Graduate story: Josephine Weise

One of the main lessons Melbourne dancer Josephine Weise says she has taken away from her year of training is to approach her practice with a beginner's mind. “I’ve always been very determined and driven when it comes to anything dance related, but this way of thinking has helped me to soften the inner critic and keep a positive disposition when facing new challenges,” she explains. She finds this allows her to approach new techniques or unfamiliar pathways with a playful curiosity and, at the same time, practise deeply familiar pathways with a fresh perspective and openness.

During her studies, she says she was fortunate to not only study many different movement techniques from a diverse array of practitioners, but also learn to from various health care specialists. Having access to nutritionists and physiotherapists helped her to build a holistic approach to health and movement. When the physical load was quite heavy, she learnt to alter her routine to include nutrient-rich meals, undertake prehab exercises for injury prevention and to implement “active recovery” such as swimming, walking and meditation. “Throughout the day, I also thought about how I could increase movement efficiency and minimise fatigue,” she says. “I found that applying some of the principals I’d learned from yoga and Alexander technique really helped with that.”  

Josephine is based in Naarm (Melbourne) and has worked with independent creatives and companies such as Alisdair Macindoe, Stephanie Lake Company, Project Animo, Courtney Scheu, Cass Mortimer-Eipper and Kiosk film.

Josephine is just one of many graduates who tell their stories in the Full-Time Studies Guide in the current issue of Dance Australia (July/August/September). Print is for keeps! Buy your issue in your favourite newsagent or dance retailer or online here or here.