Is performing the key?

Now this blog that I am about to post is a constant battle that I have had over the years with few people. Don't get me wrong everyone has always had my best intentions at heart, however it is something that I would love to hear other people's views on.

As a young teenager I was adamant that I was going to be on the West End. Eight shows a week performing in the heart of theatre land. So I worked my backside off and did everything I did to succeed in my goal.

Teaching is something that I had always had an interest in and have always loved to do. Now I have been extremely fortunate and owe a lot to my first teacher for giving me so many opportunities to be able to teach and assist classes from a young age, and as a young naïve teenager I added into my life plan "I'll teach later on when my West End career is over"

So at Eighteen bags all packed off I went to London. Now I wasn't lucky enough to gain funding for any of the three year courses that I was accepted of, so opted to do a one year foundation course to be able to work even harder and maybe gain that help of funding (This is also a topic that I will  be discussing in a later blog)

After a year of blood sweat and many tears, I was lucky enough to gain places on many three year musical theatre courses, however was still not entitled to any funding. Time for plan B

Now I did think very long and hard about this - but I took the decision that I no longer wanted to perform and I wanted to go down the teaching route. Deep down my passion was teaching. I love to see how you can help students improve and when a student "gets it" with your help for me is the best most rewarding feeling you can have.

Now I had many mixed responses to my decision "You should still go off and perform Laura! - think about the experiences you can pass on" "You can always teach - you can't always perform" - and many comments along those lines.

Obviously I knew that everyone had my best intentions at heart - however being a fiery stubborn red head I stuck to my decision and pursued with my teaching, and if I hadn't of done that I would be were I am today with the job that I have and love.

Do I regret not performing? No I don't not one bit. Do I think that if I would have performed it would have made me a better teacher? Absolutely not. If you are passionate enough and can get the message across to your pupils and share that passion that I still have and always will have for dance then surely that is all a student can ask for.

I do believe that no matter what, if you put your heart and sole into and share your passion with your students, then surely that it all they could want?

I would love to hear some thoughts and opinions on this!