I have spent a lot of time wondering what topic to base my inquiry around. I found that I was trying to 'think up' a question which is rather difficult to do. However after a very helpful Skype with Helen I learnt that I need to spend time exploring whats out there and see if that sparks any particular areas of interest and just follow the questions that naturally develop from this.
There were a couple of topics that I had been considering...
The first was 'Gender Roles within Dance.' I wanted to focus on the stereotypes in the dance world and what each gender is 'supposed' to do. Especially in things like ballroom dancing...the men are usually the 'lead' and the females the 'follow.' My question is why? And how can we try to ensure that the dance world keeps up with modern day developments of gender equality.
My second topic was looking at 'Mental Health in Dancers.' In our industry there is such a huge competition. Going to auditions and not getting anywhere can be heartbreaking...you experience constant criticism and start comparing yourself to others and with this comes many insecurities. This can lead onto more serious insecurities such as body issues and consequently eating disorders. There is also a sense of discrimination that you don't experience in many other workplaces...not getting the job because of your height, hair colour or physique. Is there a support system out there for us?
This is a very broad topic so I need to spend some more time looking into which particular area of mental health I will choose to focus in on.
Looking at my particular practice and where I am in my career right now, I feel as though the route of mental health will be much more beneficial and relevant to me at this time. As a company manager it is my responsibility to look out for my cast members which can be difficult when we are all away from home and living in an intense environment like a cruise ship. If I understand more about the psychological issues dancers are likely to feel and experience then I can be a better manager and create a stronger support system for my dancers.
If anyone is still struggling to finalise a question for their inquiry I highly recommend committing time to browse books, journals and articles....explore different areas of your practice and just see where it takes you. That was definitely the way forward for me and I now feel confident in my topic and excited about what more I can discover and how this will help my practice!
