experience to an equivalent level
– a minimum of one year professional experience in the field of dance, artistic movement or teaching
– successful entry examination
The MA course Tanzkultur V.I.E.W. is a modular further education course that can be completed alongside a fulltime job (however: chances of getting funding will be close to zero, in the case of another source of income). After 6 semesters, you can obtain the title of Master of Arts (M.A.), a degree recognized worldwide, which also entitles you to do a doctorate internationally, should you wish to. The course Tanzkultur V.I.E.W. costs €2,050.00 per term. Please refer to our section on scholarship options in this newsletter (see above).
Application deadline: 13th of July 2016
Questions and applications to: Ms Bohr / 49 221 4982-6118 / tanzkultur-view@dshs-koeln.de
Adapted source with all relevant information, retrieved on 27th of June 2016 at 18:54:www.dshs-koeln.de/fil…
In our last two newsletters, we provided information on unemployment insurance and accident insurance for freelance dancers in transition. See here: stiftung-tanz.com/new…
Today, we will cover another essential insurance: personal liability insurance. For dancers in transition, freelancing is an important option after their dance career. But this form of employment carries large potential risks, and in the event of damage these are always covered solely and in their financial entirety by the freelancer. This entails damage regarding individuals as well as property and assets. A quite likely event would be, for example, cancelling one or a number of workshops due to illness or injury. No other colleague is available to cover and the workshop has to be cancelled without substitution, but it was already paid for or organised with pre-payment. In such a case, the dancer who signed the contract, let’s say as a Yoga teacher/therapist/alternative practitioner, is liable. Depending on the type of event, target audience or contractual partnership, the damage can be considerable. The same can happen if, for example, during a therapy session a client is injured or during a meeting with a contractual partner you accidentally knock over his very expensive notebook.
If you think about it, it becomes clear just how easily you can cause damage as a freelancer and how important it is, considering the every day relevance, to cover yourself for damages up to € 2 Mio. minimum. It is simply indispensable!
Since every freelancers’ situation is very individual and this will affect the price of an annual policy, you should get a thorough consultation from an insurance broker (= independent trustee) or a consumer protection organisation. By the way: charges for professional liability insurance are entirely or partially tax deductible.
General information and specifics on the business start-up portal of the BMWi:
www.kultur-kreativ-wirtschaft.de/KuK…
Further specifics on a seemingly truly independent platform for complex finance and insurance related themes by various service providers:
www.betriebshaftpflicht-betriebshaftpflichtversicherung.de/ber…
Affordable and partially free consultation at the consumer advice centres in all Federal states: www.verbraucherzentrale.de/hom…
* cited source: www.vdvm.de/fue… retrieved on 27th of June 2016 at 22:14
Maybe our little series on Insurances and the enormous need for consultation concerning necessary cover for freelance dancers sparked some interest for the important and responsible job profile of the insurance broker.
More in our August-newsletter under “Little job profile”.
Benefind is a search machine with which you can support Stiftung TANZ.
Stiftung TANZ receives one cent for every second search. We would be happy if as many people as possible took part.
Further information at:
www.benefind.de
And here a short instruction for use of benefind (posted on 6th of June 2016, 12:27):www.facebook.com/Sti …