Emma Smith credit Autopictography
Emma Writes
I first heard about the BBC Performing Arts Fund in the summer of 2014, when I saw that YDance were seeking a BBC Fellow. I applied immediately as YDance have brought many amazing opportunities to young people across Scotland, including the youth dance group I worked with during my time at SkyeDance. I could not pass up the chance to actually work for them. They do incredible work across I Scotland, furthering opportunities for young people in the dance world.
I began dancing at the age of three, mostly because my older sister danced and I wanted to copy everything she did when I was little, and I quickly came to love dance. I was introduced to Contemporary Dance at the age of ten, when I first began to appreciate performances by professional companies and I found the whole experience magical. I remember desperately trying to capture sections of choreography in my head so that I could try it for myself when I got home. My love for dance grew and after I left school I attended Dance for All in Edinburgh.
I always had a passion for teaching and so it seems natural that this, teamed with my creativity, led me to pursue a career as a choreographer and Dance Artist. I have been lucky enough to create dance works with some amazing groups of young people; through my Dance Development post at SkyeDance, with the modern dance society at Edinburgh University, with my groups at Royal High School, Edinburgh, and with my new classmates at Performing Arts Studio Scotland (PASS). I am now more than halfway through my BA year in Dance at PASS, and the new experiences and knowledge that I have gained have pushed me closer than ever to my goals.
I want to use this opportunity as a BBC Fellow to grow as a choreographer, which will be made possible by being given the chance to learn from some of the best artists and choreographers currently working in Scotland, and to develop and create my own work. Ultimately, I hope that this year will bridge the gap between who I am now and the professional artist that I wish to become.
I am so excited to start on the many project planned with YDance as part of my BBC Performing Arts Fund Fellowship. I would like to take this chance to thank YDance and the BBC PAF for believing in me, and for giving me the most amazing opportunity of my career so far.
