Performance Dance: Post Grad with Julia Mak
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Performance at The Creative School focuses on preparing our graduates with a range of skills they can use to succeed in any industry. For Performance Dance, students train in multiple forms of dance, including ballet, modern, contemporary, jazz, West African, street styles and partnering. Additionally, students receive opportunities to collaborate and perform with highly acclaimed guest artists and arts organizations. Following convocation, we are focusing on the different paths our students take upon graduating.
Today, Performance Dance grad Julia Mak shares some of her favourite moments from her time in the Dance program! 
I'm looking forward to continuing to immerse myself in the arts community both in Toronto and internationally! I truly hope to dip my toes into all aspects of dance eventually (eg. freelance, company work, commercial, choreography, teaching), but for now, I have just a few dance projects that I am excited to hop into. Working freelance can be scary, but I have come to learn that it is such a blessing to be encountered with new ideas and experiences everyday. At the moment, I need a break from routines, and this is a great chance to explore what it's like to work outside of a structured institution. I also hope to produce another show somewhere down the line, emphasizing my own artistic voice and creativity in something larger!
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My time at the School of Performance has truly been a rollercoaster ride! Our class' first year was completely online due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was extremely difficult to stay motivated during that time, and to do dance classes at home on an online format. Thinking back, I honestly don't know how I got through it, but the perseverance was well worth it. Even though we lost out on some experiences due to the pandemic, we were showered with so many performance opportunities and projects. Specifically, we worked a lot with the medium of dance on film in addition to live dance. The shows that I got to be a part of were Enchoreo, Rise: Fall Dances, Choreographic Works, Springworks, and our class' very own student-run production: (IN) Momentum ! Throughout my four years, something I practiced unexpectedly was arts administration. Before entering my program, I was relatively unaware of this aspect in our industry, but I now have a strong interest in the field! We had production courses in which we discussed grant-writing, budgeting, and pitching as producers. From these courses and external job opportunities, I now want to explore the producer and management aspects of dance further, in addition to my passion for performing.
My biggest takeaway from my four years at the school is just the extremely talented and inspiring people you meet. Because our program is relatively small compared to other university programs, you develop a bond with the tight-knit network around you. The faculty truly gets to know you personally, which has infinitely enhanced my university experience! In addition, our class gets to regularly work intimately with one another through the many different performances and class projects we've had. At this point, since in collaboration we have danced, created, and shared our ideas so often, it feels as if we are our own dance company. My favourite moments are definitely our times hanging around backstage during show week. The feeling of bubbling excitement as we gear up for our big performances is so gratifying!
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Something that I wish I could tell myself in first year is to soak it all in, and acknowledge that all these experiences (good or bad) are here to help me learn. I would also say to trust yourself. There were times that I didn't take on all the projects I wanted because I was afraid of biting off more than I can chew. I've come to realize that I've grown immensely as a person and can handle a lot more than I think, and I don't need to be so reserved with my ambitions! I know it's a cliche, but believing you can do something is truly the first step- and you never know, you might surprise yourself.
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