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....

Do we need great teachers? or great models to follow?

I found an interesting column about people`s learning process.

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? 

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!

5a added thought

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

5a

What is the code of ethics of my working environment?


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Survey

Hi everyone!


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

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


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

Confession; Real benefit of knowing my self better

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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