Dancer's Handbook

Gala Moody is a professional contemporary dancer, activist, and writer. She has worked with Ultima Vez/Wim Vandekeybus, Luca Guadagnino, Jean-Paul Goude, Nicolas Winding Refn, Paul Thomas Anderson, Romeo Castellucci, Yael Bartana, and others. As a founding member of the artist-led Engagement Arts Brussels, she has fought against sexism and sexual harassment in the arts. Through OFEN Co-Arts, Gala promotes ethical working conditions for dancers, trials practical solutions, mentors dancers, consults at larger dance companies, and educates wider awareness. She is a trained confidant for freelance artists and lives in Brussels.Michael Carter is a dancer, director, researcher, and writer. He has worked with the Australian Ballet Company, Spain’s Compañía Nacional de Danza, and Germany’s Tanztheater Wuppertal Pina Bausch, alongside extensive freelance work in diverse dance spaces. As co-founder of OFEN Co-Arts, he has created dance works for stage, student symposiums, workshops on speaking up to power, and collaborative resources with activist groups across Europe. Michael is a research associate for the Pina Bausch Foundation and holds a certificate in Mediation and Conflict Management. He lives in the Basque Country, Spain.

• ForwardAcknowledgementsIntroductionWhat is in This Book? What is Not in This Book?Good to KnowHow To Use This Book CHAPTER 1 – Beyond the Status QuoThe Status QuoPowerHierarchyMeritocracyCapitalismWhite SupremacyPatriarchyPrivilegeBeyond The Status QuoCHAPTER 2 – Greater than Body as InstrumentThe Status Quo of the BodyUnlearning Capitalism on the Body in DancePleasure as a ChoiceRest and EffortWorking with Menstrual Cycles and PeriodsBody ImageBody Shame CHAPTER 3 – Magnifying focus on the MindThe Status Quo of the Mind in DanceUnlearning Capitalism on the Mind in DanceObedience ConformityThe Bystander EffectDiscrimination and PrejudiceBurn OutMental Health and PeriodsUncertaintyAggression and Sexual MisconductFinancial StressEmotionsCoping BehavioursDepressive DisordersAnxiety DisordersEating DisordersEmotional Disclosure"I Am a Dancer" - Overidentifying with WorkSaying "No"Why Self-Care Can Be OverusedRestCHAPTER 4 – Valuing Yourself in the WorkplaceThe Status Quo of Who and what is Valued in the WorkplaceA Note on Self-ValueValuesMotivationNeedsFinding Pleasure in WorkHow I Want to FeelFunHow I Want to WorkMenstrual Cycles and WorkSchedulingWhen to Leave a JobWhen to Take a JobChecklist for ContractsChoreography as Social PracticeCHAPTER 5 – Developing Ethical EngagementThe Status Quo of EngagementCommunicationNew Forms of FeedbackConsentCreating a Group Principles of Practice (POP)CHAPTER 6 – Expanding Voice to be HeardThe Status Quo of VoiceVoiceSilenceResponding to Transgressive BehaviourDocument What HappenedDo You Want to Speak Up?Internal ProceduresExternal proceduresLateral VoiceStaying SilentSpeaking Up ScriptEpilogueAppendixAbout Us - Gala, Michael and OFEN Co-ArtsOver to you – Complete task list by chapterIndex