During my second year in University, I collaborated with a dance student were we both discussed our ideas and goals. We teamed up and worked on both our projects that were completely different but the workshops worked effectiveley for both of us. Both of us have never done this before, you have to take into account the fact that I would never have contacted the student, or she contact me if it wasn't for the University. We have an email forum where students can display any workshop ideas, help they need and opportunities for other artists to explore, this is what we both grasped on to.
At first we were both nervous, we planned to go into the dance studio and I was to observe her dancing to a range of music genres whilst I documented her movements through sound, sight and touch. Displaying this through varius art mediums was quite challenging at first, I was in a constant battle trying to depict a fugure when in reality I just needed to focus and document the movement and shape. Further on, we both started to relax and have fun, it was a recorded session that at first made me nervous, but I decided to chill and enjoy myself. What helped was having insight of what a dancer thinks of my work, having a completely different and versatile viewpoint that is just as effective.
We both created amazing peaces of work for our projects, and we didn't stop there! We collaborated again and again, working on various projects and supporting one another. We have slowly stopped now, due to restrictions and life commiments, however, I do know that we will, amongst other students, be working effectively again.
This post is to encourage others to push yourself out of your comfort zone and get in contact with others, especially if you think it will become effective in your work. If you take that step then you can create so many great things whilst enjoying it working with others. You get insight on others opinons, critical or not, you need to accept both and work with it. What I enjoyed was knowing that I not only improved my work vastly, but how I helped in developing someone else's.
If you see an opportunity arise, don't overthink it, take that step! It could be a game changer into your work and future aspirations! I hope this has helped anyone reading, there is a lot more ot the story but that can be documented later. Just know that no matter how nervous you are, your confidence can grow if you challenge yourself.