It is a week since our first Skype of the term and the positive vibe that was free flowing from our group discussion has remained with me throughout the week. I have really enjoyed reading the various blogs and getting back in touch with everyone and my own mind in preparation for the term ahead. I have posted a question on the MAPP LinkedIn discussion group, so if you get chance I would be grateful for your thoughts, ideas and comments.
My research in a 'nutshell' is seeing if I am able to encourage vocational dance students to work more independently and creatively by developing a greater understanding of their heritage as dancers and utilising the principles and techniques of Modern and Post-Modern dance as a means to stimulate improvisation and choreographic ideas. I am also interested to see if the research will provide an education that is supportive to their current needs within dance and musical theatre training and if it develops autonomous and more confident dancers. In my 25 years of teaching, I have seen so many students afraid to follow their own impulses to create movement and when challenged to do so, they usually either back off and don't want to proceed or choreograph movements that are akin to what they already know in terms of the syllabus that they study and therefore create a sequence of familiar steps. However, in my experience, when the students are either given material to work on that is outside of the 'normal' technique classes or they go the theatre to watch something a little different to their training they are enthralled, inspired and genuinely enjoy the 'different' form that they have been exposed to. If we were able to prolong time, I would love to be able to learn and endure every aspect and style of dance that is available to us and ultimately pass it on to my students. For this reason, I have chosen to focus my inquiry of the Modern Practitioners, as it was them (I believe) that have given us much to talk about and much to utilise and develop in the future of dance.
I watched Matthew Bourne's latest production 'Lord of The Flies' last night and found myself not only enjoying such immense creativity but I also noticed the seamless connections that were had from various genres of technique within one production. There was evidence of classical ballet, contemporary, street, hip hop and pedestrian movement that all worked so well together. An added bonus was that one of my male senior students was a member of the cast and it was wonderful to see him working alongside the Professional members of the company and delivering Bourne's choreography so well and with great attention to detail. I couldn't help but imagine, if I am able to give my students some of what Matthew Bourne has got in the way of investigation, historical research and creative confidence then they too, could be the potential next generation of 'Modern' choreographers, or at least well on their way to the creative map of discovery.
Even though I only studied contemporary/modern dance as a mandatory subject as part of my vocational training, I have always been drawn to this style choreographically. For me, there is so much to be had from this style of dance and I see it more and more coming into play in the 'new' ballet works that are being showcased around the globe, as well as Musical Theatre. Dance is such a wonderful discipline to be part of and a great place to be; forever changing, evolving and giving 'us' so much to think and talk about. Like our viral community, dance is the community that will continue to be my momentum and driving force behind these very modern and collaborative times..............Exciting!
Sunday 28 September 2014
Wednesday 17 September 2014
Pause for reflection
It has been such a long time since I've blogged that I thought I'd keep it short and get back into the swing of things by imparting a few thoughts before I continue my MAPP discovery throughout module 3.
As I start to write my first blog of the term, it seems unbelievable that for those of us on module 3 it is the final term of our journey..........Argh!!! The prospect of being in the final term is one of mixed emotion and not unlike how I felt back at the start of module 1; excited, scared (in a good way) the kind of scared that allows the adrenaline to rush through ones veins and ask the question 'why am I doing this to myself'? The fizz of excitement combined with nervous energy made me think how my emotions and experiential learning are similar to the students that I teach; A new first years fears of a different learning environment is comparable to the 3rd years fears who will soon be going it alone into the big wide world, and utilising all that they have learnt and discovered for themselves.
As I reflect on my MAPP journey thus far, I realise that just as the 3rd year students, although a daunting prospect of the unknown, I am ready for the next challenge, into what I hope will be an exciting research project throughout this final term.
My past informs me that I survived my first year at school and college, and have survived MAPP module 1, I fine tuned my learning in 2nd year college, and MAPP module 2 and I am now nearly ready to fly the nest as I did as a 3rd year student, MAPP module 3............................ now that (although scary) is so exciting and illustrates reflection as a road map and coping mechanism to what I feel are natural anxieties. I am able to nurture and learn from my past in order to move through the present and aim towards the future. This pattern of reflection also strikes a chord with my research topic as part of my study is looking at our heritage as dancers with a particular focus on how modern and post-modern dance can inform empiricism and creativity in dancers of today. In other words, looking back, learning from the past in order to inform today!
I definitely feel 3rd year like and can not imagine what I will discover throughout the research process but hope that I prove to myself that I can do it well and that I am ready to take on and validate the unknown!
As I start to write my first blog of the term, it seems unbelievable that for those of us on module 3 it is the final term of our journey..........Argh!!! The prospect of being in the final term is one of mixed emotion and not unlike how I felt back at the start of module 1; excited, scared (in a good way) the kind of scared that allows the adrenaline to rush through ones veins and ask the question 'why am I doing this to myself'? The fizz of excitement combined with nervous energy made me think how my emotions and experiential learning are similar to the students that I teach; A new first years fears of a different learning environment is comparable to the 3rd years fears who will soon be going it alone into the big wide world, and utilising all that they have learnt and discovered for themselves.
As I reflect on my MAPP journey thus far, I realise that just as the 3rd year students, although a daunting prospect of the unknown, I am ready for the next challenge, into what I hope will be an exciting research project throughout this final term.
My past informs me that I survived my first year at school and college, and have survived MAPP module 1, I fine tuned my learning in 2nd year college, and MAPP module 2 and I am now nearly ready to fly the nest as I did as a 3rd year student, MAPP module 3............................ now that (although scary) is so exciting and illustrates reflection as a road map and coping mechanism to what I feel are natural anxieties. I am able to nurture and learn from my past in order to move through the present and aim towards the future. This pattern of reflection also strikes a chord with my research topic as part of my study is looking at our heritage as dancers with a particular focus on how modern and post-modern dance can inform empiricism and creativity in dancers of today. In other words, looking back, learning from the past in order to inform today!
I definitely feel 3rd year like and can not imagine what I will discover throughout the research process but hope that I prove to myself that I can do it well and that I am ready to take on and validate the unknown!
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