Transition Coaching
Coaching support for dancers helps them to understand themselves, embrace their strengths, build their confidence and make positive decisions for the future.
"It felt like it opened a giant door into the next chapter of my life, which will have an impact for years to come."
Sioda Martin, professional independent dancer
"Coaching is helping me to look towards the many fantastic skills that dancing has given me and the possibilities that could lie ahead. It's an incredibly powerful tool that will help any dancer through what is a very tricky time."
Iain Mackay, Principal dancer, Birmingham Royal Ballet
Coaching sessions are designed to support professional dancers as they develop their careers, providing them with the space to explore what is most important to them in their own development. Dancers are able to discuss how to move forward with a trained professional who has direct experience of a professional dance career and what that professional experience provides.
DCD Professional Coaches
Isabel Mortimer. Image: Matthew Dalby.
Isabel Mortimer is a certified Personal and Executive Coach CPCC and a graduate of the prestigious Clore Leadership Programme. A DCD beneficiary, Isabel is the former Resident Director for Matthew Bourne's New Adventures Dance Company and enjoyed an extremely successful 22 year career as a professional dancer and choreographer.
"What you invest your time and energy in reaps rewards. Be scrupulous about your investment." Isabel Mortimer
Find out more about Isabel here
Jo Wright.
Jo Wright is a is a passionate Facilitator and Coach who delights in getting the best out of people and step-changing performance.
Jo brings 15 years professional experience. She is a Licensed Practitioner of Insights Discovery® and a Master Practitioner of Neuro-Linguistic Programming, tools which, combined with her deep intuitive understanding of people and cultures, give her a unique insight into how to get the best out of people in both their personal and professional lives.
She joins DCD Director of Coaching Isabel Mortimer as we expand our coaching programme to be accessible locally across the UK.
"Coaching is a conversation to help you think about options for moving forward... it's a safe place to explore."Jo Wright
Find out more about Jo here
How to participate
This service is available to all professional dancers at any stage of their career.
Each dancer is offered a programme of three coaching sessions over a period of 3-12 months.
To discuss accessing the coaching service, please contact Ellen Chambers, Grants and Careers Officer, on ellen@thedcd.org.uk or 020 7831 1449.
What is Coaching?
"Coaching is an opportunity to take a thorough and honest look at what makes you tick, what will enable you to make a success (whatever that word means to you) of your life and what action you can take to begin to make that happen. It is truly an inspiring experience." Katharine Markee, independent dance artist
Coaching is about change. People come to coaching because they want change. Coaching can help you to find the clarity and confidence to move forward in your life. Coaching is about raising awareness of the behaviours and attitudes that may be holding you back from achieving your dreams.
Coaching is about acknowledging your core strengths and maintaining your confidence levels whilst making significant changes in your life. Coaching challenges your old behaviour patterns that may no longer be serving you going forward. Coaching enables 'choice', and 'empowers' you to make better decisions, and take brave steps to shape your chosen future.
Coaching is about exploring ideas and options, and finding ways to put those ideas into action. Coaching is about recognising the reality of the situation for you right now, and finding ways to change that reality if it is no longer desirable or fulfilling. It is not about making judgements or telling people what to do. A good coach offers a healthy balance of challenge and support, for getting the client into action, and creating the life they want.
Why has coaching got a focus on action?
Coaching has a focus on action because we learn best by doing, we learn and get motivated by taking those crucial first steps. Any agreed plans of action are formulated as a direct result of the coaching. Action plans are bespoke and guided by the unique circumstances of the individual client's needs and context.
Coaching is about challenging the self limiting beliefs, that may be holding you back from leading an exciting and fulfilling life.
A good coach can listen, empathise and look beyond the client's current behaviours, and re-invigorate their motivation, enhance their confidence and help them to achieve their goals.
The coaching relationship is based on a confidential, authentic dialogue between coach and coachee.
Is coaching right for you? Find out more here.
To find out more about DCD's Transition Coaching Service, please contact Ellen Chambers, Dancer Support and Services Officer on ellen@thedcd.org.uk or 020 7831 1449.