This Is How We Do It

I am forever striving to provide you with the best. But sometimes, it gets awfully tricky. I hope this episode gives you some insight on how I decide who gets to educate under the House Of Jazz umbrella, who gets to weigh in on what you learn about yourself and your craft, and what experience and takeaway I am striving endlessly to create and cultivate for you. Am I getting it right? You let me know... C x

This episode is a continuation of what it means to be a professional, based off of various conversations about classroom environments, etiquette, values, priorities, etc. We discuss the difference between an amateur vs a professional mindset, and what that means in regards to taking class, training in general, class footage, showreels, and so much more. Enjoy! C x

This episode started with the idea of discussing what it means to be a professional, based off of various conversations about classroom environments, etiquette, values, priorities, etc. However, like all episodes with me, it becomes so much more than that, ending of course with a beautiful rant about the journey towards true self-fulfilment, and the one lie I so desperately want you to stop believing. It's one hell of a ride! Strap in, and enjoy. C x

This episode is a continuation of these thoughts... Family. I got a question for you. Why do you go to class? I left tonight feeling good… but not quite satisfied, which I don’t put down to our educator, because I thought he was great. I love the integrity in which he teaches. But I was standing there at the end watching every group have a go, then doing it in two groups for the camera, and then of course having the mad dash to get out on time (which is my least favourite thing) and I kind of just left thinking, is that it? Was that what this was all for? Something tells me that we can do better. HOJ can do better. I promise I’m not going to make this the camera’s problem again (really, I promise) but I feel like part of the reason dancing for the filming at the end just isn’t a satisfying goal is because it doesn’t feel like a real human. Even with George being as lovely as he is, he’s not paying attention to YOU, he’s paying attention to his shot. It’s not a human to human interaction. And I feel like (maybe) that’s what’s missing. I just watched everyone dance whilst others were maybe watching, but more so practicing on the side so that they got it right when it was their turn (which I was also doing) and it just ended up feeling (for me) like a very unsatisfying end to what should have been a glorious class. I know not every class can be magical… but also, why can’t it? I go to class to train, to f*ck up, to get better, do dance the living shit out of something, and yes, to perform. I want to entertain. I want interaction. I want an audience. I want to dance for you. I want to play and see what happens, and I want it to only exist in the moment. I don’t want to be thinking about what it’s going to look like. Does anyone else want this, or am I just old school? Tell me why you go to class. I feel like there needs to be more watching, and (maybe just a little) less filming. Just a touch. Or we’ve (I’ve) just not completely figured out how to marry the two together yet. All I know is that I left class tonight thinking, what made that special? What made that HOJ? How was that different from any other class? And it wasn’t different enough for me. It wasn’t quite HOJ enough for me. And I refuse to lose that difference, that ‘why’. Let’s make sure it never leaves. Think about the best classes you’ve ever taken. Now tell me why they were so f*cking good. And then let’s make sure you get that every single week. Your endlessly loving leader, C x

This episode is a continuation of these thoughts... Family. I got a question for you. Why do you go to class? I left tonight feeling good… but not quite satisfied, which I don’t put down to our educator, because I thought he was great. I love the integrity in which he teaches. But I was standing there at the end watching every group have a go, then doing it in two groups for the camera, and then of course having the mad dash to get out on time (which is my least favourite thing) and I kind of just left thinking, is that it? Was that what this was all for? Something tells me that we can do better. HOJ can do better. I promise I’m not going to make this the camera’s problem again (really, I promise) but I feel like part of the reason dancing for the filming at the end just isn’t a satisfying goal is because it doesn’t feel like a real human. Even with George being as lovely as he is, he’s not paying attention to YOU, he’s paying attention to his shot. It’s not a human to human interaction. And I feel like (maybe) that’s what’s missing. I just watched everyone dance whilst others were maybe watching, but more so practicing on the side so that they got it right when it was their turn (which I was also doing) and it just ended up feeling (for me) like a very unsatisfying end to what should have been a glorious class. I know not every class can be magical… but also, why can’t it? I go to class to train, to f*ck up, to get better, do dance the living shit out of something, and yes, to perform. I want to entertain. I want interaction. I want an audience. I want to dance for you. I want to play and see what happens, and I want it to only exist in the moment. I don’t want to be thinking about what it’s going to look like. Does anyone else want this, or am I just old school? Tell me why you go to class. I feel like there needs to be more watching, and (maybe just a little) less filming. Just a touch. Or we’ve (I’ve) just not completely figured out how to marry the two together yet. All I know is that I left class tonight thinking, what made that special? What made that HOJ? How was that different from any other class? And it wasn’t different enough for me. It wasn’t quite HOJ enough for me. And I refuse to lose that difference, that ‘why’. Let’s make sure it never leaves. Think about the best classes you’ve ever taken. Now tell me why they were so f*cking good. And then let’s make sure you get that every single week. Your endlessly loving leader, C x

Good evening, family. As you already know from my Facebook post, I have a lot of feelings following tonight's class, and even after sharing my thoughts in writing, I had so many more thoughts on this evening that I needed to process them myself, and felt like they could be valuable enough to share with all of you. A warning: I do cry. But, I am who I am, and you are here because of who I am, so I feel safe to be my whole self when communicating with you (so thank you). Regardless of my thoughts and emotions, let's continue to speak about these things, so we can navigate this together and I can continue to set us all up for success. I think it's important for you to know how I feel and how I think, so you know what you're investing in. I will never be anything but honest and transparent with you, and I think that's part of what makes our family so special. On that note, I love you all. Listen, or don't, but it's here if you wish to have a peek inside my brain (and heart). C x

Welcome to our brand-new event: ALCHEMY ACADEMY I The Ultimate Jazz Dance Convention! This event is taking place in London, UK on 2 & 3 September 2023 at Jackson's Lane Studios, 10:00 - 20:00 each day. We have an iconic local and international faculty, including: Nicholas Cunningham (NYC) , Nicholas Palmquist (NYC), Bryan Knowlton (NYC), Chani Bell (LA), Stuart Winter, Jacqui Jameson, Kane Silver, and Christabelle Huddleston. In this episode, I speak about the backbone of this event, why we created it, how we're setting you up for success, the experience you're sure to have, and answer any questions that have come our way. I also take a moment to introduce our incredible faculty, so you know who you're investing in when you sign up. If you're unsure whether this event is for you, have a listen, and then you'll know. Booking link is below. We'll see you there! #schoolisinsession #defineyourownpathway BOOK HERE: https://www.houseofjazzcompany.com/service-page/alchemy-academy #thisishowwedoit

A while back, I was asked to suggest artists for an upcoming commercial job, and quickly realised how important our Instagram profiles truly are in certain professional settings. This is just food for thought in regard to how you treat, manage, and layout your Instagram profile, and how that may or may not be affecting your ability to be suggested for work. We all must do what feels right for us! But I was not about to not pass this lesson on. The information has now been shared. You do what's right for you. #thisishowwedoit

Ownership is so fundamentally important to your career. Are your priorities in line with career ownership? Are you purchasing LaDucas before you've purchased your headshots? Be honest with yourself. What’s getting in your way? What excuses are you making? Ownership is one fundamental thing that you can actually have control of in this industry.  Don't allow yourself to miss out on the opportunity to have control over something so vital to your success. #thisishowwedoit 

This is our first episode on the theme, 'Things I Wish You Would Know'! There is more than one way to do ‘this’ - our career, our journey, our artistic path. In this episode, I challenge all of us on the choices we make when working on moving our career forwards. I ask you to think outside the box when choosing your priorities to see if you are just blindly doing what everyone else is doing (sheep style) or making uniquely independent and individualised choices based on your specific goals, strengths, weaknesses, and overall focus (wolf style). Not everyone is you! This means that their way of working, training, and hustling might not work for you the way it may work for them, because they could be working towards completely different things. You professional choices, habits, marketing, branding, training, and exercising requirements need to be as unique as you are. There is no one way to do this thing. Lean into your creativity. Embrace those artistic impulses. Make time for those 'hobbies'. Be a human outside of your career. You never know where that could lead you, or how that could end up serving your career 1) more than you ever thought it could, and even better, 2) more than anything else you're doing now.  #thisishowwedoit

Welcome to the first episode of House Of Jazz Company’s Practicing Master Podcast: This Is How We Do It! Our first episode starts with a short House Of Jazz Company timeline, where we began, where we are now, and where we’re going.  We share the inspiration behind building both our HOJ Membership and Artist Development Program, and the change we want to make in our industry and community.  This is a celebration of all of you and how we strive to serve you each and every day. #thisishowwedoit