5a added thought

I also think a guideline or regulation exist to protect the organisation, just in case of trouble.
If, there are a guideline to it, companies have got some thing fall on to it or it make easier to  avoid the trouble?

5a

What is the code of ethics of my working environment?


I never really paid much of attentions to the regulations or the code of ethics of my working environment, hmmmm

I think the equal and fair opportunities are important for code of ethics.
As all dancers get same amount of salary in the company.

Also, respect the right of colleagues; dancers spend quite a lot of time together in a bus to go the venues to perform. And, some dancers need more rest than the others for next performance.

For health and safety reason, dancers need to be fit enough to perform I think it is up to us and  it is our responsibility to condition our health. Because someone`s bad condition effect others. For example duet work, if, the partner is being sick or being hang over from the night before, best not to dance with them, to avoid the risk of getting injury.

I also think dancers should given enough time to learn different roles, if directors decided to change the cast. For health and safety reasons.

I guess dancers requires to do their best to work and communicate while working with choreographers and guest choreographers

Dancers requires to do their best to make students feel safe while they are in workshop.

I think most of ethical codes are based on common knowledge. However, common sense changes time and places, so can be tricky.

The Survey

Hi everyone!


I have posted my survey on BAPP facebook, but, if there are any one who has not noticed it yet, please could you fill it up for me?
There are only few questions, so please have a look and check it !

To the people who already filled it up, Thank you!!


http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/2GSCTP5

Confession; Real benefit of knowing my self better

I have written on my previous blog about the things I have noticed from watching my self dance, and the benefits of analysing it. However, that was all from practical side of view.

So, Today I would like to discuss how watching my self on video effected my general professional life.
Well, it is like a personal confession!

The field of profession I am in; performing arts, we all work hard everyday to get better, or deeper our understanding towards our profession. That is good and very normal, right?
However, we can not forget that we are in a very competitive field; only few jobs and places for hundreds of us! As I mentioned, we all work hard to make our self better, but, instead, some people choose to work hard on bringing other people down instead of work hard to make them self better :(
Everyone knows that, and that is clearly wrong things to do as a decent human being. There are no excuses. However, when I see how the performing arts world functions, I some times feel like that is only natural for people to start act that way. I am not saying that, that is right or correct action to choose. However, end of the day it is just we love our self and we put our self in front of rest of the people to survive, that is our nature. We all make sure of that subconsciously, that is how we all survived till now.

However, we all discussed about TIT for TAT on WBS3002, we all know and learned the benefits of it and how stupid not to communicate with others and help each other.

To me, the real benefit of watching my self on video was The Realisation.
It all started from my director told me to watch my performance on dvd. I thank him lots now.
It is not nice to see what reality is, and it knocked me down. But, I am learning a lot from it.

The best thing I have gained by watching my video was to noticed the fact;  I am not as good as I think I was.

There are a few reasons I use to think I was better than I am.

1, The industry I am in, we got to be confident!
2, I often get some good reviews in Danceeurope magazine

Since I watched my self and knowing my self more, I think I have improved as a dancer and as a person.
I started to ask for more help to my colleagues, so I see different point of view and approaches.
I am doing that because I realised that I am not as good as I wanted to be and I am desperate!
Also, I saw my colleagues on the video too, and they are as good and as bad as me!
I started respect them more, because of it. I started to listen to the people more too.
So that was the real befit to me.

From now on, every time I started to think I am better than the others, which I am sure I will! Because I am in performing arts world end of the day. I will recall the memory and the footage of my self on the video. That will make me respect others more and makes me a decent person.

Sounds like I am such a nobhead, but I am actually a nice, friendly person everyone!!!!
I just get confused sometimes ;D

Progress of how to use video, How to benefit from it

Yesterday, I actually experienced and physically gained the benefit of watching my self on the video and correcting my self.

The other day, I have recorded my self on video. And, Yesterday, I did class at the same studio and with the same teacher who taught the class the day I recorded. And, the teacher gave us exactly same class.
Then, suddenly I saw my self how I did these exercise the other day, and how I produced all the mistakes. I use the word produce, only because mistakes in Ballet does not happen coincidently. If, dancers make mistakes, there are always reasons for it, therefore I use the word Produce when I make mistakes. Anyway,  I was already correcting my self before I attend the exercises.! Even before we moved on to the exercise to exercise.
No need to explain, I had a great and a very productive class for my self that day.

I felt like I was back in time and have given an opportunity to rewrite and re do the class! And, I made it right ;D

Outcome to Income Part 2

On my previous blog, I discussed about coordination can be tricky to analyse over the video.

Today`s morning class, my colleague gave me an advice about turning, because I realised how bad I am and I was desperate, so I asked for an opinion! He told me that, turning can be much easier if dancers put less effort; almost like just marking!

I immediately tried what he suggested to me, and I found out something new about turning, new sensation.

If, I put less force and attend like almost marking it, I get less tension while I am turning!

Because of the reason above, I am more relaxed while I am turning.

So, I can feel more and scene more while I am turning ; I can collect more information about myself, what is going on, while I am turning!

The main reason why I did not turn well was; because I put more than enough force at the preparation. I think I was focusing too much to turn.  

It is harder to control the turn if there are so much force; Low of gravity!

It is still far far away from good, but it is definitely better and I feel like I am on a right truck.

To be honest, I think it is more physiological rather than physical matter to me.

That was brilliant solution to me. I thank my colleague ;D

I can learn and I should learn from every one!

Outcome to Income

Thanks to the people who read my previous blog and commented on it.

Since then, I brought my previous blog topic to my mentor to discuss.
My mentor is my pilates instructor, he use to be a professional dancer.

We exchanged the opinion and discussed about it.
One of the statements he made it clear to me was,  Dancers should ever loose the 

aesthetic point of view. I totally agreed with him about it base on my opinion which I wrote on my previous blog.

Also, we discussed about the use of mirror too.

So, I recorded my self doing morning class the other day!
I watched it and wrote down all the corrections which I need to improve? Well, improve might not be a right word, only because there are only WRITE or WRONG movements in dance. So, I guess I can not improve wrong movement. So, I say ELIMINATE the movement and replace, rewrite  with the new movement. I believe every time I repeat and go through that process the quality of the movement improve and the quality gets closer what I am aiming for. This process is kind of similar to scientists experiment using tools in laboratory, again and again till they find out whatever they are looking for.
Us, Dancers,  experience the movements using our body, again and again till we get the right movements.
And, I have just remembered that, this process is very much like kolb`s learning cycle!

I have realised few things by the process of watching and analysing my self on the video.

There are some things I can correct quite easily; I could find the solution instantly. And some things I still have no idea how to correct :(

One of the things I noticed was, if movements are simple, most likely the solution will be simple too.

For example;  Grand battments; A kicking movement of the working leg (i.e. the leg that is performing a technique).Battements are usually executed in front (en avant or à la quatrieme devant), to the side (à la seconde) or back (en arrière or à la quatrieme derrière).http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glossary_of_ballet#G

Sounds simple, it is simple! However, simple does not mean easy.
Anyway, I saw my self doing Grand Battements to the back on the video. The picture below.

If, people are not familiar with Ballet, probably do not notice.
However, I am arching the upper body sticking out my ribs, opening the hip completely and shortening the left side of the body.

Supposed to look like this; the picture below. Well, that is a position, so slightly different but, similar things.

http://media.photobucket.com/image/arabesque%20royal%20ballet/cheerbabe9139/Ballet%20Dancers/Roberta%20Marquez%20Royal%20Ballet/arabesque_Roberta_Marquez.jpg

These were easy to correct. I almost immediately collected my self, because the movement is quite straight forward and simple.

However, something like turning is harder to correct. Because the movement is more complicated; mixed elements of few ballet movements, and the coordination is necessary.
I realised this When Mina commented on my SIG on Facebook. Mina gave me an advise of improving the coordination of turning. Thanks Mina!

Well, however, some thing like coordination is not simple and there are no instant solution for it. This is a difficult part :( I think this is the key to self coaching and this devides being a good self coach to your self or not; Knowing the problems and Knowing the solution of the problems are two totally different things.
It is same as I wrote on my previous blog about understanding of WHAT is happening and understanding of WHY it is happening is different.

I just need to dig deeper my knowledge and be more aware of my proprioception, experience which I have learned from the past, and try to apply them. Or, maybe I need completely different approach to it?

Visual & Kinaesthetic, External & Internal

Today, I would like to analyse my field of profession from the Visual point of view and Ｋinaesthetic point of view; External way of learning  and Internal way of learning..

I can say this is first part of self coaching project.

I guess some people may not be familiar with the word; kinesthetic awareness.

What is kinesthetic awareness?

kinesthetic awareness encompasses the body's abilities to coordinate motion (such as pitching a baseball) and the body's awareness of where it is in time and space (think dancing). When you see a troupe of ballet dancers moving together it is largely kinesthetic awareness that allows them to move in harmony together instead of bumping into each other.

http://www.quickmedical.com/health_information/fitness/proprioception_kinesthetic_awareness.html

Professional Inquiry is the way to learn what I am doing while I am doing, then this could be a good topic to anasyse.

Recently, the company I work for, they gave us dancers the DVD of current production.

The director often tells me that, I must watch myself on video so I can see how sloppy I look on stage. However, I did not watch it straight away.....

Well, I use to video myself often to see myself and analyse what I need to do to improve.

However, one day I realised that it is actually not so helpful watching me on video.

Video made me notice what I am doing wrong. So, I started to record myself and watch the video a lot in one point.

However, I realised that the field I am in, I should feel my body and aware of what I am doing instead of watching myself and FIXING myself from the outside. When, I realised that, I suddenly felt like instead of getting close the goal I am aiming for, I am getting father from it. I just did not know why but I felt like I should not rely on visual too much. So, I decided to leave my image in my head and I refuse to watch myself dancing for a while.

Because the video showed me what is happening, but, not why it is happening. And, I got confused and watching the video did not help. Well, I could not use the help from the video properly. I did not know how to use the video properly to help myself.

An example, if water is leaking from the roof. and if I only fix the part which is leaking from,  the part only I can see visually, then the water will stop leaking from there. But, water will leak from different part of ceiling soon or later. And, there will be no end. 

Best and most direct solution is to find out why it is happening. Then, how to solve the problem.

But, if we see the situation only from one direction, it is hard to realise why it is happeninig.

ehow.co.uk

Then, the other day I saw myself on the DVD.

I was shocked, I was so sloppy as the director told me.

It was a wake call to me. I just did not know why. It was not how I imagined on my head.

So, this time I watched the video and analysed differently; instead of fixing what I am doing wrong, I focused on WHY these mistakes are happening.

Then I thought about what is the advantages and also the disadvantage of watching the video and learning from it; from Visual point of view.

Advantages

1, Video does not exaggerate, Video shows only exactly what happened on that time.

2, Video can pause and slow down the footage; convenience to analyse to certain extent.

3, Video can provide bigger picture; whole stage. We can see our self as a part of performance; it provides different point of view.

Disadvantage

1, Now, I realised how to use the video properly to coach myself.

However, without knowing how to use it right, it will not work. Because video can provides only WHAT is going on, not WHY.

2, End of the day, even we understand what are we doing wrong by slowing down or pausing the footage, we cannot pause or slow down what we are doing in real life. Because, if we stop or slow down while we are dancing or break the movements down, and analyse them, that won`t work. Once stop or slow down the movements, The movements are not the same anymore. So, once go back to the normal speed, the habits are still there.

3, Dancers should feel and aware the surroundings and what are going on stage.

So we should be able to imagine whole picture without checking the video.

It is very similar to football player’s awareness on the pitch. Where ever they are, they sense where team mates and opponents are, and where the ball is.

The advantage and disadvantage of relying on physical sensation.

1, performing arts are physical arts. Dancers use their body as a tool to express whatever they need to express. Actor and singers use their voice to express.

Performing arts cannot be performed as an art without the physical sensations, body awareness, and feelings.

2, Lacking of kinesthetic awareness cause injure. And, I have noticed that dancers who do not aware of their kinaesthetic awareness injure more often than the other.

And, these dancers often rely on mirror or video instead of feeling and trust their instinct.

We should always move with the feeling and express the emotion. However, without solid technique, it cannot be a performance; it will become just a self indulgence.

No one understands actors who cannot speak or pronounce properly; even the actors had so much emotion or artistry to share with the audience, without the training and solid technique, it cannot be a performance.

Technique is only the tool to express our self on stage to share something special with audience. 

So, end of the day video can be used to check to see the gap between artist`s own internal image and audience points of view; external image.

Today I noticed and realised from writing this journal; Focus on WHY things are happening, not What is going on. Studying is analysing why it is happening and not what is going on. 

Analysing WHY will take us father and deepen our understanding to our self and the life it self.

apptoiphone.com

Deciding the award title

First thing I thought and came in to my mind after I have read the module hand book and rest was, to decide the rough structure of my award of this module, as soon as possible.

So, first things I did was to write down the ideas which I want to develop as my award for module 3630.

Mindmap, Which has been introduced to us last term.And, it was very functional for cleaning and editing of the thoughts and ideas of source, where the ideas and thoughts coming from, and where are they going, why and what I really want to discover, what I want to get out from it. Mindmap was brilliant for clearing up and get to the core of the theme or subject directly.    

I struggled to decide the award title of this module, because I had a few different concepts which I was interested in. So, I wrote mindmap of each ideas and compared them. 

   

“Self Coaching in Performing Arts”.

That is a rough title of my award of this module at the present. I would like to build and develop the ideas based on it.

I chose this title, because as I am a professional dancer I am always interested in developing the skill in my field.

One of the method I use to develop my skill is to write down the aim I want to achieve, as clear, as detail as possible. I realised that writing down the corrections and reading them is totally a different process to just thinking through in my head.

Also set the time limit to it that can provide better focus to achieve the aim.

I noticed this by teaching dancers. I often teach the young dancers as well as performing on stage with the company. Teaching is a part of the company`s educational work.

On my last term while I was studying WBS 3002 module, I realised that what I taught and how I structured the class is very much applicable to my own work. For example, To build the structure of class, decide the aim for students to achieve in each class, and especially listing my own voice while I am teaching.. Again, listening and saying is a totally a different process, like writing down and just thinking through in head. I often repeat what teachers tell me, but now I understand why I do it!  

I often deepen my understanding of what I have leaned in past by teaching. It is almost like digesting the food which I have eaten while ago. That is the fact, which I thought I already understood by experiencing through practice and performing. However, maybe, learning can only be completed by teaching or passing through to the others.

Which I have learned and discovered form the process of studying WBS 3002 last year.

So, I am going to develop the theme through teaching and actually using my body to experience the movements. Also, I will interact my thoughts with my colleagues, teachers and SIG.

Wish me luck. 

ＷＢＳ ３６３０

When I have read through this new WBS 3630 module handbook, I thought I better plan ahead and prepare well for this. As much as I enjoy completing WBS module course, if I approach the course without a solid structure I shall fail, which I have learned from the experience.

I would like to make the most of the knowledge and tools which I have learned how to apply them from the previous module, and also maintaining them to help me through the deeper understanding of the WBS module. That is my aim of this term; Advanced the knowledge to prepare for the final module.

I have learned a lot from the previous module. However, I noticed and realised a lot of things through previous module, and it gave me some regrets. For example, I do not think I fully understood the concept of the course at the beginning. Well, I roughly had an idea but I did not pay much attention to the details. So, I started to understand the module more toward the end. I actually understood more about the module after I have completed it, very ironic. I carefully compare my work with others students. I especially did not put enough effort in the digital, other evidence. I also hesitated a lot about journal writing compare to the other students. Journal writing was something I have ever done before and I worried about what is correct and wrong. However, I have understood that there are no Wright or wrong. All the journals are working process. And the evidence of working progress and roots of understanding, which will become very useful and important at the end of the term. So, I am going to be more active and positive about posting and sharing my working progress and thoughts. And, also I must be more interactive with other students, which I am still not so good at.

  

What and How Web 2.0 changed

I have been working on my portfolio.

So, I have been going through things I have learned and realised from this module.

And, I am surprised about the fact; the end of this module; now, as close as I get to the deadline I started to understand more about this module. It is amazing! It all started to make sense to me; I can see things much clearer than before.

WHAT and HOW Web 2.0 changed and influenced us.

At the beginning I stared to think what and how things changed.

However, I stop thinking that way, and instead I started to think what has NOT changed since Web 2.0 appeared, what stayed the same?

We have gain the power to access to more information since Web2.0 has been released us. However, one thing we still have given, in exactly same amount since before the appearance of Web 2.0.

TIME, which is closest answer of WHAT Web2.0 changed the most.

Well, technically time runs still the same as before the appearance of Web 2.0, as I just mentioned that time is the only thing has not changed since.

So, what Web 2.0 changed really?

The answer is THE VALUE OF TIME.

It is a huge different to our world.

One minute is still sixty seconds after the appearance of Web2.0.

However, thank Web 2.0, we can access and discover much, much more information in sixty seconds compare to before.

Now, we can do things it uses to take a whole day in twenty minutes.

I personally think Web 2.0 is as valuable as the invention of car. Car can takes us which usually takes a whole day to walk by only ten minutes. Same as washing machines, these are technically TIME MACHINES.

Before Web 2.0, most important thing was HOW MUCH information we can collect.

However, after web 2.0 important key has changed into HOW MUCH we can digest the information into knowledge.

Before Web 2.0.

1, Find the right sources. (This process takes long time)

2, Collect information as much as possible. (This process takes long time too) The Key Process

3, Choose right, suitable information.

4, Digest the information to knowledge.

5, Value the information and knowledge.

6, Pass on the information and knowledge back to source. (Takes fairy long time)

After Web 2.0

1, Access to the internet; the source. (Very quick process)

2, Collect information. (Very quick process)

3, Choose right, suitable information.

4, Digest the information to knowledge. The Key Process

5, Value the information and knowledge.

6, Pass on the information and knowledge back to source. (Quick process)

Choice and Causality; Prisoner's dilemma and Tit For Tat

I am writing and editing my portfolio at the moment.
Thinking through things I have learned and realized from reflecting my experience through this module.

It started off by an advice from my company`s teacher  ` Daisuke, dance like you are in Matrix. Feel the 360゜, be aware of the surroundings while you are dancing.`

So, I watched the film, which I have seen a lot of times before.
And, there a scene characters having a conversation, which threw me a big question.
In that scene, the trafficker of informations demands that, we all think we have a freedom of choice. However that is an illusion. We do not really have a freedom of choice and choice is already been made before we decide. Action, Reaction, Cause and Effect. We only make an action to understand WHY.

As this confused my mind, and I was writing my mindmap anyway for my portfolio, I started draw mindmap of life based on this theory. However, I got stuck. So, I went to my friends to discuss and gain their opinions.
And, surprisingly seems like most of people think the same as the trafficker of information; there are choice, but not really. People try to live happily because no one really wants to live sadly. We have a choice to end our life, but, really? Life is great, there is no doubt about that to me. However, more likely we are living because we were born. Again, not really a choice, is it?
Most interestingly one of my friend said that, `we are all nice to each other, it is not because we want to. It is just easy that way, because no one really wants to be bullied.` And, the person added in the end ` there really are no choice about it....`. That comment shocked me a lot. Only because on my previous blog, I mentioned this in my cooperation section; TIT FOR TAT proved that people try to be nice to each other, only because most likely we are afraid of being nasty, isolated and being socially executed. Human can not live and function our potential to the maximum if not cooperate to the other human beings. We created packs to survive from the danger or life threatening, with time that became society.
http://momngaxxx1.blogspot.com/2011/04/critical-reflection-on-networked.html


If, that is true, TIT FOR TAT is not just a strategy. At Prisoner`s Dilemma, we have NO CHOICE to make other decisions. Decisions have already made even before the game starts.


If, that is true, that is a bit sad. Because technically if that is correct, our life and fate has already been decided. That means we are living just  to understand and find out why and accept the fact of life is like a book, which already has been written, so, our job is to turn the page everyday.


Is it right? I am hoping that I am wrong in a way. Only because, other wise life is like building a plastic model based on the instruction, to destroy at the end with our end of life. That is just........


What do you think?

Critical Reflection on The Networked Professional course reader

Axelrod`s idea has started from simple questions ` when should people cooperate? and when to be selfish, do people cooperate even there are no benefit to them?`
Cooperation;

I actually never really thought of why people cooperate till I started this course.
I always thought that is just a common sense to cooperate to the others and make our life easier.
Then, I thought, why do I cooperate? Do I make an effort to corporate to the others, only because that is what I have been told to do since when I was young? 

R Axelrod`s Prisnor`s Dilemma game proved an interesting result for this question.

TIT FOR TAT was the best strategy to survive the game.

Technically that is just copying opponent`s footsteps. I am not even sure that we can call TIT FOR TAT as a strategy? Any ways, however, TIT FOR TAT produced the best result in the game.
I guess quite often same strategy functions in our network too. If, people wanted to know some informations, one of the most direct and effective ways is to open the informations we have to the others. Like hand shake. I am going to show you what I have in my hand, so can I see your`s?
It is like a business, I give you mine, so would you like to share yours? I guess in human society, our relation ships with the others are like a circle. My father, who is a business man, he always reminds me to share things with people, to be given more. What comse around goes around. Very true!
People are being nice and I also try to be nice to people too, let`s say give a respect to the others to be given. I use to think because that is how decent people behave.
However, TIT FOR TAT proved that people try to be nice to each other, only because most likely we are afraid of being nasty, isolated and being socially executed. Human can not live and function our potential to the maximum if not cooperate to the other human beings. We created packs to survive from the danger or life threatening, with time that became society. So, I agree with what Alexrod says.

However, I think TIT FOR TAT works really well, only if people want to archive the same goal in the network they are in. And, also people can provide incorrect informations sometimes, tensionally or intentionally. In that case, the person who provided the right information does not benefit any thing from the others. So, if we use TIT FOR TAT strategy, we should be aware that that could cause some confusion some times. As long as we are aware of it, TIT FOR TAT sounds like the strategy.


However, when people decided there is no link or bond, also if there are no benefit to us, we easily insist to cooperate. Other wise there can not be any poor people or poor children in this world. However, there are. And there will be always. We all feel a little bad about these people. But, not feeling bad enough to make an action, maybe donate some changes.
There are tragedy every where and in every country, it is very easy to find if we see the news everyday. We all feel sorry about these sad things, but not sad or worry enough to to do something about it.
However, very interestingly, once we find a link to incidence or to people, i,e, tragedy is happening where we use to live or tragedy is happened to our relatives. Then, suddenly we pay so much attention and try to do our best to help the situation.
I realised that, as really bad earth quake stroke Japan a month ago. And, all of my friends called me and sent me messages on Facebook checking that how I am.
It was an example, that if my friends did not have any Japanese friends like me, probably they did not feel as bad or as worried as they did then. Only because about a month before the earth quake stroke Japan, a really bad earth quake hit New Zealand. And, my friends and relatives are very sad about the news, however, it just was not the same how my surroundings and the people who are in the same networks as I am in reacted when things happened to Japan.
Also, I was talking to my mother who live in Japan, she mentioned that people usually do not cooperate these days. However, tragic like that makes people`s bond stronger and make them closer after the incidence. People in Japan started to cooperate more than before. Because that is only way to survive the situations. Ironic.


Affiliation;
 I think affiliation as  big circle or network of human relationships. To help others, to be helped.
Crisp&Turner mentioned “If experienced and influential individuals are likely to be at their preferred level of affiliation, why is it common for them to still assist younger, less experienced individuals?”.

I think there are few answers to explain why experienced people assist and help lees experienced individuals.

One of the reason is because, that is how networks function. Passing on what we have learned from the experiences to next generation. In this case, we are helping others without thinking of why.

i,e, if we see old people struggling to carry stuff, when we see child crying alone, makes us feel like should go up to them and help. These habits are in our body, almost like a reaction or reflections. Because that is what we have been told to do since when people are young.

Another reason I can think of is, some people like to help or teach less experienced people, to make them feel better. Obviously, when people is teaching  to the less experienced individuals, the hierarchy exists while the person is teaching to the less experienced people.

Also teaching something new could influence a lot to less experienced individuals, also easy way to gain some respects and being looked up. Some people use that as an advantage to secure their networks. Often, that makes stronger bonds to each others, or possibly introduce to the wider networks. Also, experienced people can manipulate less experienced people in to their network. In that case, experience people help less experienced individuals to create better, secure, safer network for them.

I personally help less experienced people because people always helped me when I was young and when I needed. So, it is my way of returning back to the society and the network I am in.

Communities of practice;
Communities of practice are groups of people which share the same or similar interests, and work together, share the informations with. The advantage of sharing common interests is to help archive the goal quicker as the organisation`s focus is clear.

However, some times at communities of practice, people become very narrow minded and blinded by the way of thinking. Because end of the day, communities of practice are full of specialists of a genre.

i,e, Often, when people create a new piece at dance companies and when choreographer is creating a piece,often choreographer see things from dancers point of view, as most of the choreographers are ex-dancer. 

Because of that, the piece could become quite self indulgent sometimes.

The best way to avoid the problem is constantly bring people from different genre in to check how things are seen from their eyes.

My job and my profession are very much based on communities of practice.
Dancers life and dance companies are like small communities, but very closed one! Like a local village pub, a signboard says `Visitor welcome!`, but not really. Once you go in to the pub people look at you funny and it just does not feel comfortable being there. Also, dancers use technical terms which only understood between them, so often when outsider join a conversation, they do not understand what dancers are talking about. It is same in different communities of practice. 
Dancers do not intentionally use these terms to isolate them self from the others. It is just people spend so much time with the communities of practice that, they forget majority of people do not get these technical terms. Often, if they spend too much time in a communities of interest more than necessary, they struggle to fit in to normal communities of people.
i.e. English language is the most widely spoken language in the world. So, English spoken people sometimes blindly think that every people speak English in this world. And, when people travel to abroad, they try to communicate with local people only using English language. And, they get confused and sometimes get angry that foreign people do not understand English.
Similar things happen when people from communities of practice go out from the community and try to communicate with others.
I guess it is comfortable to stay in same communities of interest. And, to use technical vocabularies and understand each other is like having a secret language, it makes people feel closer and feel connected. However, I personally think that is just sad. Because people start to stay in their own shell and do not wish to come out again. It makes people very small and insecure in a way. My self, Yes, I do like to spend time with my colleagues who have same interest as me, however, I always try to talk to people out side of work. It feels fresh and nice to know different people`s view.

Social constructionism;
Marleau-ponty and Heidegger stated that the world is always already there, objectively.
However, also it is us create the world by our experience and it is up to us to give a meaning to it. Also, world it self changes with us, as we learn more and experience more in life. The world do exist as many as we exist, So is reality and truth. And, also they all effected by our mood or emotional state we are in.
We have an ability to share our own experience, compare the experience to the others, and re-construct and adjust our internal world to be acceptable by others.

Networks are large social constructions (Network Professional 2010)
It says all. It is our responsibility to keep our network strictly processional. And, the networks do exist because we construct them. Network has created and constructed by us and it is still developing with us.
New, better ideas need to be shared to up date network. It is up to us to take control of networks and keep them fresh and alive.
Connectivism
We learn how to find the right answer and how connect to people through network by connectivism.
Because of the development of technologies, more source of information we have, more chance to access to knowledge we need. It is better to have more than one friend, more brains we have more experience and knowledge we can access and share.
We use all the network tools I have previously blogged, to maintain our knowledge and informations. Especially because of Web 2.0, now we can access to so many informations, also to share the informations to everyone. Web 2.0  really changed the way of learning, as Karen Stephenson mentions on The network course reader 2011, `Experience no longer considered the best teacher of knowledge. since we can not experience everything, other people`s experience, and hence other people, because because surrogate for knowledge through collecting people`

3a Current Network

When I think of my current networks, I can roughly divide them to two categories;

1, My surrounding; The network of people.

I found this image on google web site. This is my image of people network.

When I say my current network of people, it starts from colleagues I work with at my current company, my close friends, my old school teachers, old school mates, ex-colleagues, people who come to see our performance. The dancers, teachers and directors I meet when I do class or auditions at different companies.
However, to engage with the professional network and to keep the information up dated, I especially find it very useful to talk to the dancers who meet at auditions. I try to talk to the dancers who comes to the audition of the company I work for. Because their informations are often much more fresh and row than what I hear or see on the internet. And, also often they know some informations that dance companies have not up dated yet, an example; one of the dance companies were advertising for an audition. However, the dancer who came to my current company`s audition told me that, he went to the audition which has advertised as vacancy available, and after the audition he got told that they already got some one in the vacancy position. So, things like that, if we have the right informations, we can save the time, money and avoid the stress and hustle.
Also, my old dance teachers gave me job vacancy informations very often and I got job through them quite a lot.
I also have just finished touring of Romeo and Juliet last week for two months. I got that job from my old school friend! He recommended me to the director of the production. And, also the director asked me for another male dancer, so I recommended my colleague! That was a very good example of people network.

2, Technological network by Web 2.0.

My main tools of technological network is computers and mobile phones.
I engage my professional network by mainly e-mail, Linked in and facebook website.

This is my image of technological network look like.
Sharing the informations which is in our mind.
http://www.123rf.com/photo_4249758_human-network.html

Web 2.0 changed a lot of the way network worked before. Things use to be the only one way, however web 2.0 introduced us two way communication on the web; giving out the informations and also receiving them in same time. Especially some thing like our BAPP bogs are a great example. We constantly discover, learn, find new things and swap the informations and opinion on the blog.
It is so handy to have these tools to access to people. I can swap some informations with some one who lives opposite side of this planet timelessly! Without these tools I would of lost contact with my many friends and also would missed so much job opportunities.

My company`s ballet mistress, she is a good practitioner of professional networking. She always checks her mail, check her web sites and facebook. Plan things in advance and talk to lots of people very openly. That is what I have to do more to improve my professional network.
I also think `a business card` is a good tool to have. With my dance picture on it, like a small C.V. and much more handy to carry and also to receive.
I also need to create my own web site to develop my network, so that will provide more opportunities to people to access my information.

3c Source of information

My most important and useful five source of informations are;

1,Internet,

2,Magazines and 3,Paper,
4,Phone

5,By people to people, Grapevine

1, Internet;

The internet is undoubtedly, undebatably the easiest and the most convenient network to access. And, also the source of the information of this century.

What defines internet and makes it stands out from the rest of the networks is;
1,The amount of the informations internet can provides to us. Every one knows how convenience the internet is, and how important to us.
One of a good example is the infiltration of android phones. Android smart phones are every where now. That just shows how important and disparates people are to be connected to the internet, connected to the people.

2,The Speed is also one of the advantage of the internet. As long as connected to the internet, we can find most of  informations much quicker than the other networks can.

Especially, Facebook, Linkedin, Myspace.
These are the main source of social internet network.
Facebook and Myspace are mainly used by for social reason. People can chat, write on the wall, send pictures, gossiping and swap informations. Things are getting even more easier and handy as android phones becomes more popular.
However, facebook could be used as a business tool too. Some of the wedding companies and accessory companies set the system to send advertisements over the facebook straight away when people change the status single to engaged.
Linkedin is more specified and mainly for business.

I can see that Facebook is a big social network on the web. Also my company adverts the audition on the facebook, also I got a job over the information on the facebook before. However, only because I knew the employer and employer knew me personaly.

However, there is also some down sides too;

1,Reliability is one of the down sides of the internet.
There are so much informations on the internet, also lots of unreliable informations too.
It is difficult to find and choose the right informations on the web some times, as people can write what ever they want.

2,Network Communication can be quite tricky. The internet can provides us a wide range of the choice of the people. It gave us an opportunity to connected to more people on the web.
Wide choises, however shallow. Because people can not really know each other till they meet.
On a Letter, mood and personality effects on writings, so there is already a personalty on the letter. However, who ever writes on the internet is all the same as people type. There is no personalty shows up on the screen by typing. Things could be any one`s words, could just be pasted and copied.

An example; My company held an audition recently, and my director was confused and a little bit angry for some reason.
Director actually has stopped the exercise in the middle of the audition and told everyone that, He checked all the C.V.s and footage which he had received by e-mail, and he chose the dancers who only seem suitable for the company. He was very careful about the invitation for the audition as space was limited. However, quite few candidates were not exactly like on the video or what C.V. says. Which they have sent to him. He had to pull some of the dancers out of the audition straight away. He was disappointed about the gap of what he saw on the internet and at the audition.

It is begging of 21st century. it has been about only 30 year since the internet has been disclosure to the public. I personally think we are all still exploring and finding the right way of using the internet, otherwise we are not using internet all the time to search the right informations constantly. We all think that we are control of all the informations which web can provides to us. however, I think we are still lost in so much informations of the internet.

2 & 3, Magazines, Books, Papers;.
They use to be a very important source of the information till internet appeared.
However, they still are a source of information.
Their informations are relayable, as professional editors and companies research and check all the informations before the papers has published to the public.
However, we can check most of the informations which is on the papers and magazines as well as on the internet too, these days.

One of the differences are papers aren`t as up dated as the internet.
Most of the famous, well known magazines and papers have their own web sites, like Daneceurope Magazines`s audition web site;http://www.danceeurope.net/site/jobs.shtml
Dancedirrect`s audiiton web site;http://www.dancedirect.com/uk/Auditions/
Also Dancerspro web site provides informations very often;http://www.uk.dancerspro.com/
and they up dates the informations on the web, but they can not up dates the paper till next one will be issued.

4, Phone;
When I say Phone, I mean mobile phones. Mobile phone is one of the must have business tool.
Can be connected to the internet too. My self, I get job offers through phone calls quite often.

5, From People to People;
I personally think this could be the most relayable source of the information.
Of course, we can not take all the informations from any random people. Same as the internet.
However, difference to the internet is we can actually physically being there with the people.
So, we are more aware of the atmosphere and also to know what exactly is going on. It is very easy to fake and cover, bend and twist the truth on the net.
If, the informations come from the relayable, trustable people, most likely that could be the correct information.

And, what this network makes difference to the other network is, this is not just digging the information like searching on the net or reading a paper, these are only one way network; Input.
However, this is actually a communication; Output and Input.

Inquiry Task

What interests me;
I always thought, and find interest in WARMING UPs as it can be very individual. It also confuses me some times :( And it is a great opportunity to research and put all my thoughts together.

How I found interest in Warming Ups;

One day, it was a chilly winter day. I wanted to warm my self up but the stage was cold, so I decided to warm up in a changing room as there were carpets and also heating is on. So, after while I moved on to the stage just before the class starts. Then, I saw all of colleagues warming up  on the cold stage.

During the tour dancers usually go on stage to do warm ups, even stage is cold. And I noticed often some of the dancers not really doing any thing practical, just laying on the floor and having a conversation. Then I thought `What is this? Aren`t they cold?`.

Also suddenly, the thought struck me. I started to think `Is this really a warm up?`. 

Things I noticed;

I thought about this NONSENSE for a while, I also talked to the dancers, casually! and eventually I came down to a conclusion of this strange behaver of dancers. Which is; if we taught to do things since when we are young, we often forget the most important things; the reason and why, and things will just become a routine! So, my conclusion is, some dancers just do things when the time comes, without thinking. Because that is what trained dancers do since when they were young and also got told to do so.

Then I thought;

Since that day, it made me really think how the warm ups supposed to be done, and the reason of why we do warm ups before class and performance. What is warm up for? Do we really need to do it? How does that effect us performers?

My thoughts as a dancer;

My self as a dancer, mentally and physically I always try to be flexible, so my mind can mould in to any shape like a clay, and body can adapt quickly in to any situation, also to constantly learn new things. My mind to be opened, my body to be aware.

And, I always try not to be afraid of challenge new things, to change my style and change my thoughts.

What is warm up to me?;

Human body does not stay exactly the same every day, surprisingly. I do not think people pay much attention to this fact, because I think end of the day they aren`t a huge difference. However to us dancers, these small changes are big difference!

Warm ups are a way to bring body and mind back to neutral, to me.

I have also decided that Warming Ups need to be changed everyday based on the condition of our body, to notice the difference and adjust them straight away, or latest by the time performance starts. Otherwise, dancers will be in a big trouble!

I constantly ask my self;

1, Am I doing things right?

2, Is there any better way? ie, can my movement be more efficient or ecological?

3, Why am I doing this? What am I getting out form this? How does it feel?

4, How do I move compare to the others?

Process of creating my own warm ups;

Based on these questions, I started to create my own warm ups combined with what I have been taught before and with my knowledge of human anatomy.

Everyday, I plan my own warm up before class.
It is like having a conversation with my body. Everyday, I learn something new about my body!
For example, when I pick something up from the behind, I twist into the left side to pick things up without thinking. So, one day I tried to twist into the right side to pick things up, I was shocked how stiff my right side of upper back was, compare to my left side!
So, I try to work out what my body needs, and add new movements into my warm ups everyday. It is like a having a personal trainer in my self!
I also began to watch other dancers warm ups carefully. I researched on the Web, also started to read books about it. I began to talk to more people to ask their opinions and advices too.

And a lot of former professional dancers and dance teachers recommended me to try Yoga.

I was always interested in Yoga, so it was a go sign form God to learn Yoga ;D

One day, I was researching on the web for more informations to improve my warm ups. Then, I found a footage on Youtube, there was a short footage about a guy, about his daily routine. 

Then, I suddenly realised that I actually have seen him long time ago in Japan on live.

What shocked me the most was the way he warms up. It was very similar to my own warm up! Or more less what he was doing was things I was planning to add in my warm ups in a future!

So, I started to research about him and his life style. 

Rickson Gracie; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rickson_Gracie
He is one of my inspiration now.
The attitude toward his profession, the way he discipline him self. It is not what he does, how he lives, that inspires me.
A complete self control. His movement is beautiful and so effortless like an animal, however he is always calm, his emotion is so precisely controlled so his behaver is controlled too.
I find his life style is similar to dancers daily routine, maybe a bit more extreme than dancers life style. But, principal is very similar.
What interests me the most about him is his training method. Him and his Gracie trive created their own method of fighting style.
And, I am especially would like to know more about the way he warms up. Only because I believe that, that is the key to his success and that makes him stands out from the others.
Mr Gracie`s warm up is different to normal martial arts and dance warm ups. He combines his own style of yoga and breath exercise. I think that is what I am trying to archive, at the moment.

Below is a link to his short footage.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tTi_E78DSK4
My current warm up;
I often start from relaxing my spine and try to loose each vertebra, with slow and deep breath.
This exercise brings my mind and body into neutral. To focus, and aware of my self more.
And, one of the things I found and trying to avoid while I am warming up is, to not to talk to anyone. It is amazing how quick the focus disappears when you start to talk!
At the moment, I think more I talk, more I lose the concentration.
However, that could be only because I am still mentally weak and not aware of my surrounding all the time. Maybe one day I would be able to keep the focus, and still be able to chat with others.
I will see!

Journal writing experience based on reflecting journal

Today, I chose a topic; which is about the audition of the company I work for.

I think it is a suitable topic for the course as I am going to reflect and compare last year and this year`s event using Frame work of Mr Reid and Ms Moon.


Description;
It was about this time last year, located at Riverfront theater; where the company based on in Wales.
   
I had a mixture of strange feeling before the audition!
I was exited, but also a bit anxious. I go to auditions to get a job now and again, but it was not exactly the same as normal audition; I was already member of the company in that time. However, that does not guarantee my position! So, I was more anxious than go to normal open audition in a way.
   
But, it seems like my feeling and thoughts are much calmer and much clearer lately. So, I shall try to analyse them with help of using Moon and Reid`s frame work.

This is how it starts.


1, The company members ask to come to the audition every year.

2, But, it seems like company dancers have a choice; need to be there, but do not have to be in the audition; sit next to the directors and watch the candidates or do the audition.

3, End up some how, I am only the one in the audition, rest of the company dancers watch the audition.

So I have options; sit and watch or to be in the audition.

And, my complicated thought comes from that option.

Well, things are simple in a way; just Do or Do Not.

Initial Reflection; My thoughts and feeling at the time.

1,Maybe there are reasons rest of the company dancers
are not joining the audition....

2, If I dance not as well as the others, it is easier to compare as I am dancing right next to them....

3, What the company dancers think about I am doing the audition with candidates......

4, To be watched by whole company members will be strange, because that never usually happen when we work. It will feel like been judged.

My mood was a bit gloomy and also a little paranoid :(

If, I explained by colour probably like this colour.

If, I explain by textured, like
chewy, and a bit hard, not necessary big, but when you try to chew, the texture bounce back to your teeth, like it resists to be chewed.

If, I explained by sounds,  Dry, kind of bouncy, because my thoughts are bouncing around in my head.                                                                                                                       

                                               

                                           http://www.egyptiancastle.com/community/kids/learn/sounds/PINGPNG2.WAV                      
                                            
            
                                                                  
   If, explained by taste, it is like a piece of bread, which has left whole day on a kitchen side, it gets dry and hard. And you do not know it has left for a whole day! and you put that in your mouth. It is still eatable, however, not just as same as what it supposed be.

   If, explained by Smell, it will be metallic smell.

Any ways, nothing unexpected happened as I did not much to expect.




So, in the end I just joined in!

Because....


1, It is a free class; I do not have to pay!

2, Every single classes I take, there are opportunity to improve!

3, I thought there might be good dancers in the audition and I can learn from them!

4, It is a good opportunity to be compared with non company dancers, and I prove that I am better than rest of the candidates, then, my position will be secured than just sitting and watching.

5, I just like ballet. It is impossible for me just sit and watch if there is a class going on!





Evaluation;
The audition was a pure fun! I really enjoyed the class.
I felt comfortable, I did not do any thing silly, no more than I usually do in a class or on stage.
I think I controlled my self well, because some times dancers try to do more than usual, to try to be better than usual, does it make sense? At the audition, what we have to do is to prove we have steady technique and nice presentation. Trying some thing we do not usually try and fall on the floor is not acceptable. In that sense, I saw quite few dancers trying to prove them in a wrong way, and made their movement unnatural and awkward to watch :(

I just think I was generally calm whole way through the audition, so I think that is why every thing went quite smoothly for me. I could of got over exited like some of the dancers, and do unnecessary difficult step and injure my self. But, that did not happen; I controlled my emotion, so more likely I choose silly things not to happen to me.

Description;

So! This year`s audition has held a few days ago at the same place as last year.


I would like to analyse How I felt about this year`s audition, and HOW things changed, and WHY.

Initial Reflection;


HOW?
I feel much more positive about the audition.

WHY; 
Because things went well last year and I enjoyed it.


HOW?
I am not as worried as last year

WHY;
Because I did last year and I know what to expect and what is it like to be in that situation

Well, to be honest, I felt like I did not do well as previous year. Well, I danced fine, I think.
Because I have learned a lot in last twelve month, so it is impossible to dance worse than last year`s audition, technically. However, generally I did not feel as comfortable as last year, and I did not enjoy as much as I did last year. My mood and attitude toward audition was not as light or as up lifting as last year. Because of the reason below.

Evaluation;

1, The audition ran differently this year.

2,There was a lot of waiting around this year, so I got mentally, physically got tired to keep my self warm and stimulate my brain to dance. I have to be aware so I can jump up and dance any time.

3, There were way more dancers in a class than last year.

I have reflected last year`s experience. And, I was mentally prepared; planned.
However, it did not go as well as I planned. Didn`t Mr Kolb`s learning cycle work properly? No, no, it worked perfectly well. There were some thing I should of planned but I did not! Which was to prepare and plan, and also do not relay 100% on the experience, things changes with time, so I should of planned plan B. So, just in case if things runs differently I do not get confused.
That was what I did not plan and think  of! I relaid on my joyful experience of last year and I thought it is going to be the same! I did not use the learning cycle properly.

Reflect the events by using The Frame Work 

This is a picture of Ms Moon and Mr Kolb`s cycle;

the process of learning.

http://sites.google.com/site/reflection4learning/why-reflect

REFLECT; I had nothing to Reflect on at last year`s audition. I was a bit exited and also anxious.

PLAN; I had no plan, I went and did it.

ACT; I did the audition class.

OBSERVE; I thought the day went well. There were nothing to worry about.

REFLECT; I recalled my experience and tried to remember how I felt and What I have learned from the day.

PLAN; For this year`s audition, I planed to focus on clean, effortless technique. And, respect the music more, dance with music! also, all the transition steps must be done smoothly. Transition of steps are as important as big steps.

And, to ENJOY! That is the most important thing at the audition, I thought. That is What I learned at the time. No matter how good dancers are, if they look nervous and do not look like having a fun, if dancers are not enjoying them self, how the judges enjoy watching dancers!?

ACT; I did this year`s audition,

OBSERVE; It did not go as well as last year. Maybe I did not do so bad, but I did not feel as good as last year. That was not how I planned!

REFLECT; I think I was confused, only because I had last year`s experience and information to recall, and made a plan based on them. But, the audition ran differently this year and I was not aware of the change.

PLAN; So, for the future, I need to reflect my experience and make a plan based on it. 

However, also try not to relay on the experience 100%. I also have to make plan B, just in case things run differently. 

Another View;


A good friend of mine came to this year`s audition.
I know the person really well. So, I try to see the day through my friend`s point of view.

My friend worked with the company before when one of us injured during the tour for few weeks.
So, if I was my friend, I would think I stand on a better chance than the other dancers as I worked with them before. However, also there are lots of dancers, so it is not going to be that easy.
I think my friend was confused a bit as everyone was, about how the audition ran; it was not very organised. It did not start on time. Not to know when the class starts, these small things could be a stress for candidates.
Look around and tried to find some familiar faces to talk? To relax :)
Once class starts, there were not enough space. So, it was hard to show dancers whole potential, because we are all worried about kicking the others.
After the warm up barre, half of the dancers sent away from the audition. Did they call my number to stay? They did! Thank god! First stage was fine.
Okay, now the dancing part. I need to prove that I was better than before as they know me. I have to show that I can do better than before! But, class carries on and stop, dance, stop. It is very strange and not organised. The director and the assistant look like having a problem with matching numbers and dancers:(
And, also why the company dancers joining the audition? That is unusual. Company dancers joining the company audition? I do not agree with that!
Are director and assistant watching me dance? or are they watching the others?
Class has finished, if they call my name, I am going to learn company`s repertory. Are they going to call my name? please ......They did not :(
Never mind, these things happens all the time in auditions, I am use to it.

I travelled away to Wales to do audition, costed lots and did not get a job. It was nice to see some familiar faces but, I feel like I wasted my day...I wonder which dancers going to get the job, why did I sent away? What is the difference between the dancers who stay till the end and me?

Themes & Things I have learned;
So, I did not enjoyed the day as much as I could of.
And, mentally, physicality I got tired after. But, the day taught me some new things. Also, it was really nice to see the dancers from over world, that was exiting!
And, I realised that most likely things do not go as I plan. So, I have to open my mind to adapt mentally, physically to any situation. That is what I have learned from this year`s audition.

When I do audition next time, I will relax more and be prepare for a long waiting around too!      

I think I am learning and getting to know how to prepare and be aware through the reflective cycle of learning. Not, just from the experience!
Mr Dewey stated as “We do not learn from experience…we learn from reflecting on experience.”
I totally agree with you Mr Dewey, don`t you?