Design Practice III//Negotiated Briefs//Meeting with Carys of University of Leeds Ballet Society.

Notes from meeting up with University of Leeds Ballet Society President, Carys Blackbourn, for the first time today to talk about potential brief outcomes/ideas for the development of the project.

Meeting Carys was a great experience as a truly motivated and passionate individual, who is clearly incredibly hard-working (having started ballet when she was just three years old). Studying in the design industry also, it's great having a professional eye and a good source of feedback, that I'm really looking forward to working with over the next few weeks throughout the project.

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NOTES FROM MEETING

- The Library Pub, 6pm.

WANTS/NEEDS

- Logo
- Website
- Hoodie Design (November time)
- PDF to Northern Ballet (also in print format) RE sponsorship (editorial/layout design).
- Membership and notifications, updates, likes, etc, through Facebook.
- Leeds University dance society thumbnail (for website).

POTENTIAL TO MAKE

- Business cards
- 

- Existing template website on Moonfruit (see resource).

MEMBERS

- Carys, President
- Tash, Secretary
- Steph, Treasurer

- Class reps in each class
- Show reps
- Hoodie reps (Selling and Promo)

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- Society receives around 20 emails a day, very busy!
- BIG waiting list.
- All 120 places filled in 1.5 hr in first Fresher's day

CLASSES/STRUCTURE

- Very active compared to previous years.
- Used to be 3 classes: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced. This year: Beginner, Int. 1, Int. 2, Advanced, Pointe.
- 2 teachers, Anna (All classes except advanced), Michael (Semester 1, Advanced, Semester 2, Technique). Northern Ballet and National professional.

- Semester 1 and Semester 2- Broken down even more, 4 levels but no pointe, and 2 show classes (Don't have auditions, 60 places available).

- Semester 1- Technique, 1.5 hours every week, £25
- Semester 1- Technique and Pointe, £30, extra hour every week

- Semester 2- Technique goes down to 1 hour. Just tech is only £10, Show is £20 (1.5 hr, specialised work), together is £30.

- A SOCIAL SOCIETY, So much strength and respect as a dance form, need to be very skilled and motivated.

DESIGN

- The earlier the designs are produced, the better.
- Budget of 2 colours max in print (hoodies).
- 2 boys in the society this year, and a couple more males on the waiting list. Keep the design neutral, not too feminine (as it has regularly been in the past) or masculine (either way).
- Boys at Int. 1 level, no advanced male ballerinas.
- Meet every 2 weeks, November deadline.

MEETINGS/FUTURE OF SOCIETY

- Dance competition in November, details told on 15th October (Monday), meeting will be held which I'm invited to (take notes/meet other staff, members, etc).
- Pointe might become "competition" class.
- POTENTIALLY carry on... going on tour Semester 2, tour will need advertising.
- Funded society for running "five it a go" 1.5 hour overall technique and sample class in December and through membership.
- Don't worry TOO much about budget.
- Dance shop in VQ, 'World of Dance', "Ann Summers"-esque party (discounted clothing for ballerinas). Send PDF to them, if successful, may need promotional materials.

OTHER

- Being added to mailing list for important news and updates.
- Perform and practice at Stage @ Leeds, sprung floor for ballet/joints.
- Look at stock imagery for pose inspiration/imagery, etc.