Triangulation

 

You don't have to see the whole staircase, just focus on the first step.

 

I'm back with my head in the game.

Taking a break from my studies has definitely been mandatory for me, I had felt a bit deflated with my results last term and felt like I could never complete this course. I have always been a fighter which is how you survive in the performing arts industry. There will be many hurdles in your career but the most important thing is to "pick yourself up, dust yourself off and start all over again." (So stagey- sorry!) 

I feel more and more determined to succeed and to piece everything together and truly investigate into my little wonders now. The interesting thing when you begin to study is that during your research you realise that you're not just doing this for a degree at the end, it is to develop yourself and grow as a practitioner and in my case to understand how my knowledge can be passed on as an aid for others to grow. I think that is a wonderful thing. The world is changing hastily and to remain relevant one must change their approach and the way problems are dealt with. This can be done by noticing trends and how our knowledge from past experiences can be used to deal with current problems.

Right.. enough of me waffling on, I am off to delve deep into the Mod 3 Handbook.

Kern, J., Astaire, F., Rogers, G. and Fields, D., 1936. Pick Yourself Up. Los Angeles, California: Chappell & co.

Siemens, G., 2006. Knowing knowledge. Morrisville, N.C.,: Lulu.com.

Kinaesthetic Empathy

A key interdisciplinary concept in creative and cultural practices, kinaesthetic empathy is the ability to experience empathy purely by observing the movements of another human being. Natalia Duong (a professional dancer) explores kinaesthetic empathy as therapy for those unable to use their limbs properly. Mirroring and following closely using nonverbal communication are the core elements of our disciplines. 

Such a moving and inspiring TedTalk so thought it needed to be shared!

It got me thinking about how movement can be so contagious without even realising it, you can literally dance with a pure stranger and connect without having to even know their name. Neuroscience discovered the mirror neuron system in our brain involved in this aspect of empathy. Even a simple yawn can be contagious. 

It's so amazing to explore other scholars who also had "little wonders,"  and have actually made such a huge difference in people's lives. 

It's during our darkest moments that we must focus to see the light.

During the last couple of weeks, I feel as though my inquiry topic has been switching and I have been struggling to pinpoint the exact path I want to go down. Communicating with others on the BAPP course and individuals away from the course has really helped me to establish what it is that I am truly interested in. Plus, after discovering my inquiry focus, I have revealed that there is so a lot more literature out there than I realized.

I am aiming to focus on why nonverbal communication is important in both education and performance settings with the main focus being speech and language therapy. My 5-year-old nephew has recently started a new school with a speech and language base so I think this is a great way to explore deeper into understanding the different methods of learning.  I am hoping that it will be possible to observe at the school that focuses on speech and language difficulties and compare the methods of teaching to how they would be in a regular school. 

My practice is transdiscplinery, meaning it has been very much about the performance part of the industry whereas it's more about the transition from performance to education and passing on my knowledge of the industry. This is the reason why I am eager to discover more about learning techniques for those with learning difficulties. 

As I am starting to write my practice-based inquiry proposal, I feel so eager to discover more about this topic, but the main focus that I have learned from the first module is that I need to analysise what I am saying more and explain what I am saying in more detail. This is why I am not just studying my topic of inquiry, I am also studying how to describe it in a clearer and more precise way. 

Summary of Module 2 Zoom Session

Today's Zoom session really encouraged me to delve into the next module and created a clearer understanding of the "little wonders," involved within my practice. 

I have now realised that the inquiry I aimed to focus on seems a little too broad and I need to narrow it down to a specific area to make the practice-based inquiry in Module 3 more manageable. Although I am not required to know exactly what that is yet, I will begin to get ideas from other practitioners and the BAPP community and then determine what I already know and what I feel curious about. 

It was great to hear everybody's ideas on what they feel their inquiry shall be focused on and it was interesting that everybody had different curiosities and paths they intend to follow. That is what is great about this course, we are all given the same information and guidance but it's how we used the information and adapt the knowledge to our personal fields. 

I think it will be more important for this module to engage with others and keeping a reflective journal about what I discover around me and my feelings and questions. Whilst gathering data and information from all areas of literature, not just from reading books but also from articles, TedTalks, and artwork. 

Helen described it as an adventure, our question is the starting point, we are then exploring to find out other things and gaining more knowledge. We are not supposed to be answering the question, we are just setting ourselves up to go and explore but understanding how I am going to go about exploring this area. This will be involving different research methods including surveys, observations, or a case study of a particular community. Although we don't need to do all of these methods, just one or two. 

Ethics will be a big part of this inquiry project but I am not going to think too much into that at the moment as there will be a dedicated session to get a clearer understanding of this. 

Welcome Back

Tuesday 7th September

Welcome Back Zoom.

It was great to get back on Zoom yesterday evening and see some familiar faces and also new faces, the students starting module one. After several months away from the course, it felt great to be back with like-minded people with similar mindsets and backgrounds. I remember back to my very first zoom call and feeling so overwhelmed and unsure about what was to come. My main piece of advice to the module ones is: Communication is Key!! If you are feeling out of your depths then there are plenty of people to open up to get a clearer understanding.  The beginning of module one felt so difficult and stressful as I felt as though I was completely alone and wondering whether I had understood the objectives correctly. During the course, I connected with others via blogs, Facebook, and Whatsapp and it spurred me on to have more faith in my knowledge.

The next module and area of study are the curiosities that we have within our field and practice. Creating a deeper understanding of any concerns or questions and planning the research project for when we get to module 3. Learning from who is around you and those before you and how it has changed throughout the generations and how we have learned from it. I am very eager to get stuck into this module as I feel I have a greater understanding of the way the course works and how to manage my time for my studies.

Let's get started... 

How Influencers & Social Media Changed the Dance Industry

 

Just wanted to share this video that I came across on YouTube by the LA Times. It's so nice to hear four different cases of breaking the dancer stereotype; Amanda LaCount, BFunk, Syncopated Ladies and Chelsie Hill. They've all used social networking platforms to become celebrities in their own right. Amanda LaCount and Chelsie Hill's stories really opened my eyes and made me realise the great extent that the internet can be used for self promotion.

Amanda LaCount first talks about her experience of not having the stereotypical dancers body and her experience at a studio where she was told to her face that they had a problem with what she looked like and her body type didn't fit in his vision. She always assumed it was going to be hard for her to make it in this industry because she didn't fit the look with what everyone assumed a dancer should be. Until she uploaded a video of her dancing on the street and it was quickly shared around the web and she gained numerous amounts of followers. "Stereotypes are made to be broken and the more you work for something, the more rewarding it is."

Chelsie Hill shares how she had such a passion for dancing until she was in a car accident which paralysed her. She then discovered a wheelchair dancer online and was so inspired by it and wanted to push herself but dealt with a lot of rejections "I started to turn that hurt that I felt, where I wasnt respected like every other dancer, into passion and fuel." She then built a community on social media for women in wheelchairs that just wanted to dance.

These ladies are so inspiring to people who don't fit in with the usual stereotype of a dancer and a how social media can be used in a positive way to build up communities and inspire others.

The Ability to Adapt

After having a zoom call with Sam this morning, I feel so much better about where I am at and feeling so much more secure. This has really made me realise the importance of communication relating to my personal way of learning. We focused a lot on adaptation and the communication involved in our practices, including the non verbal communication which is often involved in live performance. I believe thats what makes live performances so special is that anything could go wrong at any time but often the audience don't suspect a thing with professional performers. 

Many times I have been involved in shows and somebody has injured themselves during a number and can't continue the show and we have had to re-block on the spot. It actually amazes me sometimes how the cast can all pull together and just make it work with no time to plan or prepare. Defying the muscle memory that we have accumulated from performing the show the same way over and over. I'm not sure about the other performers but I get such a thrill from these scenarios, whether its the anticipation of it or the resistance against the muscle memory, I don't know. Twyla Tharp explains muscle memory so clearly in her book "The Creative Habit." 

"Muscle memory is one of the more valuable forms of memory, especially to a performer. It's the notion that after diligent practice and repetition of certain physical movements, your body will remember those moves years, even decades, after you cease doing them."

I can relate to this so vividly, I often find myself, walking around Asda and suddenly busting out choreography from years ago when a certain song comes on. (Embarrassing!) It's actually really strange how your body just remembers something that your brain couldn't possibly.  Whilst in rehearsals for different contracts, I will finish the day in the studio and then go home, have a shower, have some dinner and then not think of any choreography for a while. Then, just before I go to sleep I will stand up and do the choreography a couple of times so that it will digest during the night. I have found this really helps me to retain it all for the next day. 

A time that muscle memory has hindered me is when I was on a ship and our dance captain was disembarking and I got promoted to take over the role at short notice. I had very little time to prepare to teach the new cast embarking. I thought that it would be fine because I knew all of the choreography indisputably after performing it for 6 months already. But, as I began to teach, it was like I had no idea, because it was retained in my body and not my brain.  It's a little scary how I would go on stage every evening and perform the shows 2 or 3 times but when I needed to teach somebody it was as if I had never done it before in my life. I quickly realised that I had to adapt to the new role and I needed to go back and teach myself again in order to be able to teach the new dancers. 

As a dancer, we have to be easily adaptable in many different ways. 

- Moving away from home to an unfamiliar place

-Working with different people from different backgrounds 

-Being versatile to perform whatever style the choreographer sets 

-Adapting to the lack of work (eg, during the pandemic)

Bibliography

TWYLA THARP 2003 The Creative Habit 

Are we human, or are we dancer?

 

After our module one zoom call last Monday evening, one huge thing that stuck with me was Helen saying that our professions ARE normal- it is the "normal" for us. Reflecting on this has put so much into perspective for me. When I first heard the song by The Killers "Are we human, or are we dancer?" I remember feeling a little confused by this; why aren't dancers recognised as human beings? Is this based on the tacit knowledge involved in the discipline? A lot of the industry is very hard to express in words to somebody on the outside, it has been sourced through repetition, muscle memory and personal experience. 

I am finding it very interesting that this course is heavily based around knowledge and reflections on how we have gained the knowledge. "Learning something new has to start with the confusion of realising that you don't know something." (Page 44, module one handbook) 

I'm not going to hide it, this course is extremely out of my comfort zone and I've had many moments of panic, wondering if I am on the right track. I said to my family the other day "I am so out of practice at being academic," (I now know what my practice isn't- thats a start!) However, no matter how difficult something seems at first,  my practice has taught me not to give up. 

I began reading "The Creative Habit," by Twyla Tharp, one of America's greatest choreographers and within the first chapter she talks about how important routine is for creativity. Which made me think, for the past 2 years I have been working on a holiday park 250 miles from my home, living in a wooden chalet. Where I was performing the same shows day in, day out. This meant I was relying solely on muscle memory (until we occasionally had to do reblocks!) So, with the current circumstances and nobody performing due to the pandemic. I have just got my own home with my partner and 2 dogs alongside starting my studies on BaPP.  There is no surprise that I am finding it hard, my whole routine has changed. With this in mind I have decided to be kinder to myself and not put so much pressure on myself and worrying getting everything right first time. This is a marathon not a sprint. 

Bibliography 

FACULTY ARTS AND CREATIVE INDUSTRIES 2020-21 Module One Handbook

TWYLA THARP 2003 The Creative Habit 

THE KILLERS 2008 Human 

The Power of the Internet

 

The first lens of this module focuses on communication within our practice, including Web 2.0. Darcy DiNucci (1999) came up with the term Web 2.0, to put into a group the second generation of internet platforms in which we can interact with others.  The term is better described by examples such as blogs, wikis and social media networks. Web 1.0 was the first generation, were it was much like reading a newspaper, a one-way communication system, whereas Web 2.0 is a collaboration of information from different sources.

So how does this relate to my practice?

Before starting this course, I\"d never really thought just how powerful the internet is. I can\"t even imagine not being able to have access to it anymore, especially Web 2.0 platforms. 

1) Education- We are able to train even from the comfort of our own home &  host own classes to educate others (which has really helped in this past year during the pandemic) 

2) Self Promotion- Having an online CV, showreels and social sites to promote professionally and personally. 

3) Communication- Connecting with casting directors/agents and finding auditions etc 

4) Discovering creativity- choreography, costumes etc. 

I think the word POWER is very effective when describing the internet and how genuine the information we are reading is. A quote by Tim O\"reilly states, "Who has the data, has the power." Which relates to Web 2.0 as the more users that use a site, the better the site becomes- the power it has. 

This has really stuck with me and made me realise just how fortunate I am to have access to this. I have visited many countries, whilst working abroad that don\"t have the privileges that I have. Having the devices to access the information on, the wifi/mobile data connection and a decent paid job to fund the above.

 Is power always a good thing?

During a Skype call with Helen, she recommended a Ted Talk by novelist Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie "The Danger of a Single Story." . 

She talks about her life and how she used to read books from other countries when she was younger and always had an idea in her head of how that country was, only to realise later on that it wasn\"t always accurate. 

"Power is the ability to not just tell the story of a person but make it the definitive story." Chimamanda 

That word "power" creeping in again

Although, I do feel very grateful to have the access to endless amounts of stories online, I can see the other side and how negative and dangerous the power behind it can be. 

Bibliography

FACULTY ARTS AND CREATIVE INDUSTRIES 2020-21 Module One Handbook

TIM O\"REILLY 2009 What is Web 2.0?

CHIMAMANDA NGOZI ADICHIE 2009 The Danger of a Single Storyhttps://www.ted.com/talks/chimamanda_ngozi_adichie_the_danger_of_a_single_story

Discovering My Practice

 

Today, I entered into a Zoom meeting at 8.15am which involved students from all three modules coming together to discuss our conceptions and also being able to shed light on anybodies queries. As this was my first discussion I was a little nervous to begin with as there was a lot of things that I will come across at a later date into my learning journey. In spite of this, it was great to see that these Zoom discussions will be a great place for us to air thoughts and ideas amongst the community during this course.

After reading the module handbook, top to bottom and trying to run before I could walk. I decided that I needed to take a step back and start with exploring what my practice truly means to me. I was a little worried at first that I'd struggle with endless reading and getting nowhere. But it was suggested that you should also explore in alternative methods. So, I began by jotting down, in the form of a spider diagram, exactly, what I feel, my practice entails. 

The module 1 handbook states the definition of practice as "The (everyday) doing of what you do informed by inspiration or goals of your art form. Supported by knowledge of techniques and creative processes." 

Since the age of two I have always been "a dancer," whether that be purely for a hobby up until being a professional and being able to travel the world with my craft. 

But, my practice isn't just about being a dancer, its also about how the practice shapes me to be who I am today. I often wonder; would I be a completely different person, with completely different ethics if my parents hadn't taken me with my ballet box in hand with my wrap around cardigan on, way back then?

I had inspiration for the above spider diagram after reading an article by Alessa Rogers, who has been a dancer at Atlanta Ballet, for the past ten years. This article was posted online at 4dancers.org and was called "18 things about being a professional dancer." 

Work Ethic

You could be blessed with flat turnout, long legs or natural mobility and flexibility but it takes true willpower to progress in this cut-throat industry. 

Being an Athlete

Loving your body, taking care of yourself and making sure you know the correct ways to help your injuries etc. Having the stamina to do full days of training and performing shows each day to the best of your ability. 

 

Anxiety

You may often find yourself in difficult, stressful situations, such as when I was embarking on my ship in Cuba and the company had forgotten to organise a transfer from the airport to the cruise terminal. I had to try and lug 40kg of luggage around the airport to change some money and find a cab in a completely foreign place with very few people speaking English. Also, being self employed, having to sort out your own tax returns and finances and taking freelance work with no job reliability and being constantly on the search for another contract. 

Respect

Having respect for your body as I mentioned as part of being an athlete. Respect for your teachers and understanding that they are preparing you for the industry. But, most of all, having respect for your parents. Enabling a child to get involved in the arts is a lot of dedication from them, to fund the classes/courses, becoming a taxi service or whether it just be for support. 

Curiosity

Finding different ways to express yourself, exploring your body and pushing it to the limits. If you are constantly curious about your practice, you'll constantly be surprised how much you can educate yourself. Gaining more experiences and more knowledge of your practice will will give you more to relate to and draw from. 

Faking it

This is the main thing I have learnt from my experiences in my career so far. Always trust yourself, you may feel a complete lack of confidence but you can't show that in your face. 

Enjoyment

Above anything else, we love our practice and thats why we have stuck with it for all these years. No matter how many obstacles or challenges faced along the way. I remember the first time I stepped onto the stage on my first cruise ship, full stage makeup, glamorous costumes, under the lights and hearing the applause. It will forever live in my memories. I was living the dream. 

Making Decisions 

No matter what your practice is, you're always required to make decisions, no matter how small or big that might be. Sometimes these decisions will be selfish or extremely challenging decisions to make. Whether to accept the contract and be away from your family for the majority of the year again? 

So, coming to a conclusion and gathering my thoughts, I now understand that dance is not who I am, it's what I do. I have shaped into who I am with influences from dance that has led me into becoming the person that I am today. Hence the quote at the beginning of this post; Darcey Bussell "It's very easy to become selfish and narrow-minded and see ballet as the only thing in life, but theres lots more." Which seemed a perfect quote for my situation at the moment (I have just got a Poodle puppy and we decided to name her Darcey.)

Look forward to blogging again soon! x

Bibliography

FACULTY ARTS AND CREATIVE INDUSTRIES 2020-21 Module One Handbook 59

ALESSA ROGERS 2014 http://www.4dancers.org/2014/11/18-things-ive-learned-about-being-a-professional-dancer/

DARCEY BUSSELL https://www.azquotes.com/author/22483-Darcey_Bussell

My First Blog

 

Hello everybody! 

I have finally figured out how to create my blog (I am a little bit of a technophobe!) I have been so nervous to write a blog as it was completely out of my comfort zone. But, after taking a look at other students blogs it has made me realise that there is no right or wrong as we all have our own individual thoughts and feelings. 

I really enjoyed the first induction zoom last week, it was so great to hear everybody's backgrounds and being surrounded by ambitious people. I especially enjoyed the feedback and advice from the students in module 2 and 3. It was great to get their advice and it was so reassuring that they were once equally as overwhelmed as I am. 

The BAPP course sounds really interesting and I am so eager and excited to get stuck in and explore deeper into my practice. I have danced since the age of 2, it has always been a massive part of my life and I'm now excited to reflect different aspects of the practice. 

During the induction, we briefly covered what each module covers: 

1- Establishing my practice and making sense of what I have learnt from it. 

2- What curiosity I have and what I'd like to explore further.

3- Carrying out the research and exploring it further. 

We also covered the three pillars of learning and the support that we receive during our studies. 

1- Middlesex University. Including the UniHub, handbooks, library and student union.

2- Supervisor. For Discussions, guidance and help with drafts of work.

3- Other Students. The community in which we build through blogging and airing thoughts. 

I do still feel a little apprehensive, but I am excited to get started and I'm sure in the next few weeks everything with become a lot clearer and start to take shape.