The Einstein Factor,
author Dr Win Wengar & Dr Richard Poe
This book introduced me how to use inquiry tools to myself instead of third party to understand more about myself.
I especially found interested in recording my own speech to analyse my thoughts.
Also, how to explain a fact from different direction and by using different senses.
This book introduced me a new way of teaching.
Inside Ballet Technique,
Varelie griegof
This is a very famous book in ballet world, as it is brilliantly done.
This explain how and why injury occurs and how to prevent them. There are reasons when people get injuries, and to know and understand these facts are very valuable as a dancer and also as a teacher.
Teaching Young Dancers
Joan Lawson
This book includes a lot of pictures to explain about dance technique, that is one of the big difference from Inside Ballet Technique book.
Especially, this book explains difference between male and female dancers body. This book made me realise when dancers are young, a gender effect a lot in dance, boys and girls mentality and mutuality of body is very different. So, I have learnt from this book that, I need to be more aware about students gender too.
Books and Journals of Dr Ken Mogi
Dr Mogi explain through his journals and books how much music effect on human brain.
I have never heard about Qualia before I read his books and journals, and it found it extremely interesting. I believe qualia is very important sense as a human, and as a dancer. Also, when I teach and explain to the students, I will try to use my qualia to pass on tacit knowledge
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qualia
Books ad Journals of Dr Hideto Tomabechi
He also explains some type of music rise human IQ instantly.
He explains, there are only human can recognise two different music separately when there are two different music play same time. And, human brain develop more by listing these music.
So, I have actually use it in a class the other day. It is too early to correct the data, however, i would like to use more of these music and observe how students approach to it.
http://www.cylab.cmu.edu/about/bio_tomabechi.html
A Dancer is A Person.
http://www.ethicsdance.co.uk/resources/downloads/a-dancer-is-a-person.pdf
It is a hyper link of Ethic handbook, and this web site was great help for my inquiry.
I explained on my blog.
Dancing Times
There are journals about dancers anatomy and injury on prevention on this magazine.
It was useful for me to understand with the pictures and great explanations.
Ethics Dance
Sho botham explains about ethics on dance. Links to all the great web site about ethics on Dance.
It is a hyper link from ethic handbook.
Dance Advantage
http://danceadvantage.net/2009/04/30/pros-cons-dance-competition/
This web sites is similar to our SIG web site on Linkedin.
Explains disadvantage of competition in class. Please check my bolg.
Ethic on Dance; A debate yet to be held
http://www.ethicsdance.co.uk/resources/downloads/ethics-in-dance---a-debate-yet-to-be-held.pdf
Ms Julia Buckroyd explains about ethics. It looked very useful, however, it did not look interesting, so I did not read it.
Do Dance Teachers Have a Moral Obligation to Allow Students with
Anorexia to Participate in Dance Classes?
http://www.ethicsdance.co.uk/resources/downloads/do-dance-teachers-have-a-moral-obligation-to-allow-students-with-anorexia-to-participate-in-dance-classes.pdf
I really liked the way she pointed out about dance is an art or just physical activity.
I often find it very difficult to make students and young dancers understand the artistry of dance, also mental problem like eating disorder etc.
This journal made me think of what is the right way to approach to these students.
Monday 14 May 2012
Thursday 26 April 2012
Competition; Good or Bad?
As I have read comments and some BAPP practitioners blog about teaching dance, the word " competition " often appears when we discuss about teaching.
And, I have noticed quite few people encourage dancers competition in dance class to improve dancers standards. Also, some mentions dance class`s competition is a mini world of show business. So, it is good way to get ready for the future.
Ethic hand book`s page 20, there are typical example of using competition as a way to improve dancers. But, with out ethics.
I just do not believe dancers and organisations can provide some thing wonderful to touch people`s heart or change people`s life, if motivation is wrong from the beginning; competing each other, competing each companies to prove they are better.
Dance supposed be a performing ART! Not performing sport, right?
I was watching TV programme, Got to dance and So you think you can dance, with my colleague.
While we are watching it, my colleague made a comment ` This is just like a gymnastic routine, all the competitors doing some kind of acrobats in every single dance piece`.
His comment struck my mind. And I realised what he said was very true.
However, WHY?
I think, to have acrobat skill and tricks are a one of the ways to survive in dance world in 21st century; auditions and competition.
If, dancers go to auditions, there are so many people in auditions and competitions.
If, dancers wanted to get a job, they need to be seen to be picked by judges.
Therefore, they need to find a way to draw an attention to them.
More attention dancers get, more chance of getting a job to survive.
In that sense, I believe acrobat skill ad tricks are a very useful.
Because acrobat and tricks are usually very extreme and flashy, therefore one of the best way to drawn an attention instantly.
One of the interesting fact I have learned from the process of studying my previous module was
thing call Attention Economy.
For example, if you look at this blog, which word comes in to your eyes first? The word Attention Economy, is not it? It is because purely it stands out, because of the colour is different, it is bigger letter etc.
I have learned this during my research about Google on my previous module.
What dancers are trying to at auditions and competitions are exactly the same!
Anyway, as I mentioned I feel like nowadays dance world is becoming very competitive as people encourage it, I guess.
All these dance programmes are COMPETITION. There are always winners and losers.
However, I find this whole things very strange, as supposed be all the dancers are individual and so are the judges!
Judges give comments to dancers as they know every thing. Well, I am sure they do know a lot about dance, but end of the day, these are just their opinions, it should not matter too much, as I see dancers cry after judges comments, because dancers received great comments or because dancers received bad comments.
I feel whole attitude and direction is strange in show business these days.
I believe, it all starts from encourage competitiveness of dancer in class. Students and dancers do their best to dance nicely, but because they want to? or they are dancing because they want to be liked by judges? or director of company? or dance teachers? or some times by parents.
This is a comment from http://danceadvantage.net/2009/04/30/pros-cons-dance-competition/
I found this it very interesting and I would like to share with every one.
I do agree with the person who commented this.
Dance is becoming like Ice Skate; Artistic Sport?
More dancers desparately want to drawn the attention to them, as more attention they have, they are one step ahead of the other dancers, dance will become more like a sport.
Because of that I do not encourage the competition from young age.
However, I think dance is going to be come more physical, athletic and gymnastic soon.
My dance teacher use to use the word ` Healthy Competition`. Now I think, what is it? What is healthy competition? Is it not just the way of covering down side of competition? Some teachers know competitions are not healthy, but they want to encourage it, so they have created a word like this to make it sound right?
Or am I being too bitter about it?
And, I have noticed quite few people encourage dancers competition in dance class to improve dancers standards. Also, some mentions dance class`s competition is a mini world of show business. So, it is good way to get ready for the future.
Ethic hand book`s page 20, there are typical example of using competition as a way to improve dancers. But, with out ethics.
I just do not believe dancers and organisations can provide some thing wonderful to touch people`s heart or change people`s life, if motivation is wrong from the beginning; competing each other, competing each companies to prove they are better.
Dance supposed be a performing ART! Not performing sport, right?
I was watching TV programme, Got to dance and So you think you can dance, with my colleague.
While we are watching it, my colleague made a comment ` This is just like a gymnastic routine, all the competitors doing some kind of acrobats in every single dance piece`.
His comment struck my mind. And I realised what he said was very true.
However, WHY?
I think, to have acrobat skill and tricks are a one of the ways to survive in dance world in 21st century; auditions and competition.
If, dancers go to auditions, there are so many people in auditions and competitions.
If, dancers wanted to get a job, they need to be seen to be picked by judges.
Therefore, they need to find a way to draw an attention to them.
More attention dancers get, more chance of getting a job to survive.
In that sense, I believe acrobat skill ad tricks are a very useful.
Because acrobat and tricks are usually very extreme and flashy, therefore one of the best way to drawn an attention instantly.
One of the interesting fact I have learned from the process of studying my previous module was
thing call Attention Economy.
For example, if you look at this blog, which word comes in to your eyes first? The word Attention Economy, is not it? It is because purely it stands out, because of the colour is different, it is bigger letter etc.
I have learned this during my research about Google on my previous module.
Attention economics is an approach to the management of information that treats human attentionas a scarce commodity, and applies economic theory to solve various information management problems.
In this perspective Thomas H. Davenport and J. C. Beck define the concept of attention as:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attention_economyAttention is focused mental engagement on a particular item of information. Items come into our awareness, we attend to a particular item, and then we decide whether to act.(Davenport & Beck 2001, p. 20)
What dancers are trying to at auditions and competitions are exactly the same!
Anyway, as I mentioned I feel like nowadays dance world is becoming very competitive as people encourage it, I guess.
All these dance programmes are COMPETITION. There are always winners and losers.
However, I find this whole things very strange, as supposed be all the dancers are individual and so are the judges!
Judges give comments to dancers as they know every thing. Well, I am sure they do know a lot about dance, but end of the day, these are just their opinions, it should not matter too much, as I see dancers cry after judges comments, because dancers received great comments or because dancers received bad comments.
I feel whole attitude and direction is strange in show business these days.
I believe, it all starts from encourage competitiveness of dancer in class. Students and dancers do their best to dance nicely, but because they want to? or they are dancing because they want to be liked by judges? or director of company? or dance teachers? or some times by parents.
I come at this from a figure skating perspective. There is currently a large and on-going debate in the field about the artistry of skating being lost to the need to develop a solid marking structure that does not allow for biased or subjective and inconsistent judging.
As a result of the need for such a structure the sport has now become closely linked to gymnastics with multiple and growing required elements that see skaters trying to contort their body into certain shapes – for example stretching their leg behind them and upwards, grabbing it with their hand, so that their skate touches their head. The closer to your head you can get your foot, the higher the tariff of the performance and more marks you can be awarded. Subsequently however more and more skating performances are looking the same – with the required moves filling the performance and leaving little opportunity for expression and creative freedom. In my mind there is only so much you can push the body to do at such a young age before it become not only unpleasant to watch but dangerous.
Also, in order to maintain the sort of structure needed for marking an ‘aesthetic sport’ many skaters, judges and coaches report a loss of creativity, artistry and the ablity to keep audiences interested
This is a comment from http://danceadvantage.net/2009/04/30/pros-cons-dance-competition/
I found this it very interesting and I would like to share with every one.
I do agree with the person who commented this.
Dance is becoming like Ice Skate; Artistic Sport?
More dancers desparately want to drawn the attention to them, as more attention they have, they are one step ahead of the other dancers, dance will become more like a sport.
Because of that I do not encourage the competition from young age.
However, I think dance is going to be come more physical, athletic and gymnastic soon.
My dance teacher use to use the word ` Healthy Competition`. Now I think, what is it? What is healthy competition? Is it not just the way of covering down side of competition? Some teachers know competitions are not healthy, but they want to encourage it, so they have created a word like this to make it sound right?
Or am I being too bitter about it?
Tuesday 24 April 2012
Focus Group questions
I have discussed with my focus group about dancer`s diet;
1, when dancers have a bad diet; eating disorder, taking pills to sweat extra more, etc, how do they effect on dancers body and mind?
2, How do these common wrong practice occur physical injuries?
3, Are we, professional dancers sending wrong messages to young dancers? As young ones always look up on professionals and try to copy them.
When I discussed these with my focus group, it was generally a nice balance; no one tried to dominate and talk over each others. However, I have noticed that, generally female dancers have more opinions about these topics, as they always think they need to loose weights, because that reason, they are interested in topics more than male dancers. It does not have to be a dancer, generally women are interested in loosing weight compare to men.
However, also male dancers explained to met hat, these wrong habits started spread on male dancers too recently. Even male dancers required to be tall and thin these days.
I see some male dancers diet started to become more like female dancers, for example foods they bring for lunch. And, when we were discussing about the topic, we realised it seems like happening more often on guy sexual male dancers. I am not sure exactly why. I assume they spend a lot of time with female dancers? Or because They try to fit into female dancers group?
1, when dancers have a bad diet; eating disorder, taking pills to sweat extra more, etc, how do they effect on dancers body and mind?
2, How do these common wrong practice occur physical injuries?
3, Are we, professional dancers sending wrong messages to young dancers? As young ones always look up on professionals and try to copy them.
When I discussed these with my focus group, it was generally a nice balance; no one tried to dominate and talk over each others. However, I have noticed that, generally female dancers have more opinions about these topics, as they always think they need to loose weights, because that reason, they are interested in topics more than male dancers. It does not have to be a dancer, generally women are interested in loosing weight compare to men.
However, also male dancers explained to met hat, these wrong habits started spread on male dancers too recently. Even male dancers required to be tall and thin these days.
I see some male dancers diet started to become more like female dancers, for example foods they bring for lunch. And, when we were discussing about the topic, we realised it seems like happening more often on guy sexual male dancers. I am not sure exactly why. I assume they spend a lot of time with female dancers? Or because They try to fit into female dancers group?
Monday 23 April 2012
5c adding thoughts; Are we disposable?
I have been reading " A Dancer is A Person" website, which is a hyper link from Reader 5 ethics handbook, http://www.ethicsdance.co.uk
This web site made me think about my work place and how dance company treat dancers.
“Many teachers and choreographers don’t deaden the person now
as they did ten years ago”
Tony Geeves [in his opening remarks at the Moving Matters Conference 2000]
Is this really true? I really do not know as I have not dancing long enough.
However, some times director makes comments to dancers and I can see a glimpse of reality of dance world by it.
Director often mentions to us dancers that, there are a lot of dancers who has no job and it is possible to bring someone in to the company instead of us.
I am not sure what the director trying to say to us, as I do not really listen to what people say anyway, which I should because I often get in to trouble of not listening to people.
However, I can clearly see director`s comments effect on female dancers of the company, especially young ones. I saw some new dancers tears after director gave his "speech".
I often wonder we are that easily replaced? or are we disposable?
However, what I need to discuss is ethics, not we are replaceable or not.
Dancers has given a handbook of policy and ethics, then, I wonder if we have one, there must be a handbook for director too, right? The hand book which tells how to behave like a director.
I wonder, what is out of order and what is not at work place as being a director of the company. Because, being a director can be a very powerful position and if not being very careful with the consequence, some people take director`s action as a powere harassment.
In this case, is it ethically right to talk to employers like this? I know it works on some people, as some people are worried of loosing the current job and work even harder to hold on to it.
I guess, end of the day, ethics changes by how we understand it and how we received the situations, soem people take things negatively, some just go with it.
However, at dance world it is understandable that better dancers have more value, so dancers can be treated differently. It is not ethically right, but end of the day, dance companies are not voluntarily organisations, they need to make profits. So, every companies are desperate to have great dancers, like a foot ball clubs need great players.
This web site made me think about my work place and how dance company treat dancers.
“Many teachers and choreographers don’t deaden the person now
as they did ten years ago”
Tony Geeves [in his opening remarks at the Moving Matters Conference 2000]
Is this really true? I really do not know as I have not dancing long enough.
However, some times director makes comments to dancers and I can see a glimpse of reality of dance world by it.
Director often mentions to us dancers that, there are a lot of dancers who has no job and it is possible to bring someone in to the company instead of us.
I am not sure what the director trying to say to us, as I do not really listen to what people say anyway, which I should because I often get in to trouble of not listening to people.
However, I can clearly see director`s comments effect on female dancers of the company, especially young ones. I saw some new dancers tears after director gave his "speech".
I often wonder we are that easily replaced? or are we disposable?
However, what I need to discuss is ethics, not we are replaceable or not.
Dancers has given a handbook of policy and ethics, then, I wonder if we have one, there must be a handbook for director too, right? The hand book which tells how to behave like a director.
I wonder, what is out of order and what is not at work place as being a director of the company. Because, being a director can be a very powerful position and if not being very careful with the consequence, some people take director`s action as a powere harassment.
In this case, is it ethically right to talk to employers like this? I know it works on some people, as some people are worried of loosing the current job and work even harder to hold on to it.
I guess, end of the day, ethics changes by how we understand it and how we received the situations, soem people take things negatively, some just go with it.
However, at dance world it is understandable that better dancers have more value, so dancers can be treated differently. It is not ethically right, but end of the day, dance companies are not voluntarily organisations, they need to make profits. So, every companies are desperate to have great dancers, like a foot ball clubs need great players.
Survey questions
I for got to paste the questions of survey.
1,Which part of the class did you enjoy the most today? And, why did you like it?
2,Would you tell me which part of exercise you find hard, and how?
3,Do you find what your teacher ( Daisuke ) says during the class?
4,What did you learn today?
5,What is your aim for your next class?
When I look back and check the answers, some dancers wrote a lot and some are just one line answers.
Also, I always worry about dancers fully understand what I am trying to explain as English is not my first language. I often talk a lot and fast if I am nervous. I have received positive feed backs, however, I am not sure honest they were, maybe they were just being polite.
I think I need to speak less, and explain better. That is my aim!
1,Which part of the class did you enjoy the most today? And, why did you like it?
2,Would you tell me which part of exercise you find hard, and how?
3,Do you find what your teacher ( Daisuke ) says during the class?
4,What did you learn today?
5,What is your aim for your next class?
When I look back and check the answers, some dancers wrote a lot and some are just one line answers.
Also, I always worry about dancers fully understand what I am trying to explain as English is not my first language. I often talk a lot and fast if I am nervous. I have received positive feed backs, however, I am not sure honest they were, maybe they were just being polite.
I think I need to speak less, and explain better. That is my aim!
Critical Evaluation of inquiry tools
I have used inquiry tools for my investigation, then I have analysed and compare inquiry tools to decide which tool can be most suitable for my inquiry task.
However, as every researchers can see that every tools have advantages and detriments.
As I explained on my observation blog, also by inquiry handbook that, observation is most common inquiry tool in dance, as dance is a part of performing arts and researchers need to see the practical side of it.
Interview is very personal, so, if researchers investigate only in practical side of performing arts, this tool is possibly not as important as other tools.
Survey is useful tool, however, not necessary for practical side of investigation.
To me, I found observation most useful in dance to evaluate participants behaver and events.
However, it is not the matter of which tool is most useful for researchers, what I have noticed by using tools is when researchers use all the tools right, researcher can see the participants and events in 3D. I think, it is very important for researchers to know how to corroborate these tools right, and as handbook suggests, we all need to learn what is the necessary questions and what is not in every tools. Other wise, it waste researchers and participants time.
For example, as Sophie suggested me on my blog interview does not have to be a time consuming tool, only if researchers know exactly how to use the tool and to know how to function every tools to maximum potentiol.
However, we are all practitioners and we all learn from the experience; try and error.
I took quite a long time with my participant at first, however, by the third person, it got faster as I got the rhythm of it and started to understand more, also because I got tired too.
SIG became very handy and useful too, however, as I mentioned on my blog, if same specialists talk about their field of profession, it seems often discussion goes only one direction, we can only talk from our point of view. It is a useful tool, but if researches look for fresh answers or different approach to the inquiry, researchers need to take the question to different, new SIG.
Survey provides answers to researchers,
Observation provides practical side and bigger picture,.
Interview provides opportunities to know the participants as a person,
A good example is the audition.
1, Research by checking dancers CV,
2, Observe the dancers by audition,
3, Interview to check who they really are as a dancer, as a person,
4, Discuss and have a meeting with Special Interest Group to decide which dancers are suitable for the company and evaluate the dancers value from their point of view. SIG in this case is like board of directors and teachers of the company.
However, as every researchers can see that every tools have advantages and detriments.
As I explained on my observation blog, also by inquiry handbook that, observation is most common inquiry tool in dance, as dance is a part of performing arts and researchers need to see the practical side of it.
Interview is very personal, so, if researchers investigate only in practical side of performing arts, this tool is possibly not as important as other tools.
Survey is useful tool, however, not necessary for practical side of investigation.
To me, I found observation most useful in dance to evaluate participants behaver and events.
However, it is not the matter of which tool is most useful for researchers, what I have noticed by using tools is when researchers use all the tools right, researcher can see the participants and events in 3D. I think, it is very important for researchers to know how to corroborate these tools right, and as handbook suggests, we all need to learn what is the necessary questions and what is not in every tools. Other wise, it waste researchers and participants time.
For example, as Sophie suggested me on my blog interview does not have to be a time consuming tool, only if researchers know exactly how to use the tool and to know how to function every tools to maximum potentiol.
However, we are all practitioners and we all learn from the experience; try and error.
I took quite a long time with my participant at first, however, by the third person, it got faster as I got the rhythm of it and started to understand more, also because I got tired too.
SIG became very handy and useful too, however, as I mentioned on my blog, if same specialists talk about their field of profession, it seems often discussion goes only one direction, we can only talk from our point of view. It is a useful tool, but if researches look for fresh answers or different approach to the inquiry, researchers need to take the question to different, new SIG.
Survey provides answers to researchers,
Observation provides practical side and bigger picture,.
Interview provides opportunities to know the participants as a person,
A good example is the audition.
1, Research by checking dancers CV,
2, Observe the dancers by audition,
3, Interview to check who they really are as a dancer, as a person,
4, Discuss and have a meeting with Special Interest Group to decide which dancers are suitable for the company and evaluate the dancers value from their point of view. SIG in this case is like board of directors and teachers of the company.
Tuesday 17 April 2012
5c
Process of going through task 5a and 5b made me realise of the gap between my assumption of code of conduct in my working place and what company expect from us dancers.
I have researched about code of conduct for dancers, then I came down to a conclusion.
I understand our Code of conduct as a guide line.
Employers and workers need to follow the code of conduct at work place, to make all employees work as smooth as possible, so companies can receive maximum benefits from workers and also to avoid the problems.
Problems take time to solve, time is money, therefore, more problems, more time to loose; the organisation loose more money if there are problems which company needs to sort out.
Therefore, if dancers break the code of conduct at work, dancers will get some kind of consequence. However, the regulation is not unbreakable; as some people made these regulations up, therefore this can be changed any time company wanted to! Because of that reason, I am not going to take it too seriously. As I mentioned on my previous blog, regulation changes where ever we go, so I believe it is important to have a flexible mind and sense of adaptation.
As I mentioned, code of conduct of working place for dancers should be faire and equal which ever companies dancers work for. However, unfortunately the fact is not simple.
Again, this equal and faire policy can be tricky.
Because, we define equal and faire is differently. An example, my company pays same amount of salary to all the dancers, equal, right? therefore, the company does not provide a hierarchy system for dancers; equal and faire policy. However, is it really? Some the members are working for the company over five years and always dance main role, as these dancers are good, therefore they have higher risk of injury. And, some of the members are teenagers and never worked as a professional, so they have no idea what is going on. However, all the dancers provide same salaries.
However, regulations are individual by each companies, and this is my company`s policy, so I accept that. I do not have a any problem with the company policy, it just made me wonder.
Also, I know some small dance companies take advantage of dancers, one in five dancers and choreographers is self-employed; most employment is part-time work without important benefits like health care, sick leave and retirement. Most dance artists must hold secondary jobs in order to manage the uncertainty and risk of a dance career.
( Reader 5 Professional Ethics )
As dancers are disparates for a job, and especially dance students often have financial supports from their parents. Fortunately, I have not worked with these companies before, however I heard a lot of bad thing about them. For example, dancers wages are under minimum equality salary.
I thought clearly that is illegal, so I have used my professional network to discussed about this fact. And, we came to a conclusion; it is both dancers and companies responsibility. It is terrible fact that, small dance companies take advantages of dancers, however, dancers are also aware of the limits of what these companies can provide for dancers. These small companies are not forcing to dancers to work, end of the day dancers make their own choices. I wonder, what is the code of conduct of these companies, I am interested in comparing the regulation to find the difference of each dance companies.
The example of Kevin Carter from reader 5 Professional Ethics made me think about our obsession for career and ethics as a human.
Kevin Carter did what he needed to do as a professional photographer when he capture the famous photograph. He probably just wanted to take some great pictures as all other photographers do. And, he did an amazing job and he received the award. However, later on he started to realise he was probably obsessed about his profession and lost the priority of human right.
Some times the obsession for our career leads us to wrong direction.
So, I would like to believe that, code of conducts are there to prevent these sad incidents too.
However, I actually do not see any policy to prevent incidents like above, it is almost opposite.
For example, if you are in a big dance company and there are so many competitions and most of dancers always feel under the pressure to survive.
Then, there is a question.
If, you see your colleague is struggling by injury or private matters, how do you feel? and what would you do?
The circumstance is extreme, you are desperately want to get the higher position which you have been working hard for a while at your work place or want to be in the cast of the new production.
1, Yey! Less competition!
2, We need to support our colleague
or
3, I do care about my colleague, but I am running late for reheasal, I do not want to break the reulation because that effect my reputation, therefore effect my career as a dancer in company
Honestly, when I was in the situation I use to feel 1, because I was young. I was obsessed by the reputation and I wanted to prove to the others that I am good, and tried hard to be more than I was.
However, I think slightly different now. I understand the consequence and my experience shows me a bigger picture. I feel like nothing is worth doing it if we know our action clearly upset some one. I finally realised success is an instant illusion. If, people do not benefit from my success or if my success do not make people happy, then, that is not a success.
I see people who need a help on street before rehearsal and class, I will choose to be late and help the people who need help.
I believe, we need to be a decent person first. There are always a regulations where ever we work,
But, I have learned from the process of investigating section 5s that, most important thing is to think and value by our own major, not just relying on code of conduct.
I have researched about code of conduct for dancers, then I came down to a conclusion.
I understand our Code of conduct as a guide line.
Employers and workers need to follow the code of conduct at work place, to make all employees work as smooth as possible, so companies can receive maximum benefits from workers and also to avoid the problems.
Problems take time to solve, time is money, therefore, more problems, more time to loose; the organisation loose more money if there are problems which company needs to sort out.
Therefore, if dancers break the code of conduct at work, dancers will get some kind of consequence. However, the regulation is not unbreakable; as some people made these regulations up, therefore this can be changed any time company wanted to! Because of that reason, I am not going to take it too seriously. As I mentioned on my previous blog, regulation changes where ever we go, so I believe it is important to have a flexible mind and sense of adaptation.
As I mentioned, code of conduct of working place for dancers should be faire and equal which ever companies dancers work for. However, unfortunately the fact is not simple.
Again, this equal and faire policy can be tricky.
Because, we define equal and faire is differently. An example, my company pays same amount of salary to all the dancers, equal, right? therefore, the company does not provide a hierarchy system for dancers; equal and faire policy. However, is it really? Some the members are working for the company over five years and always dance main role, as these dancers are good, therefore they have higher risk of injury. And, some of the members are teenagers and never worked as a professional, so they have no idea what is going on. However, all the dancers provide same salaries.
However, regulations are individual by each companies, and this is my company`s policy, so I accept that. I do not have a any problem with the company policy, it just made me wonder.
Also, I know some small dance companies take advantage of dancers, one in five dancers and choreographers is self-employed; most employment is part-time work without important benefits like health care, sick leave and retirement. Most dance artists must hold secondary jobs in order to manage the uncertainty and risk of a dance career.
( Reader 5 Professional Ethics )
As dancers are disparates for a job, and especially dance students often have financial supports from their parents. Fortunately, I have not worked with these companies before, however I heard a lot of bad thing about them. For example, dancers wages are under minimum equality salary.
I thought clearly that is illegal, so I have used my professional network to discussed about this fact. And, we came to a conclusion; it is both dancers and companies responsibility. It is terrible fact that, small dance companies take advantages of dancers, however, dancers are also aware of the limits of what these companies can provide for dancers. These small companies are not forcing to dancers to work, end of the day dancers make their own choices. I wonder, what is the code of conduct of these companies, I am interested in comparing the regulation to find the difference of each dance companies.
The example of Kevin Carter from reader 5 Professional Ethics made me think about our obsession for career and ethics as a human.
Kevin Carter did what he needed to do as a professional photographer when he capture the famous photograph. He probably just wanted to take some great pictures as all other photographers do. And, he did an amazing job and he received the award. However, later on he started to realise he was probably obsessed about his profession and lost the priority of human right.
Some times the obsession for our career leads us to wrong direction.
So, I would like to believe that, code of conducts are there to prevent these sad incidents too.
However, I actually do not see any policy to prevent incidents like above, it is almost opposite.
For example, if you are in a big dance company and there are so many competitions and most of dancers always feel under the pressure to survive.
Then, there is a question.
If, you see your colleague is struggling by injury or private matters, how do you feel? and what would you do?
The circumstance is extreme, you are desperately want to get the higher position which you have been working hard for a while at your work place or want to be in the cast of the new production.
1, Yey! Less competition!
2, We need to support our colleague
or
3, I do care about my colleague, but I am running late for reheasal, I do not want to break the reulation because that effect my reputation, therefore effect my career as a dancer in company
Honestly, when I was in the situation I use to feel 1, because I was young. I was obsessed by the reputation and I wanted to prove to the others that I am good, and tried hard to be more than I was.
However, I think slightly different now. I understand the consequence and my experience shows me a bigger picture. I feel like nothing is worth doing it if we know our action clearly upset some one. I finally realised success is an instant illusion. If, people do not benefit from my success or if my success do not make people happy, then, that is not a success.
I see people who need a help on street before rehearsal and class, I will choose to be late and help the people who need help.
I believe, we need to be a decent person first. There are always a regulations where ever we work,
But, I have learned from the process of investigating section 5s that, most important thing is to think and value by our own major, not just relying on code of conduct.
Monday 16 April 2012
My thoughts of 5b
I have blogged my company`s regulations at 5b.
As I mentioned most of my company`s code of conducts are common sense, however, some of the regulations confuse me.
For example, section 8; company dancers should act as a role model to students. The other day, some of the company members has been warned from the director not to smoke if students are around; smoking at the interval will give wrong message and impression to students.
I totally see where director`s concern comes from. It is not good for the company reputation. However, this wrong message and impression confused me.
I totally see where director`s concern comes from. It is not good for the company reputation. However, this wrong message and impression confused me.
Yes, people should not smoke in front of young students, does not have to be a dancer to know this.
So, when dancers are with students, does company request us to be some one who we are not?
I remember, when I was young I had a school performance, and I saw the guest dancers having a smoke out side during the interval. It did not shock me, also that fact did not necessarily wanted to copy them.
Only thing I thought was, some dancers need to smoke during the interval, that was all.
As I am discussing in my SIG on Linkedinn; I do understand importantness of being a role model in front of students. However, I think we also send a false and fake message to students for being a image of dancer which people expect dancers to be.
The other day, students and parents asked us about how and what`s kind of food professional dancers eat. We answered appropriately, we told them dancers eat sensibly and eat healthy balanced meals. Later on, we have met the parents and students on the street as we are eating chips, kebabs and pizzas! It was an awkward moment.
Students are young, but not stupid. I think students know more than we assume.
So, I think we need to act as a good adult to protect them. However, it is good for students to know what professional dancers like, if students ask us.
Also about section 14, about being open minded. I understand as dancers expected to do our best when choreographers come.
However, this can be tricky. Because, a while ago at my previous company, we had a choreographer came and requested us dancers to be naked at the workshop for the piece. After the choreographer asked us, there were a long silence. And, no one took clothes off. The choreographer got annoyed and told us, we are silly for not being naked and shame on us. But, really?
I would do my best at the workshops to learn some thing new to improve my self.
I do my best for myself. I have a contract with my company and there are company`s code of conduct, however, I have not sold my soul to company.
Company had a meeting the other day with all the dancers to make sure every one understand the regulations. I thought it was a wise thing to do, as I have learned from pilot of survey; people read same thing, however, every one understand individually. So, it was a useful way to avoid any misunderstanding and confusion.
I would do my best at the workshops to learn some thing new to improve my self.
I do my best for myself. I have a contract with my company and there are company`s code of conduct, however, I have not sold my soul to company.
Company had a meeting the other day with all the dancers to make sure every one understand the regulations. I thought it was a wise thing to do, as I have learned from pilot of survey; people read same thing, however, every one understand individually. So, it was a useful way to avoid any misunderstanding and confusion.
Saturday 14 April 2012
5b
After I did task 5a, I have looked in to my company`s code of conduct as a dancer.
1,Costumes and props must be returned to wardrobe and placed back where they came from as soon as possible after a performance. Costumes should also be returned on the hangers they came on.
1,Costumes and props must be returned to wardrobe and placed back where they came from as soon as possible after a performance. Costumes should also be returned on the hangers they came on.
· 2, After a performance the dancers should make themselves available to sign autographs or to talk to members of the audience if required.
· 3, Dancewear for class should be appropriate, especially when members of the public are present.
· 4, Dancewear for workshops should be neat and tidy; company t-shirts are provided and should be worn.
· 5, Dancers should be punctual for both workshops and class.
· 6, Dancers leading workshops must plan appropriately so they are presented at the highest standard.
· 7, Dancers are expected to perform certain extra duties if the situation arises, for example, the male dancers should help with the get in/get out on rehearsal days, dancers should help to tape the dance floor and the female dancers may need to help the wardrobe department on occasion. These extra duties will be shared out fairly amongst the company dancers.
· 8, Our dance education programme is an integral part of the company’s ethos and therefore company dancers are expected to undertake training for workshops as well as to lead and assist in all dance education activities such as workshops, summer schools and courses and our ballet associate programme. Dancers are expected to be responsible and act as role models during all education work and to participate enthusiastically.
· 9, If company transport is not required then the dancer should tell both the director and the technicians.
· 10, If a dancer would like a guest to use the company transport then the dancer must first confirm this with the director and the technicians.
· 11, Dancers should be punctual for the leaving times of the company transport.
· 12, The company transport must be kept tidy and all rubbish removed.
· 13, The drinking of alcohol is not allowed on the company van.
· 14, Dancers may not bring guests to stay in company accommodation.
· 15, Dancers are responsible for reading and understanding all the information contained in the contract, handbook, company etiquette and any other documents relevant to the role of company dancer, any queries may be made to management. The dancer’s signature will be taken as confirmation that the documents have been read and understood.
· 16, The dancers have the right to elect a dancer representative from the company to liaise between the dancers and management.
· 17, The company dancers are ambassadors for the company and should behave likewise at all times. This includes information or pictures published on social media sites that could compromise the reputation of the company.
· 18, At times, dancers may be required to participate in extra activities such as working with artists and taking part in research activities. Dancers are expected to be open minded and accommodating in these circumstances.
19, The management tries its best to be accommodating. If there are any queries or problems then dancers may speak to the dancer representative, education officer, assistant director or director.
It seems like a lot of restrictions, however, I had a discussion in my professional net work and other dancers told me, usually there are a hand book code of conduct for dancers, and it is often very thick. So, maybe my company`s code of conduct section is not too bad. And, most of the code of conducts are common sense.
Friday 13 April 2012
5a code of conduct
I have been working as a professional dancer for six years.
So, I believe I know basic code of conduct at my working place.
However, I have worked at several ballet companies; big one and small ones, also different countries.
What I found interesting was, I do same profession where ever I go, but code of conduct changes with country and by company!
I worked in Serbia`s national theatre of ballet, which employs over seventy dancers. The organisation was big enough that, employers do not remember each other’s name. Especially costume people had to work for Opera, Ballet and Drama, so they clearly had no idea who is who in Ballet. Costume people use to call me Bruce Lee. All of my costume`s name tag was typed Bruce Lee, Is it ethical? Well, probably not in the UK.
Also, smoking in public place was very common too. Dancers use to smoke in a lift! Also, pianists smoke while they are playing for class and rehearsals! Is it ethical? Probably is in Serbia!
However, rest of the companies I worked and working for seem quite normal.
Ross Dunning mentioned about registering ourselves in morning on his blog, but all the companies I worked I never signed in and out. Usually people from the office come and check during the morning class to resister.
I understand code of conduct as mainly as common sense.
So, I believe my cod of conduct as a dancer will be like these?
Dancers need to be punctual for rehearsals and morning class.
Ware appropriate clothe during class and rehearsal
Do not bring private matter in to work.
If dancers need days off from work by being ill or injured, dancers need to show a proof from doctor.
Avoid physical contact with children during the workshops.
Equal opportunity policy.
Act with respect to costume people, to the technicians and the driver.
Tuesday 3 April 2012
Ethics on dance; Images of Dancer, expectation of being a dancer
I wonder what kind of answers I get, if I ask people for an images of a perfect dancer?
Pretty? Skinny? Beautiful? Light?
I would like to investigate what dancers do to keep this expectation from people and from dance companies.
I would like to look in to how these images effect on dancers mind and body, and to work out the consequence of it.
Also, are we supposed be a role models for young dancers?
Are we sending a right message to them for being skinny and pretty?
Pretty? Skinny? Beautiful? Light?
I would like to investigate what dancers do to keep this expectation from people and from dance companies.
I would like to look in to how these images effect on dancers mind and body, and to work out the consequence of it.
Also, are we supposed be a role models for young dancers?
Are we sending a right message to them for being skinny and pretty?
Evaluation of Inquiry tools; Focus Group
I have discussed my inquiry tasks with my focus group, I chose my focus group as my work colleagues.
I am not sure it was a great choice of group, as I see them everyday and work together. As I have written on my observation journal that, people do tend to pick up each others habits with out noticing and also people`s life style has become very similar if you work at same place as share the same time schedule, if life style becomes similar, people`s personality and onions become similar with out realising.
Advantage;
Advantage of choosing my colleagues as a focus group was I could ask some thing I usually choose not to ask participants, as I know my colleagues more than participants and my colleagues know me well too. So, in that way I received very honest answers as we did not have to worry about consequence of the answers.
Also, every single people have a different back ground, yet every one of them has professional knowledge, so it was very good way to correct quality, yet very individual opinions.
Detriment;
As it is a group of same interest, a bunch of specialists. So, every one can provide useful, quality information, but some how never get to the answer or solution, because every single participants in Focus Group has same problems.
I am not sure it was a great choice of group, as I see them everyday and work together. As I have written on my observation journal that, people do tend to pick up each others habits with out noticing and also people`s life style has become very similar if you work at same place as share the same time schedule, if life style becomes similar, people`s personality and onions become similar with out realising.
Advantage;
Advantage of choosing my colleagues as a focus group was I could ask some thing I usually choose not to ask participants, as I know my colleagues more than participants and my colleagues know me well too. So, in that way I received very honest answers as we did not have to worry about consequence of the answers.
Also, every single people have a different back ground, yet every one of them has professional knowledge, so it was very good way to correct quality, yet very individual opinions.
Detriment;
As it is a group of same interest, a bunch of specialists. So, every one can provide useful, quality information, but some how never get to the answer or solution, because every single participants in Focus Group has same problems.
Wednesday 21 March 2012
Evaluation of Inquiry tools; Observation
Observation is one of the most common and used inquiry tools in dance.
However, I have noticed observation can provide more with collaborating with other inquiry tools.
Advantage;
this tool can provide more than what researcher can visually see, with researcher's deeper understanding toward the subject by using uses other inquiry tools before hand.
For example, if observer, researcher choose to begin investigate the task by using tool of observation. Then, current event can provide only so much of information to the observer.
However, when observer has a clear aim and already investigated toward the subject before hand, i,e, certain dancers habit, teachers aim, or what is the current event is focusing on, if researcher is already aware of these by using other inquiry tools, suddenly observation can provide different point of view.
If, researcher already investigated and correct some information by using other tools, it is much easier to understand the reason why things are happening and why current event is going to to certain direction. And, researcher can built a theory based on these evidences.
For example, I observed some dancer who have been interviewed by me, and, I saw some contradict act in the class from them. And, I also started to realise why dancers get paranoid about certain things, also how they get in to these mental state.
This tool could help put all the factors and show a bigger picture to researcher.
Detriment;
if, researcher has an fixed idea before using this tool, it could plants an assumption on researchers head; we see what we want to see. So, some times we are already deciding what researcher is going to see. That is what I found it tricky. Compare to rest of the tools, this tool is very much rely and depend on researchers understanding, as this is a very one way tool; there are technically no communication between researcher and participant.
And, often apparence of third party effect on participants mental state. And, that could give them reasons to act differently to normal. In that case, observer is going to observe what participants want to observer to see, that beats the object. And, I could not find out how to avoid that situation.
However, I have noticed observation can provide more with collaborating with other inquiry tools.
Advantage;
this tool can provide more than what researcher can visually see, with researcher's deeper understanding toward the subject by using uses other inquiry tools before hand.
For example, if observer, researcher choose to begin investigate the task by using tool of observation. Then, current event can provide only so much of information to the observer.
However, when observer has a clear aim and already investigated toward the subject before hand, i,e, certain dancers habit, teachers aim, or what is the current event is focusing on, if researcher is already aware of these by using other inquiry tools, suddenly observation can provide different point of view.
If, researcher already investigated and correct some information by using other tools, it is much easier to understand the reason why things are happening and why current event is going to to certain direction. And, researcher can built a theory based on these evidences.
For example, I observed some dancer who have been interviewed by me, and, I saw some contradict act in the class from them. And, I also started to realise why dancers get paranoid about certain things, also how they get in to these mental state.
This tool could help put all the factors and show a bigger picture to researcher.
Detriment;
if, researcher has an fixed idea before using this tool, it could plants an assumption on researchers head; we see what we want to see. So, some times we are already deciding what researcher is going to see. That is what I found it tricky. Compare to rest of the tools, this tool is very much rely and depend on researchers understanding, as this is a very one way tool; there are technically no communication between researcher and participant.
And, often apparence of third party effect on participants mental state. And, that could give them reasons to act differently to normal. In that case, observer is going to observe what participants want to observer to see, that beats the object. And, I could not find out how to avoid that situation.
Sunday 18 March 2012
Evaluation of Inquiry tools; Interview
I found this tool can be the most personal inquiry tool for the research. In this sense, this tool stands totally opposite to the way of survey.
Advantage;
of interviewing people is researcher and interviewee are physically very close. And, this physical distance creates the atmosphere.
I have noticed the atmosphere and body language often provides some thing more than just answers to the questions, some thing more than what interviewee try to explain to me.
This is one the special advantage of interview.
Some times people give me very clear answer and some times answers come with some hesitation or a long pause before they answer.
Some people answer straight away, some people answer very slowly with choosing the right words.
Read between the lines, very famous saying and it is true for survey.
But, I say, try to feel the silence between the conversation. Which I have learned from interviewing people. There are so much information in silence. In other words, possibly the true answers can be only in silence.
Also, interview provides more details compare to rest of inquiry tools, in a very different way, which I will compare and explain at my critical evaluation later.
I started to know them as a person through interviewing. And, gave me a clearer shape of who they are, and what they are trying archive as a person.
That is what this tool is very different to the other inquiry tools.
Detriment;
is it is very time consuming. And, I do not think I need to go through the detail as everyone experienced this.
I also made sure not to digressed from the main subject while interview.
Some times I get unexpected and interesting answers. So, I had to be very careful not to carry out and ask any extra, unnecessary questions.
As Module handbook warns, I need to ask only propriety questions. It was actually a bit difficult as I stated to know the people. But, I realised protect the ethics and keep the questions to minimum and necessary, it is the way to avoid going over the time limit.
Also, I could see some times interviewee hesitate to answer some questions.
It looks like they are thinking of the consequence of their answers, and how they effect them after. That happened when I interviewed dancers and students mainly. However, not from the teachers. It seemed dancers and students were more careful with their answers.
I guess, invisible hierarchy also effect the answers.....
.
Advantage;
of interviewing people is researcher and interviewee are physically very close. And, this physical distance creates the atmosphere.
I have noticed the atmosphere and body language often provides some thing more than just answers to the questions, some thing more than what interviewee try to explain to me.
This is one the special advantage of interview.
Some times people give me very clear answer and some times answers come with some hesitation or a long pause before they answer.
Some people answer straight away, some people answer very slowly with choosing the right words.
Read between the lines, very famous saying and it is true for survey.
But, I say, try to feel the silence between the conversation. Which I have learned from interviewing people. There are so much information in silence. In other words, possibly the true answers can be only in silence.
Also, interview provides more details compare to rest of inquiry tools, in a very different way, which I will compare and explain at my critical evaluation later.
I started to know them as a person through interviewing. And, gave me a clearer shape of who they are, and what they are trying archive as a person.
That is what this tool is very different to the other inquiry tools.
Detriment;
is it is very time consuming. And, I do not think I need to go through the detail as everyone experienced this.
I also made sure not to digressed from the main subject while interview.
Some times I get unexpected and interesting answers. So, I had to be very careful not to carry out and ask any extra, unnecessary questions.
As Module handbook warns, I need to ask only propriety questions. It was actually a bit difficult as I stated to know the people. But, I realised protect the ethics and keep the questions to minimum and necessary, it is the way to avoid going over the time limit.
Also, I could see some times interviewee hesitate to answer some questions.
It looks like they are thinking of the consequence of their answers, and how they effect them after. That happened when I interviewed dancers and students mainly. However, not from the teachers. It seemed dancers and students were more careful with their answers.
I guess, invisible hierarchy also effect the answers.....
.
Saturday 17 March 2012
Evaluation of Inquiry tools; Survey
I am using mainly three inquiry tools for my research.
.
Which is Survey, observation, and Interview.
I would like to analyse and compare these tool`s advantage and detriment.
Survey.
Advantage;
I have actually used a lot of survey for my research.
However, it does not mean it was successful!
I used a lot because I found it quite convenient and time saving, as once survey has giving to people only thing I needed to do was to wait.
Also, surveys results are much easier to check and analyse compare to other inquiry tools results, because it has been done by people and there are evidence on the survey.
Observation and Interviews, I need to listen to the record or read through the notes to recall the memory of that time.
And, human memory can be effected by day to day incidents.
For example, let`s say I interview some one, and that person gave me generally negative answers at that time. And, I analysed as that person is not enjoying and also finding hard to carry on with what she does. However, later on I find out that her mother is very heavily sick, so that effected her answers and my understanding towards the person.
With circumstances like this, I find it hard to analyse corrcetly when I go through the results of these tools.
However, survey results are pretty much one dimensional and straight forward. That is why I found much more simple and easier to analyse on survey.
And, names are unrevealing, so I will never know who is who. So, there are no space for emotions to effect the results.
Detriment;
is ironically all the advantage above. I found these advantages can be back fires in survey.
Most importantly, Reliability of information.
I used survey on the web; using survey monkey website. And, also I made some questionnaireｓ to give to people.
The reason I avoid survey monkeys and instead I gave out the questionnaire was, because some of the students are not old enough, so I felt very inappropriate to ask them their e-mail address and fill them up on the web.
I made that decision based on my ethical knowledge of teaching young dancers.
However, I have noticed the difference of answers between web survey and questionnaires.
The questions were the same, and I have asked the students there are no need to reveal their name.
However, when students were filling in questionnaires, I could clearly see the appearance of teacher effect their answers.
I had a feeling of they are worried and thinking of consequence, so students did not answer entirely honest.
Even, though name is not known.
However, I guess there are evidence on the paper. So, I do I understand why students found it hard to express freely.
Survey monkey results were much more direct and some of the answers were very useful for me to improve my quality. However, the problem I had with survey monkey was I did not receive reply as much as I wanted to.
As I mentioned in advantage section, Yes, it is time saving in a way compare to interviewing people and observing classes and people` behavior. However, the problem is once the survey has given to the people, only thing I could do was to wait for the reply.
I guess, I can nudge people to reply me, but I do not think that is a right way to get a reply for the research.
No wonder, all the restaurants give out a lot of prizes and money to fill up the survey!
That was the biggest dilemma with survey monkey.
Do people find it same?
Or does any one have any good solutions?
.
Which is Survey, observation, and Interview.
I would like to analyse and compare these tool`s advantage and detriment.
Survey.
Advantage;
I have actually used a lot of survey for my research.
However, it does not mean it was successful!
I used a lot because I found it quite convenient and time saving, as once survey has giving to people only thing I needed to do was to wait.
Also, surveys results are much easier to check and analyse compare to other inquiry tools results, because it has been done by people and there are evidence on the survey.
Observation and Interviews, I need to listen to the record or read through the notes to recall the memory of that time.
And, human memory can be effected by day to day incidents.
For example, let`s say I interview some one, and that person gave me generally negative answers at that time. And, I analysed as that person is not enjoying and also finding hard to carry on with what she does. However, later on I find out that her mother is very heavily sick, so that effected her answers and my understanding towards the person.
With circumstances like this, I find it hard to analyse corrcetly when I go through the results of these tools.
However, survey results are pretty much one dimensional and straight forward. That is why I found much more simple and easier to analyse on survey.
And, names are unrevealing, so I will never know who is who. So, there are no space for emotions to effect the results.
Detriment;
is ironically all the advantage above. I found these advantages can be back fires in survey.
Most importantly, Reliability of information.
I used survey on the web; using survey monkey website. And, also I made some questionnaireｓ to give to people.
The reason I avoid survey monkeys and instead I gave out the questionnaire was, because some of the students are not old enough, so I felt very inappropriate to ask them their e-mail address and fill them up on the web.
I made that decision based on my ethical knowledge of teaching young dancers.
However, I have noticed the difference of answers between web survey and questionnaires.
The questions were the same, and I have asked the students there are no need to reveal their name.
However, when students were filling in questionnaires, I could clearly see the appearance of teacher effect their answers.
I had a feeling of they are worried and thinking of consequence, so students did not answer entirely honest.
Even, though name is not known.
However, I guess there are evidence on the paper. So, I do I understand why students found it hard to express freely.
Survey monkey results were much more direct and some of the answers were very useful for me to improve my quality. However, the problem I had with survey monkey was I did not receive reply as much as I wanted to.
As I mentioned in advantage section, Yes, it is time saving in a way compare to interviewing people and observing classes and people` behavior. However, the problem is once the survey has given to the people, only thing I could do was to wait for the reply.
I guess, I can nudge people to reply me, but I do not think that is a right way to get a reply for the research.
No wonder, all the restaurants give out a lot of prizes and money to fill up the survey!
That was the biggest dilemma with survey monkey.
Do people find it same?
Or does any one have any good solutions?
Monday 5 March 2012
Observation
I was observing my company`s workshop the other day.
Then, I realised a strange habit, relation about how teacher pass on their knowledge to the others.
It was during the ballet workshop. The person who lead the workshop told the students to use their `core muscle` and `inner muscle` to stabilize them selves, as he pointed out his stomach.
Also, described to the students these muscle are important for core stability.
Then, suddenly I realised that is what our company`s teacher tells us often.
Our teacher uses the words; inner, core muscle quite often like he explained to the students.
Also, our teacher explains us dancers how important to feel them and use them right.
Then, I remembered that, our company teachers often use phrases like `My teacher use to teach me blah blah` or
` That is how I taught at the school when I was young!!!!` etc, etc.....
Then I realised, my colleague is teaching exactly like our teachers....
\then I wonder, do my teachers really completely understand what they are saying? How about my colleague? Does my colleague really understand about how to activate inner muscles?
Because I don't.
Do we explain things to the students often by using the similar ways to how our teachers teach us? Or do we use almost exactly same ways to explain things to next generation?
Why do we do it? Is it because we agree with what our teachers teach us? or we just copy how our teacher teach without realising? is it because it is easy to just copy or mimic?
Do we teach like our teachers did to us?
Are we even aware of it?
And, Most importantly, Is it good for others to teach as we taught by our teachers?
By observing my colleagues taking the workshop, I have noticed the way we teach is based on how we taught or the way our teachers taught us effect how we teach others.
I have no doubt about it, as I saw the way my colleagues teach, also the way I teach has definitely effected by the way my teachers teach me.
However, I do not think most of us are aware of it. By observing the workshop made me think, and I teach like my teachers do or did to me. Which I did not notice till I wrote this journal!
And, I am not sure it is good or bad to teach other as we taught.
However, if we teach others we all need to think what we taught, and go through our body to digest and understand truly what we really know and what really our teachers wanted to tell us. Other wise, we become a parrot; there are no meaning or understanding in what we are saying to the others. If, teachers do not understand about what really they know, there are no chance for students to improve.
Doctors tell us totally different ways to prevent illness every few years.
Long time ago, it is good to have a cold bath when we caught a cold, but doctors tell us not to have a cold bath when we have a cold, because it is bad for us! But, they are changing their mind because they are researching and trying to find the best way to find the cure for people.
I personally think, us teachers need to have a same attitude toward our profession.
There are a lot of text books and method how to teach dance to people. and, a lot of teachers blindly follow it. The brand of the methods blind teachers. But, we must ask our selves, if people do not improve, what is the point?
What I want to say is; Most important thing is to help people to dance, not blindly follow the methods or relay on how our teachers taught us. I think we all need to ask our selves again; is the way we teach the best way to bring people's potential? I especially need to ask my self every day.
Anyway, then why lots of us become a parrot when we teach without realising? I guess, in that way we do not have to re think or check how much we really understand about our profession. It is painful to re think and realise how much we do not really know. Ignorance is bliss.
At last, what is Inner muscle? I did my own research to find an distinct answer.
Us, all human have muscles. Therefore, we have inner muscles.
Well, cut the story short. Medically, there are no such muscles call inner muscles, as there are no distinct line between inner and outer.
So, the word inner muscle is just a made up word for people who do not know much about the body.
Then, I realised a strange habit, relation about how teacher pass on their knowledge to the others.
It was during the ballet workshop. The person who lead the workshop told the students to use their `core muscle` and `inner muscle` to stabilize them selves, as he pointed out his stomach.
Also, described to the students these muscle are important for core stability.
Then, suddenly I realised that is what our company`s teacher tells us often.
Our teacher uses the words; inner, core muscle quite often like he explained to the students.
Also, our teacher explains us dancers how important to feel them and use them right.
Then, I remembered that, our company teachers often use phrases like `My teacher use to teach me blah blah` or
` That is how I taught at the school when I was young!!!!` etc, etc.....
Then I realised, my colleague is teaching exactly like our teachers....
\then I wonder, do my teachers really completely understand what they are saying? How about my colleague? Does my colleague really understand about how to activate inner muscles?
Because I don't.
Do we explain things to the students often by using the similar ways to how our teachers teach us? Or do we use almost exactly same ways to explain things to next generation?
Why do we do it? Is it because we agree with what our teachers teach us? or we just copy how our teacher teach without realising? is it because it is easy to just copy or mimic?
Do we teach like our teachers did to us?
Are we even aware of it?
And, Most importantly, Is it good for others to teach as we taught by our teachers?
By observing my colleagues taking the workshop, I have noticed the way we teach is based on how we taught or the way our teachers taught us effect how we teach others.
I have no doubt about it, as I saw the way my colleagues teach, also the way I teach has definitely effected by the way my teachers teach me.
However, I do not think most of us are aware of it. By observing the workshop made me think, and I teach like my teachers do or did to me. Which I did not notice till I wrote this journal!
And, I am not sure it is good or bad to teach other as we taught.
However, if we teach others we all need to think what we taught, and go through our body to digest and understand truly what we really know and what really our teachers wanted to tell us. Other wise, we become a parrot; there are no meaning or understanding in what we are saying to the others. If, teachers do not understand about what really they know, there are no chance for students to improve.
Doctors tell us totally different ways to prevent illness every few years.
Long time ago, it is good to have a cold bath when we caught a cold, but doctors tell us not to have a cold bath when we have a cold, because it is bad for us! But, they are changing their mind because they are researching and trying to find the best way to find the cure for people.
I personally think, us teachers need to have a same attitude toward our profession.
There are a lot of text books and method how to teach dance to people. and, a lot of teachers blindly follow it. The brand of the methods blind teachers. But, we must ask our selves, if people do not improve, what is the point?
What I want to say is; Most important thing is to help people to dance, not blindly follow the methods or relay on how our teachers taught us. I think we all need to ask our selves again; is the way we teach the best way to bring people's potential? I especially need to ask my self every day.
Anyway, then why lots of us become a parrot when we teach without realising? I guess, in that way we do not have to re think or check how much we really understand about our profession. It is painful to re think and realise how much we do not really know. Ignorance is bliss.
At last, what is Inner muscle? I did my own research to find an distinct answer.
Us, all human have muscles. Therefore, we have inner muscles.
Well, cut the story short. Medically, there are no such muscles call inner muscles, as there are no distinct line between inner and outer.
So, the word inner muscle is just a made up word for people who do not know much about the body.
Friday 2 March 2012
Dance Brain!?
I have found an interesting video about how dancers brain work.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-17120495
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-17120495
Thursday 1 March 2012
The question
The question has appeared on the process of studying BAPP. And, I got to the point which I actually find it hard to ignore, I have discussed with my colleagues about it, however, in the end, discussions I had with them did not take me anywhere. So, I need to ask your opinion. I am aware that, no one can really give me the answer I am looking for, as I do not even know what the answer is. What I want to know is how other practitioners major other practitioners opinions or knowledge. We, practitioners learn new things every day, and these new experience takes us to different place, not just different level, I think. And, these experiences clearly change our opinions, point of view and sometimes changes who we are as a practitioner. That is only natural and that is the way should be, otherwise no point of learning and experience new things, I think. If I am right, more we learn about our profession, well, we learn about life itself or Deeping the understanding of life through learning our profession; through this process we see things from different direction; we started to see the dimension which always exist but because of the lacking of knowledge or experience, we just could not see them. For example, first, we see things one dimensionally, but as we deepen our knowledge, we see things two, three dimensionally. If, practitioners carry on learning, possibly be able to see through even what is going on in side of it! I guess builders or doctors learning process is close to this, I imagine. The question is, as we are all practitioners, we are constantly learning and that effect our opinions or the way we value things, which we cannot avoid and should not avoid! Then, how can we surely teach or criticise others? For example, there are quite few painters or musicians, composers, who no one really knew till years after they have died. However, time has passed, people started value things differently, then, these artists suddenly became famous! Especially, this happened when a lot of communism countries have vanished. My point is these artists have always existed, but people did not see their value. What does it tell us? Does it mean meaning and value changes with time or as people deepen their knowledge? Can time or people`s knowledge change even meaning and value of fact?. If, we have decided someone`s opinion has no value. But few years later, as we learn and experience more in life, then, we realised that, the person`s opinion was meaningful and valuable. Do we have any responsibility about the decision we made at the time? I had so many embarrassing discussions based on faulty or uncertain knowledge. Since I realised that, I am quite quiet and very careful with what I say in discussion. Also, since then, before I teach people, I try to explain everyone I am teaching based on my current knowledge and experience, so my way of teaching or What I teach can be changed as I deepen my knowledge. I wonder what students think of me as a teacher....
Ｓｕｒｅｖｅｙ ２
I have been teaching at a local dance school for last few months.
And, I have discussed with the main teacher; the owner of the dance school to give them out a survey.
1, Because I thought it is a good opportunity to improve my quality as a teacher, and to know how much students understand what I am trying to tell them.
2, I usually teach dancers as an one off workshop, I usually do not have opportunities to teach dancers for more than a week. So, I will benefit as a teacher to know myself better and by answering the survey, students realise abut them self, also makes them think about aim and recall class to re learn and re understand things differently. The students will benefit from answering the survey.
3, My aim of this survey is to understand them better and understand myself more as a teacher through students point of view.
4, The age of students age are 15 years on wards, So it is appropriate to ask them these questions as they are old enough to understand the questions.
I also asked them lay thir to name to make sure protect their privacy.
This time, my survey contained simple Five questions as last time when I gave a survey, I have received answers which I was not looking for, because I did not specify the questions. So this time I tried to make it as simple and as clear as possible so people get the point.
QUESTIONS
1, Which part of the class did you enjoy the most today? And, why did you like it?
2,Would you tell me which part of the exercise you find hard, and how?
3, Do you understand what your teacher ( Daisuke ) says during class?
4,What did you learn today?
5,What is you aim for your next class?
Questions 1 and2, I have mainly focused on technical issue. By writing down, students realise what was happening in them in class.
Question 3 is to know how much students my English, as it`s my not my first language.
I wanted dancers to think back and realise what they have learned from the class. And, also to have an aim for next class. So we can start where we ended in previous time. That was the aim for Question 4and 5.
Feed Back.
Students seemed enjoyed the class.
Most of the students explained how difficult is to bring the leg back, as we can not see behind of us.
it seemed like students are understanding my English.
Questions 4 and 5`s answered were very individual! Some students were very specific about aim for next class, some of them wrote as they will try to remember where they need go.
My thought
Feed back was very positive.
However, I am not sure they were answering 100% honestly. I am not saying that, they are lying or deceiving the answers.
Because, I know my English is not wonderful. I try to use words and demonstrations both to cover that problem. However, some times even I do not understand what I am trying to explaining to the students, so I am not sure how they possibly understand me well:( Or maybe students are just being polite....hmmmmmmm......
And, I have discussed with the main teacher; the owner of the dance school to give them out a survey.
1, Because I thought it is a good opportunity to improve my quality as a teacher, and to know how much students understand what I am trying to tell them.
2, I usually teach dancers as an one off workshop, I usually do not have opportunities to teach dancers for more than a week. So, I will benefit as a teacher to know myself better and by answering the survey, students realise abut them self, also makes them think about aim and recall class to re learn and re understand things differently. The students will benefit from answering the survey.
3, My aim of this survey is to understand them better and understand myself more as a teacher through students point of view.
4, The age of students age are 15 years on wards, So it is appropriate to ask them these questions as they are old enough to understand the questions.
I also asked them lay thir to name to make sure protect their privacy.
This time, my survey contained simple Five questions as last time when I gave a survey, I have received answers which I was not looking for, because I did not specify the questions. So this time I tried to make it as simple and as clear as possible so people get the point.
QUESTIONS
1, Which part of the class did you enjoy the most today? And, why did you like it?
2,Would you tell me which part of the exercise you find hard, and how?
3, Do you understand what your teacher ( Daisuke ) says during class?
4,What did you learn today?
5,What is you aim for your next class?
Questions 1 and2, I have mainly focused on technical issue. By writing down, students realise what was happening in them in class.
Question 3 is to know how much students my English, as it`s my not my first language.
I wanted dancers to think back and realise what they have learned from the class. And, also to have an aim for next class. So we can start where we ended in previous time. That was the aim for Question 4and 5.
Feed Back.
Students seemed enjoyed the class.
Most of the students explained how difficult is to bring the leg back, as we can not see behind of us.
it seemed like students are understanding my English.
Questions 4 and 5`s answered were very individual! Some students were very specific about aim for next class, some of them wrote as they will try to remember where they need go.
My thought
Feed back was very positive.
However, I am not sure they were answering 100% honestly. I am not saying that, they are lying or deceiving the answers.
Because, I know my English is not wonderful. I try to use words and demonstrations both to cover that problem. However, some times even I do not understand what I am trying to explaining to the students, so I am not sure how they possibly understand me well:( Or maybe students are just being polite....hmmmmmmm......
Tuesday 28 February 2012
Can we teach? or Do people just learn?
The other day, I witnessed something which will help one of my question; Can we really teach others? Do great teachers really exist? or is there just good students?
It was one afternoon, my wife, her mum and her sister was singing ABC alphabet song to my seven months old son, to teach him alphabet.
I guess, they were just having a fun with him as he does not speak yet, so they can not expect him to sing a song straight away!
And, I have noticed there were a two years old girl sitting opposite to them.
I have noticed her, because awhile after they tried to teach my son the song, the girl suddenly started to sing the song which they have been trying to teach my son to sing! It was not clear and perfect, but she was singing! We all gob smacked! We asked her that, did she learn the song just by listening us singing repeatedly? She had a big smile on her face.
We had no idea we were teaching her the song.
As long as people learn something from the others, can we call it as teaching? or is there just good students?
What do you think?
It was one afternoon, my wife, her mum and her sister was singing ABC alphabet song to my seven months old son, to teach him alphabet.
I guess, they were just having a fun with him as he does not speak yet, so they can not expect him to sing a song straight away!
And, I have noticed there were a two years old girl sitting opposite to them.
I have noticed her, because awhile after they tried to teach my son the song, the girl suddenly started to sing the song which they have been trying to teach my son to sing! It was not clear and perfect, but she was singing! We all gob smacked! We asked her that, did she learn the song just by listening us singing repeatedly? She had a big smile on her face.
We had no idea we were teaching her the song.
As long as people learn something from the others, can we call it as teaching? or is there just good students?
What do you think?
4b Award Title
I propose my award title as The award I seek as a result of doing
this programme is BA (Hons) Professional Practice in Performing Arts.
this programme is BA (Hons) Professional Practice in Performing Arts.
What do I gain from teaching others, as a professional dancer?
How teaching effect me as a professional dancer?
What is the best ways to pass on tacit knowledge to the others in performing arts?
What can I give and share with the other which normal qualified teachers can not provide?
What can I give and share with the other which normal qualified teachers can not provide?
Based on my experience as a full time professional dancer, also as a part time dance teacher,
I would like to explore these questions by teaching , observing, communicating with third party by using inquiry tools; survey, observation, discussion.
Also, most importantly I am going to use my own body to experiment and check how and where these results; current answers will take me as a professional performer.
My aim for this award is to deepen my understanding of Learning Cycle in performing arts, also life in general.
WBL; Work Based Learning.
However, I see this course as LBL; Life Based Learning.
I totally agree with what WBL suggests; to deepen our knowledge and improve as a partitioner, we MUST interact, discuss with the other to check where we stand and re think the way we are as a practitioner. And, try to find or realise the new side of what we already know; try and explore different approach to the questions.
When I am teaching others, some times it is hard to see what is going on, but if I keep a distance from them and see the whole picture, I often see the problem much clearer. Because of changed the point of view.
I also often given great advice about my dancing by people who is not a dancer.
So, I understand the importance of it through my experience.
If we yruely open our eyes, we can learn from any thing. From the books, films, nature, cooking; we can relate everything to improve our profession.
I often explain ballet technique to students based on cooking theory.
Also, especially, children remind me so many things which I have forgot or lost by the process of growing up. Every time adults teach kids something, kids loose something to learn new things.
My point is we can learn from any thing! We can relate our profession to any thing! I always remember; The world is our oyster;D
I would like to explore these questions by teaching , observing, communicating with third party by using inquiry tools; survey, observation, discussion.
Also, most importantly I am going to use my own body to experiment and check how and where these results; current answers will take me as a professional performer.
My aim for this award is to deepen my understanding of Learning Cycle in performing arts, also life in general.
WBL; Work Based Learning.
However, I see this course as LBL; Life Based Learning.
I totally agree with what WBL suggests; to deepen our knowledge and improve as a partitioner, we MUST interact, discuss with the other to check where we stand and re think the way we are as a practitioner. And, try to find or realise the new side of what we already know; try and explore different approach to the questions.
When I am teaching others, some times it is hard to see what is going on, but if I keep a distance from them and see the whole picture, I often see the problem much clearer. Because of changed the point of view.
I also often given great advice about my dancing by people who is not a dancer.
So, I understand the importance of it through my experience.
If we yruely open our eyes, we can learn from any thing. From the books, films, nature, cooking; we can relate everything to improve our profession.
I often explain ballet technique to students based on cooking theory.
Also, especially, children remind me so many things which I have forgot or lost by the process of growing up. Every time adults teach kids something, kids loose something to learn new things.
My point is we can learn from any thing! We can relate our profession to any thing! I always remember; The world is our oyster;D
Saturday 25 February 2012
Survey 1
Recently, I have been asked by a ｐｒｏｆｅｓｓｉｏｎａｌ dance couple to coach them.
I was happy to help them out and I also thought this could be a good opportunity for my Module.
First, I gave them a simple survey which I made, I asked fill them up before we start coaching them.
Then, I asked two things before they fill up my survey.
1, I asked them not to ask me any questions about equations. Because I needed to know how they understand the questions.
2, Answers must not be longer than one line. I wanted them to specify the problem.
Question 1; what is the problem? Or what do you assume as a problem?
Male dancer believed the problem occurs because of the clothes which his partner wares.
Female dancer believed the problem is her partner does not support her properly.
Question 2; why do you wish to fix the problem? Also, who would you like to solve the problem for?
Male dancer wanted to fix the problem, because he did not want to fear the problem. Also, he wanted to fix the problem to boost his confidence, and to boost his motivation
He would like to fix the problem for himself and for his partner.
Female dancer wanted to fix the problem because she wanted to dance more freely.
She wanted to fix the problem for herself and for audience.
Question 3; what would you like to do when the problem has solved?
Male dancer wanted to spend more time for practicing other steps, as they do not have to spend any more time for solving ｔｈｅ problem. So, he believed the quality and quantity of practice will be increased by solving the problem.
Female dancer thought once the problem has solved, she can try some different steps.
Question 4; who does benefit by fixing the problem,?
Male dancer believed, himself and his partner will benefit by solving ｔｈｅ problem.
Female dancer thought only she will benefit.
After I have read through their survey, I have noticed few interesting facts about them. So, I have asked them to swap the survey and read each other`s answers to understand the difference of what, and how they define the problem.
I have talked to them after they have read through each other`s survey.
Then, I spoke through the questions and answers one by one with them.
About first question, I have pointed out about they both believed that they are not the reason of the problem; he believed and blamed on the clothes she wares, she blamed on is his partner`s technique.
I did not discuss more about question 1 with them. What I needed to them to notice was to them to understand they both believed they are not causing the problem.
I found the answer of second question very interesting.
They both wanted to fix the problem, but for completely different reasons!
It was also very important for them to understand that, they are not looking the same direction, and I need to understand that the difference between why they wanted to fix the problem.
Male dancer wanted to solve the problem to prove he can do it. Also, wanted fix the problem for him and her partner.
She wanted to fix the problem, purely to improve her dance technique. So, she can be happier.
She wanted to fix the problem for her and for audience. But, interestingly not for her partnerL
Third question, their answer was quite similar. They are looking at the similar direction. I told them that is a good.
Forth question proved that, the male dancer wanted to fix the problem for both of them. However, the female dancer wanted to fix the problem purely just for herself.
It was interesting to see their reactions too. They have married and danced together for a long time. However, they have a very different vision about dancing.
This survey was very important for me as I have asked them to coach them, and also important for them to see each other`s point of view, to know what they want, to know where they want to go and why they want to achieve the goal.
While I am going through this survey and talking about it with them, I found an interesting fact, even when people read or hear same things, people understand very individually; very differently. Some of the answers were totally different to what I expected, in a bad way! They did not get what I meant or I should of written the questions differently for them to answer what I wanted to knowL I expected to them to focus and analyse on their technical problem rather than blaming on clothes or partner.
However, I also needed to know how they understand the questions to see how they think of ｔｈｅ problem. I found it very tricky to explain people what`s kind of answer I am looking for.
Maybe I need to more specify the questions....
Thursday 5 January 2012
Do we need great teachers? or great models to follow?
I found an interesting column about people`s learning process.
There a famous baseball player call Ichiroi, he created over 200 hits every season for 10 years, which is a world record. However, he could not reach for his 11th year.
Then, a lot of critics discussed and wrote forced analogies about why he failed.
Their theories were all based on boring usual old senses, I have read some but never read them till the end.
However, another column caught my attention the other day, and it was very interesting.
http://zasshi.news.yahoo.co.jp/article?a=20111228-00000302-sportiva-base
In the column, there are another baseball player explaining why Mr Ichiro failed to reach another 200 hits, based on his own experience as he is also a professional baseball player and shared the same season.
I instantly found interested in the column, because the person who is explaining was who actually experienced the season with him.
He explained the reason why he failed to reach 200 hits was nothing to do with Mr Ichiro`s condition or the technique. He is convinced the reason is purely the sudden improvement of the standard of the rest of the baseball players of this season. He said he physically felt the players improvement.
What interested me the most was, he observed his team mates behaver of the season. And, he realised the fact, a lot of players were
1 carefully observing great players play
2 analysed the style
3 copied the style of it,
4 learned the mechanics of it,
5 remembered it physically,
6 actuation it, mater it completely.
Theses who master great players technique, soon they will take the original technique to beyond to make it even better. That is what I thought after I have read the column.
From this column, I have realised how humans learning process work, also made me realised, how important and useful informations can be to people.
I have learned the important of informations on my previous module.
So much informations have been shared and opened to us, as technical equipments and internet are improving everyday. And, I think Mr Ichiro was a victim of it. As result showed it, this can be a great weapons if people use it well.
And, these players who learned the style had no coaches to follow, they taught them self.
Only thing they had was models to follow, but they chose only superior players as models to learn.
Model; One serving as an example to be imitated or compared
So, do we need great teachers? or great models to follow?
Driving instructor is another interesting example.
Because, no one learns how to drive at home. The only way to learn how to drive is to be in a car and drive! With most likely to be instructors.
Yet, interestingly, do they actually do much?
Do they actually teach us how to drive?
I have read a column about an African guy learned how to drive.
It is about a man went to who Africa. He drove a car with a native African man in it while he was there, the African guy was just sitting on passenger seat, as he has never seen a car before.
However, on third day, the African guy started to drive! The African guy learned how to drive just sitting on passenger seat and watching a man drive for only two days!
I am not saying we do not need instructors to learn how to drive, because we do!
But, this fact questioned me of the importantness of teachers.
Do we need great teachers? or great models to follow?
Also Language Teachers are tricky one.
Because Language teachers can teach students right vocabularies and help them how to speak correctly.
But, teachers can not teach students how to talk to people.
I have noticed this from my working environment, as dance companies often become very international and we need to communicate each other with more than just words.
Then, again, I wonder; do we need great teachers? or great models to follow?
 |
| Ichiro botched his chance at an 11th consecutive 200-hit season. / Getty Imageshttp://mariners.sportspressnw.com/2011/09/05/40-hits-to-200-not-even-ichiro-can-do-that-in-23-games/ |
There a famous baseball player call Ichiroi, he created over 200 hits every season for 10 years, which is a world record. However, he could not reach for his 11th year.
Then, a lot of critics discussed and wrote forced analogies about why he failed.
Their theories were all based on boring usual old senses, I have read some but never read them till the end.
However, another column caught my attention the other day, and it was very interesting.
http://zasshi.news.yahoo.co.jp/article?a=20111228-00000302-sportiva-base
In the column, there are another baseball player explaining why Mr Ichiro failed to reach another 200 hits, based on his own experience as he is also a professional baseball player and shared the same season.
I instantly found interested in the column, because the person who is explaining was who actually experienced the season with him.
He explained the reason why he failed to reach 200 hits was nothing to do with Mr Ichiro`s condition or the technique. He is convinced the reason is purely the sudden improvement of the standard of the rest of the baseball players of this season. He said he physically felt the players improvement.
What interested me the most was, he observed his team mates behaver of the season. And, he realised the fact, a lot of players were
1 carefully observing great players play
2 analysed the style
3 copied the style of it,
4 learned the mechanics of it,
5 remembered it physically,
6 actuation it, mater it completely.
Theses who master great players technique, soon they will take the original technique to beyond to make it even better. That is what I thought after I have read the column.
From this column, I have realised how humans learning process work, also made me realised, how important and useful informations can be to people.
I have learned the important of informations on my previous module.
So much informations have been shared and opened to us, as technical equipments and internet are improving everyday. And, I think Mr Ichiro was a victim of it. As result showed it, this can be a great weapons if people use it well.
And, these players who learned the style had no coaches to follow, they taught them self.
Only thing they had was models to follow, but they chose only superior players as models to learn.
Model; One serving as an example to be imitated or compared
So, do we need great teachers? or great models to follow?
Driving instructor is another interesting example.
Because, no one learns how to drive at home. The only way to learn how to drive is to be in a car and drive! With most likely to be instructors.
Yet, interestingly, do they actually do much?
Do they actually teach us how to drive?
I have read a column about an African guy learned how to drive.
It is about a man went to who Africa. He drove a car with a native African man in it while he was there, the African guy was just sitting on passenger seat, as he has never seen a car before.
However, on third day, the African guy started to drive! The African guy learned how to drive just sitting on passenger seat and watching a man drive for only two days!
I am not saying we do not need instructors to learn how to drive, because we do!
But, this fact questioned me of the importantness of teachers.
Do we need great teachers? or great models to follow?
Also Language Teachers are tricky one.
Because Language teachers can teach students right vocabularies and help them how to speak correctly.
But, teachers can not teach students how to talk to people.
I have noticed this from my working environment, as dance companies often become very international and we need to communicate each other with more than just words.
Then, again, I wonder; do we need great teachers? or great models to follow?
Sunday 1 January 2012
Ahhhh...4a......
I have just realised that, after I have read professional inquiry, blogging my thoughts, I did not blog my questions. And, this should of been bloged ages ago......Oh no....
What can dancers learn from teaching others?
What is the best way to passing through tacit knowledge to the others in dance?
How can teaching deepen dancers, performers knowledge and understanding?
What do dancers gain from observing others and them self?
I chose these questions for task 4a to explore.
I chose these questions, because I am very interested in how teaching and observing others effect dancers.
From my experience, which is not much, but I have noticed there are something teachers can not help, only dancers can find the answer by exploring by them self, ie practising, performing on stage, learn from the others or by paying attention to general life occurrencien incidents.
Teaching others definitely deepen dancers self knowledge, I physically understand that from my experience. Everyone knows being a good dancer does not necessary mean a great teacher.
But, WHY? I would like to explore on this WHY and HOW teaching experience can take dancers to higher level.
How do they effect on dancers?
Also, I am interested in the way other dancers and teachers teach.
Ten people can teach same thing by ten different ways! How interesting and fascinating!
How to pass on tacit knowledges to the others, that is also one of my main interests.
Because, I personally think that is one of the most tricky and important themes as a teacher, and I assume that could be the key to define ordinary teachers and greater teachers.
Wish me luck!
What can dancers learn from teaching others?
What is the best way to passing through tacit knowledge to the others in dance?
How can teaching deepen dancers, performers knowledge and understanding?
What do dancers gain from observing others and them self?
I chose these questions for task 4a to explore.
I chose these questions, because I am very interested in how teaching and observing others effect dancers.
From my experience, which is not much, but I have noticed there are something teachers can not help, only dancers can find the answer by exploring by them self, ie practising, performing on stage, learn from the others or by paying attention to general life occurrencien incidents.
Teaching others definitely deepen dancers self knowledge, I physically understand that from my experience. Everyone knows being a good dancer does not necessary mean a great teacher.
But, WHY? I would like to explore on this WHY and HOW teaching experience can take dancers to higher level.
How do they effect on dancers?
Also, I am interested in the way other dancers and teachers teach.
Ten people can teach same thing by ten different ways! How interesting and fascinating!
How to pass on tacit knowledges to the others, that is also one of my main interests.
Because, I personally think that is one of the most tricky and important themes as a teacher, and I assume that could be the key to define ordinary teachers and greater teachers.
Wish me luck!
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