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.
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.
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.
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?
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