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How do you see Technique?

As I continue to think and look at how I may approach my research project (still a very daunting task) I've spent a lot of time looking at the different ways in which technique is approached and seen within a class. I have always considered technique to be very important to my dance training and creating a foundation as a dancer. However, the more I read and research lately I see differing opinions on how important technique is. I find my self establishing more and more questions daily and sometimes find it hard to gather my thoughts together. I don't think its necessarily a bad thing as I know my initial questions will continue to lead to more and I hope better questions, so I continue to ask them. On that note I wonder about other peoples thoughts. As read other peoples blogs I see that a lot of people stand on a non-positivist approach as we all know that dance is so subjective and I think it is important for me to ask these questions that I ask myself to others in my fiel
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Technique

As Module Two continues I have been thinking about what it is I have learnt about my interests in dance. I have always had a passion for the delivery of technique and wrote about it as one of my AOL's. It's such a broad subject area and it fascinates me that people respond to it so differently. In my years of teaching I have had students that really respond to it and others who struggle to see why it is important. I often wonder why this is. Is it down to delivery whether you find a passion for it? Is it simply just like anything we learn some enjoy it more than others? After all, we all work differently. Are some techniques more difficult to engage with than others? In particular these questions refer to teaching technique to young people. I would be interested to hear peoples thoughts and experiences on delivering technique, at all levels from community based to training programs to degree level. How do your students respond to technique? What are the barriers? Which tech
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A lovely message.

I've found some courage (with a little help) to make observations about myself and actually write about it, not just keep it to myself. I've always considered my role as a teacher to be about giving the young people the tools they need in order to progress and if I can impart anything else to them then this is a bonus. I've recently had a few students who have moved onto, university or different training, which is only a natural progression.  When they leave they often bring thank you cards, which of course is lovely, but what is written is really quite heartfelt. I received a card this week that stated the following: "Thank you! Your knowledge, vision and wisdom have changed my entire world. I am who I am today, much to your efforts as the leader. Farewell mentor." These word immediately made me think back over the years I have taught and worked with young people and actually that they thank me for being a part of who they have grown into. I'm complete
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Identifying AOL's Time

I've spent a lot of time thinking about my areas of learning this last couple of weeks. Thinking is a large part of this and I often find I lack time to get things down on paper so I've been recording things as voice notes. I find it much easier to record my often scattered thoughts whilst driving (I have an hour commute from home to work.) this seems to be the time when my mind settles on subjects and I can then come back to the ramblings and make more sense of my thoughts. As a result of this I've started to think that time and my management has had a large impact on my career and development to date. I've thought a lot about the how I used my time differently over the years and in different situations and what impact this has had. I find it an interesting topic with a lot of potential layers to it. Time management has had an impact on how I plan, how I deliver a session, create a piece etc. Just thinking of one example: Creating a piece for young people when th
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Reflection and Learning

This is a post I wrote last week that I thought I had published (whoops) so here it is now with another to follow soon. I've been thinking a lot about learning and my reflection this week. I found a lot to think about whilst reading through J.A Moon's book about reflective and experiential learning. She states that " We all reflect and all learning is based on experience." This is a particular quote that has stuck with me, as whilst  I know we all reflect it is not something I take the chance to do on a regular basis. It has been nice to start to do this as part of the MA and the developments for me that will come from this are vast. I have already begun to see a different awareness in how I am communicating, what I am teaching and the learning both myself and the students undertake. Throughout the classes I have taught this week I have been trying to get my students to reflect and find their own way of moving as well as giving material I have taught them their ow
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Module One Begins!

So here we are at the very start of the MAPP journey. There is a lot to think about, take in and start to process but I'm looking forward to the challenge. It's been a fair few years since I undertook any kind of "education" for myself, but after ten years of teaching, choreographing etc I do really feel I'm ready to take some time to come back to my practice and find what's important. Where better to start then with a reflection on this. I'm starting to think about areas of my professional life that I have not taken the time, or had chance, to reflect upon. I'm really looking forward to investigating these moments and seeing how they have led me to where I am today. It's not very often I get to do this and as I read through the handbook and course material I'm very quickly recognising that this is something I should take the time to do. I'm really interested in looking further into the ideas surrounding knowledge and how I learn. I am
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