University of Central Lancashire Dance graduate, Amber Johnson, has broadened her career by working as a Sports and Activity Instructor alongside becoming a freelance Dance Artist.
With an interest in teaching and dance, Amber chose to study Dance at UCLan where she could combine teaching with other aspects of dance such as performance, technique, and choreography. When Amber visited UCLan for the first time at an open day, she immediately felt welcomed by the course lecturers which helped Amber finalise her decision to study the course.
During her time at University, Amber volunteered to help at local dance events as well as being the Chair of Dance Club. In her final year, Amber led Preston Young Dancers and supported auditions and open days for the UCLan Dance course. Talking about her volunteering experience, Amber said: “By getting involved in any way I could, I found my confidence developed and I was able to apply the things I was learning on the course to professional situations.”
After graduation, Amber completed a PGCE in Dance and PE and then secured a role as a Sports and Activity Instructor at Lancashire Association of Boys and Girls Club.
In her role as a Sports and Activity Leader, Amber delivers activities to youth groups around Lancashire and helps year nine pupils engage with positive activities. This involves week-long residentials in the Lake District where they participate in challenging activities such as mountain climbing, canoeing and wild camping.
Alongside this, Amber freelances as a Dance Artist and is the Lead Dance Artist for Ingleton Youth Dance and Ingleton Young Dancers, which are ran by Blue Moose Dance Company. She is currently working towards several performances, one of them being Vanishing Point at UCLan.
"All aspects of the course enabled me to grow as a Dance Artist which supported me in my role."
— Amber Johnson, BA (Hons) Dance graduate
Talking about how studying at UCLan has had an impact on her career journey, Amber said: “I have been able to develop my confidence in facilitating and making lessons engaging which has definitely supported me in my role as a Sports and Activity Instructor.
She continued: “All aspects of the course enabled me to grow as a Dance Artist, which supported me in my role as the Lead Artist for Ingleton Youth Dance and Ingleton Young Dancers.”
Reflecting on her lasting memories at UCLan, Amber said: “My lasting memories of UCLan will always be the friendships I made through the course. As our course worked closely across the three year groups at times it was great to have such a supportive group of people guide you through elements of the course they had already been through.”
