keeping it real
I’m sat here feeling the most immense pressure about what these first words should be. The thing is, this all feels a bit bigger than me - but really, it is just some words on a webpage that might never be read.
This is the website for Beth Veitch Dance - a project I committed to in 2020 (though I’ll speak more about it’s beginnings in another blog post) but really, it’s just me, Beth from Newcastle who likes dancing, behind it all. It feels a bit grand to have a website. I talk a lot about wanting to be real in my work, practice and dialogue. So writing this website has been a real challenge - trying to develop a professional space that is what one must do, without losing sight of the reality that I just really enjoy making dance work, working with artists and I’m incredibly proud of my North East heritage.
I sit in my bedroom in Newcastle upon Tyne behind my laptop with bad posture, a messy bun and an unhealthy amount of coffee and I just try to make it happen, like we must do as artists. To pay my rent, I work full time at a lovely independent cinema and juggle Beth Veitch Dance alongside it all as best I can. It is HARD. But I love it! Or admittedly, I’ve learnt to love it. But I do; deeply, madly and wholeheartedly. The first few years of Beth Veitch Dance have been a dream. I’ve been able to design and tailor projects to fit my own learning, to employ the most beautiful creatives and meet community groups that still are the inspiration to power through difficult bid writing days.
So why am I saying all of this? I guess, because I want to keep it real. I love what I do and I love the reach and impact that can have. And I will continue to employ the best efforts to keep this going. But it will be honest, messy, genuine and always, a work in progress. Most of the time, I don’t know what it is but I know what I want it to do, or what it could become. That is part of the beautiful, confused, meandering journey that is committing to a life of art making.
So sure, I have a stunning (thank you Joe Seymour!) logo and a jazzy website, but let’s keep it real - it is me, Beth, behind the laptop, trying her best to fuel a dream. And my promise to you, always, is to keep it real, raw, honest and open.
Speak soon!
Love,
B x
