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Effie McGuire Ward

@effiemward.bsky.social
85 followers 82 following 58 posts

Freelance contemporary dance artist performer | teacher | choreographer www.effiemward.com 📍Milton Keynes

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Effie McGuire Ward @effiemward.bsky.social · 01/10/2025
Very familiar with this feeling at the moment - freelancing out there is a ride, starting to wonder if it's time to get off!
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Effie McGuire Ward @effiemward.bsky.social · 08/08/2025
Happy International Cat Day 🐈 to everyone, but especially these two!
A black and white cat lounging on a sofa cushion, eyes open and alertA white and tabby cat lounging on a stripy sofa cushion, eyes closed looking very content with himself
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Effie McGuire Ward @effiemward.bsky.social · 07/08/2025
Flying Low, Release, Limón, Inclusive Practice: all on the menu!
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Effie McGuire Ward @effiemward.bsky.social · 07/08/2025
Was reminded last night, even when things feel tough, sometimes just getting in a studio and dancing helps... I love to be guided by brilliant humans...and we have some brilliant humans coming to lead workshops in Milton Keynes this August: www.eventbrite.com/e/adult-cont...
eventbrite.com
Adult Contemporary Dance Workshops
Four contemporary dance workshops for adults (16+) in Milton Keynes.
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Reposted by Effie McGuire Ward
Freelancers Make Theatre Work @freelancersmake.bsky.social · 26/07/2025
Yasmin Khan, Arts Council England's Director for Individual Practitioners, talks about the importance of freelancers, reflecting on her own experiences and shares her vision to bring about a better future for cultural and creative practitioners. www.artscouncil.org.uk/blog/lets-cr...
artscouncil.org.uk
Let’s Create with, by and for freelancers
Yasmin Khan, Individual Practitioners director, discusses the problems freelancers face and our work to support them.
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Effie McGuire Ward @effiemward.bsky.social · 11/07/2025
I have never changed outfits 3 times in an audition before today... 6 hours of sweaty dancing and contact 🥵
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Effie McGuire Ward @effiemward.bsky.social · 07/07/2025
Thoughts on rejection from Daisy Howell: "Are you archiving which artists...have been applying for the long term (maybe thats an indication of their ability to survive despite rejection - a useful note if the project demands a high level of success...)" www.thegrittyleader.com/blog-1-1/fac...
thegrittyleader.com
Facing Rejection (but creating anyways) — The Gritty Leader
July 2025 - 8 Minute Read Let’s be honest: rejection is a major player in the arts. Whether you're freelancing across sectors or delivering big projects in a corporate boardroom, the sting of a "no...
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Effie McGuire Ward @effiemward.bsky.social · 07/07/2025
"working in the arts has, in recent years, come to feel like a privilege to be eternally grateful for- even to the point of guilt. That can be confusing, especially after having functioned for so long as a credible, meaningful arts professional" - Antonia Grove www.antoniagrove.co.uk/blog/okfrep9...
antoniagrove.co.uk
Selling Out, Showing Up, and Staying True — Antonia Grove
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Effie McGuire Ward @effiemward.bsky.social · 28/06/2025
Warning: it takes longer than suggested/ estimated!
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Effie McGuire Ward @effiemward.bsky.social · 24/06/2025
Can really feel it in terms of contemporary dance - nowadays inevitably have to go to London to see anything... Which makes me all the more excited that next week I can see dance touring to Banbury: www.themillartscentre.co.uk/shows/aftera...
themillartscentre.co.uk
After All » The Mill Arts Centre
“bursting with vitality” ★★★★  The Times  “Weinachter hits the spot every time” ★★★★  The Scotsman  “confidently…
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Effie McGuire Ward @effiemward.bsky.social · 28/05/2025
(As in getting a no, is better than hearing nothing at all)
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Effie McGuire Ward @effiemward.bsky.social · 28/05/2025
Genuinely appreciate getting rejection emails, and I'm sure telling me the number of applications received is meant to soften the blow... It's just that hearing 400/ 700/ 1500 people are all applying for a handful of jobs is wild
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Effie McGuire Ward @effiemward.bsky.social · 15/05/2025
Major budget envy watching Eurovision...how do I get a choreographer gig next time?!
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Effie McGuire Ward @effiemward.bsky.social · 26/04/2025
Youth dance company today came in chatting and fizzing with ideas, thoughts, queries, and suggestions... Feels like we've made it 🙌 after 2 terms of gentle encouragement to disrupt that all too familiar disciplined dancer silence!
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Effie McGuire Ward @effiemward.bsky.social · 31/03/2025
Achievement of the day: successfully adding the hour to my car clock on the first attempt
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Effie McGuire Ward @effiemward.bsky.social · 17/03/2025
Kitted out with eye patches and 'swords' for Eek & Wild's new pirate dance - part of our menu of dance choices for children at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital today!
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Effie McGuire Ward @effiemward.bsky.social · 11/03/2025
Story of my life! Big Freelancer Survey is on my to do list when I come up for air...
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Effie McGuire Ward @effiemward.bsky.social · 09/03/2025
The best part of going through my inbox and clearing through 600+ emails is discovering an unread newsletter from Priya Parker on the Art of Gathering Always worth pausing to read... newsletter.priyaparker.com/sign-up
newsletter.priyaparker.com
Sign Up for the Art of Gathering Newsletter
You can transform the way you gather with your people, your communities, and your coworkers.
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Effie McGuire Ward @effiemward.bsky.social · 08/03/2025
Dance companies who choreograph their bows to undeservedly drag out the applause would be my nomination for Room 101
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Effie McGuire Ward @effiemward.bsky.social · 03/03/2025
Like this idea of Unscary Saturdays from Siobhan Davies - arguably more dance classes should be unscary! www.siobhandavies.com/unscary-satu...
siobhandavies.com
Unscary Saturdays - Siobhan Davies Studios
With a different teacher each month. Programmed by Siobhan Davies Studios. A challenging and generous space to dance.  Going to a dance class can be scary! Unscary Saturdays are inclusive classes open...
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Effie McGuire Ward @effiemward.bsky.social · 25/02/2025
Lots of last minute "Let's Dance" day requests coming in for Sunday 2nd March... As much as I'd love to support, I have 6 consecutive working (dancing) days either side...so that Sunday is very much a sacred "Let's Rest" day!
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Effie McGuire Ward @effiemward.bsky.social · 22/02/2025
Saturdays are normally my regular teaching day...but instead for half term: Performed in Hull ✅️ Drove to Manchester ✅️ All set and looking forward to Figures in Extinction
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Effie McGuire Ward @effiemward.bsky.social · 16/02/2025
The thought of packing a suitcase to work away for the week and then driving for 3 hours is filling me with exhaustion How did I do this so regularly in previous years?!!
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Effie McGuire Ward @effiemward.bsky.social · 06/02/2025
There's no good option when you wake up with a sore throat and the rumblings of a cold as a freelancer... a) push through, get paid, get progressively more ill b) take the day off, rest, avoid others getting infected, lose earnings, hope that you're miraculously better before the next gig
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Effie McGuire Ward @effiemward.bsky.social · 05/02/2025
+1 work ID swipe card current total: 5 Big news: it's a clip on, not a lanyard And there's a bonus magnetic badge! All the excitement for February ✨️
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Effie McGuire Ward @effiemward.bsky.social · 26/01/2025
Also, I'm stepping in (as mat cover) to lead some contact improv for actors on their uni course... can bring lots of knowledge from a dance perspective, but would love to hear from actors if there is anything in particular from contact improv which is most relevant/key to your toolkit or practice?
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Effie McGuire Ward @effiemward.bsky.social · 26/01/2025
Lovely refresh and reassurance in contact improv skills guided by Sophie Thorpe in Nottingham today - there's more coming up, and I'd recommend! fabric.dance/events/tom-d...
fabric.dance
Contact Improvisation Class into Jam with Tom Dale Company - FABRIC
Join Sophie Thorpe from Tom Dale Company to explore some of the techniques that underpin contact improvisation in a relaxed, fun environment.
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Effie McGuire Ward @effiemward.bsky.social · 16/01/2025
Not sure if they'd be reachable...but if you're looking for dance classes check out Drift: www.tickettailor.com/events/drift... Because there haven't been many pro classes in the region there's a shared sense of vulnerability & needing a support system amongst the movers who've been attending
tickettailor.com
Buy tickets – Drift Pro Dance
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Effie McGuire Ward @effiemward.bsky.social · 15/01/2025
I look forward to reading them and hearing some different experiences and thoughts
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Effie McGuire Ward @effiemward.bsky.social · 15/01/2025
This is a really interesting consideration of endings in dance - have had numerous professional endings which felt hurtful on a personal level Have found there tends to be a push to move forward as opposed to reflecting and sitting with the endings
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Effie McGuire Ward @effiemward.bsky.social · 15/01/2025
Reminder - there's a rail sale on until 20th January Picked myself up a couple of advance singles to Birmingham for £3.40 - if you know where and when you need to travel between now and end of March, it might be worth taking a look
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Effie McGuire Ward @effiemward.bsky.social · 11/01/2025
A small glimmer seeing a new Dance and Movement for Wellbeing course being launched by Derby University amidst so many dance course closures of late
derby.ac.uk
Dance and Movement for Wellbeing BA (Hons) - Dance - University of DerbyUniversity of Derby logoUniversity of Derby logo
Study BA (Hons) Dance and Movement for Wellbeing BA (Hons) and become one of the 'most employable' graduates in the UK. Enquire about this course or visit us at an Open Day.
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Effie McGuire Ward @effiemward.bsky.social · 08/01/2025
2025 in numbers so far... +1 lanyard/ work ID current total: 4 +1 email account current total: 6 -1 wisdom tooth current total: 1
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Effie McGuire Ward @effiemward.bsky.social · 05/01/2025
Happy first got you day - we kicked celebrations off early by watching foxes in the snow from my bedroom window overnight!
2 photos of the same cat sat on the back of a sofa. In the first, he is sat up and very petite. In the second, he is lying down and comfortably taking up space as a more fully grown cat.
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Effie McGuire Ward @effiemward.bsky.social · 02/01/2025
Looking for Pro Dance Classes in Bedford, Milton Keynes, and Northampton? Drift Pro Dance is the answer - help us build the community of dancers and movers locally - over 20 different people came to our Autumn trial in 2024, and we know there are more out there! www.tickettailor.com/events/drift...
Table with schedule of classes:

Fri 31st Jan - Bedford - Michael Joseph (MJ)
Fri 7th Feb - MK - Jemima Colin
Mon 10th Feb - Northampton - Daniel Lukehurst

Fri 28th Feb - Bedford - Katie Shepherd
Fri 7th March - MK - Bethany Jarvis
Mon 10th March - Northampton - Danielle Jones

Friday classes: 11.15am-12.45pm
Monday classes: 7-8.30pm
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Effie McGuire Ward @effiemward.bsky.social · 21/12/2024
Also, love the number of people clearing up their inboxes and to do lists yesterday before going on leave.... Had an email response 15 days after I'd sent my latest message (which was in fact the third time of trying to get a response from said organisation - initial enquiry sent in June 🤦‍♀️)
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Effie McGuire Ward @effiemward.bsky.social · 21/12/2024
Next studio day not booked in until 8th Jan... ⬇️
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Effie McGuire Ward @effiemward.bsky.social · 21/12/2024
My lower back aches more from sitting and doing accounts all day than it ever does from dancing... Determined to get tax return submitted this side of Christmas!
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Effie McGuire Ward @effiemward.bsky.social · 18/12/2024
Birthday theatre trip to see Lost Dog's Ruination this evening #DanceSky
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Effie McGuire Ward @effiemward.bsky.social · 14/12/2024
I spread them out over a generous 2 weeks, but same...
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Effie McGuire Ward @effiemward.bsky.social · 13/12/2024
Best seat in the house for watching the fish fingers under the grill!
A white and tabby cat sits on kitchen table, staring intently in the direction of the camera
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Reposted by Effie McGuire Ward
Mr Abbott @thegeometrician.bsky.social · 10/12/2024
Earlier in the year 10 companies (part of the artist led touring companies network) put together case studies on how we currently tour & the associated joys/challenges. It's a rich resource, it reveals costs & it's a chance to learn about our different models & realities. tangledfeet.com/news/100
tangledfeet.com
Touring is broken? Or is it just changing? (10 Case Studies from Touring Companies) - Tangled Feet
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Effie McGuire Ward @effiemward.bsky.social · 10/12/2024
"Is dance producing hanging on, building back or reimagining itself?" Survey alert ⚠️
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Effie McGuire Ward @effiemward.bsky.social · 09/12/2024
Just had a dance studio quote me a minimum hire fee of 4 hours at £300+VAT - coming to £360, when I wanted to organise a 90 min class... ...so the space sits empty while independent dancers have nowhere affordable to dance/ rehearse. Make it make sense.
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Effie McGuire Ward @effiemward.bsky.social · 08/12/2024
anticipate he'll be causing chaos soon, after this initial bewilderment!
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Effie McGuire Ward @effiemward.bsky.social · 08/12/2024
Leo's first Christmas tree encounter
A cat hiding under a blanket, with a Chridtmas tree looming behind
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Effie McGuire Ward @effiemward.bsky.social · 07/12/2024
😱 wow - what a gut punch of an article
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Effie McGuire Ward @effiemward.bsky.social · 04/12/2024
Picked this to make a piece with some of my junior students for April next year - nothing quite like planning ahead!
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Effie McGuire Ward @effiemward.bsky.social · 04/12/2024
When Spotify Wrapped outs you as a dance teacher...
Spotify wrapped screenshot featuring Enola Holmes 2 album cover. With text:
Your top song was The Merry Dance by Daniel Pemberton. You were in the top 0.5% of listeners globally
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Effie McGuire Ward @effiemward.bsky.social · 03/12/2024
On a similar topic...Danielle Jones has been exploring in her work Kindred - can we create space for "parents to connect with their children and each other"? www.luminelle.co.uk/kindred/
luminelle.co.uk
Kindred - Luminelle
Kindred brings families together in a moving, playful, and interactive installation, where space is given for parents to connect with their children and each other. Acknowledging the isolation faced b...
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