News Story
Anna Helsby, Director of Student Lifecycle and Well-Being at London Contemporary Dance School, discusses her role and the impact of her work.
What’s your role at The Place, and what does a typical day look like for you?
I am the Director of Student Lifecycle and Well-Being, which means looking after the student journey from CAT to point of application to graduation and beyond, as well as strategic oversight of Student Support. I also teach ballet to undergraduate and CertHE students. There is no typical day – it can be teaching, supporting or meeting with students, lots and lots of meetings…or can be something more along the lines of strategic development in the areas I am responsible for.
How did you find your way to The Place?
I trained at Rambert, danced in a ballet company in Switzerland, then moved into freelancing in Europe in various projects and musicals before applying to the job of Classes & Courses Manager at The Place. I later moved from C&C to Director of Recreational and Pre-Vocational Dance (a role which no longer exists), then to LCDS, teaching ballet and managing the timetable, and finally into my current role, which has developed over the past 2-3 years.
What do you enjoy most about your work?
The people I work with and the students – most of the time…
What’s one part of your job that people might be surprised to learn about?
Not sure if it's surprising, but it's like an Octopus, in that it's constantly moving and shifting, doesn't seem to stay the same, and always keeps me on my toes (no pun intended).
Which skills do you use most often in your role?
It helps that I am quite pragmatic, try to see all sides of the story, and collaborate with people to make things happen. I also often rely on my ability to negotiate and be agile, skills I learned through dancing. Finally, having an in-depth understanding of what it takes to be a dance artist allows me to implement that knowledge within my decision-making.
