Weekly Overview

Monday 21st- Friday 25th November 2011

This week has been quite a significant one for me becasue I feel I have learnt a lot of new things. Looking back at my journal has refreshed my mind of all the smaller details in lessons as well as the main aims.

In the technique phrase class on Monday, we started by focusing on the shoulder blades. I did not realise mine pinched together when my arms were in second. To begin with I really struggled to understand how to put it right by using my muscles. I needed a partner to place their hand on my back in order for me to feel the problem and begin to put it right. Now I understand, I need to keep working to improve it. I have put an image in my journal that will stand out and help me to remember this in future.

In our Experiential Anatomy lesson, we learnt how to body surf. It is used as a basic tool in contact improvisation. I haven't ever done anything like this before and it was so much fun! This has been one of my favourite lessons so far because we got to learn something new and still enjoy it.

In the Choreographic Workshop, we had to perform our solos. I was really nervous about this because I had never been watched alone by this group of people before. Once Ih ad done it I felt so relieved and now I know it won't be as bad next time! I also had some valuable feedback from the lecturers, year 3 students and members of my class.

In improvisation we learnt about the apendage and axial skeleton. I have looked into anatomy before but I have never heard of the skeleton being split into two sections. I found it interesting to try and inititate movement from each one and how the style of movement differed.

I hope next will bring as many new thoughts as this week did...

My Final Choreographic Score

http://revolvahoopdance.wordpress.com/

Move through the space with a gliding motion, initiated from

 the extremities of the body, the hands and feet.

Explore interchanging levels, circular pathways

and stillness at an andante tempo.

Solo Progression, Video 2

Recorded: 23/11/2011

This video was taken not so long after the previous one. I began to dance to music to get an idea of the speed I was going to dance at and how much choreography I had already created although I didn't use the music in my video. In the time between the two videos, I made a few alterations to the end of my choreography.

Please excuse limited space, pjs and the alcohol collection!

Solo Progression, Video 1

Recorded: 23/11/2011
This video was taken in my accomodation hallway of the progress I am making with my solo. I have made some small progress from the first session on this work. I found it easier to concentrate when I was on my own rather than in a room full of others. I was not distracted by them or their music. I really tried to experiment with new ideas but be true to my choreographic score as well.

Please excuse limited space, pjs and the alcohol collection!

Technique/CI: Floor Phrase R&L

The video I would like to put in this space cannot be uploaded with the internet connection I use in my halls. When I can used the wireless internet, I will upload it. Here is the writing to support my video.

Recorded: 18/11/2011
This video was taken in our Technique: Phrase based and CI lesson. It was a self directed study session and we were set the task of rehearsing the phrases we had learnt in previous weeks. This phrase is the second we have learnt this term, it is a floor phrase rather than standing like the first one. The aim was to think of bone and how we use it during the phrase. The exerpt is performed on both the right and left side by some members of our group.

Axial and Apendage Skeleton

Left Image: Apendage Skeleton
Right Image: Axial Skeleton

In our Improvisation classes, we have learnt the difference between the two types of skeleton. The axial skeleton consists of the skull, spine and pelvis. The apendage skeleton includes the arms and legs. We had to move with each skeleton individually. I found when moving with the axial skeleton, my movements were slow and controlled. I was really concentrating on initiating with the skull, spine and pelvis and then my other body parts had to follow. However, when I lead with the apendage skeleton, my movements were very free and fast, almost like I had no control. I was producing quirky movements that I hadn't before.

Improvisation: Human Skin

In our improvisation classes, we began to look at the anatomy of our own skin. I did some research and found this image a good resource. It clearly shows all the layers of the skin and I didn't realise how complex it actually is. We then began moving, inititating from our skin, imagining trying to get every last inch of skin to touch the floor. My movements became very abstract and I wasn't trying to make them asthetically pleasing like I usually would. I found myself only using the top layer of skin because this is the one that is in contact with the floor, not the inner layers. We have continued to develop this in our lessons and draw the ways in which we move too.

Solo Session 1, Video 1

Recorded: 17/11/11
This video was taken from my first rehearsal session on my solo for assesment. It shows the start of my choreographic process and a small sequence I began working on. I would like to keep this section and build on it for my final finished piece.

I have decided I would like to use the extremities of my body, the fingers and toes, as the initiation of my movements.

Journal Entry: Choreographic Workshop

These images were taken from sketches I have put into my journal. In our Choreographic Workshop lesson we were thinking about ways in which we can move our body and what word we would use to describe our quality of movement. I chose these 5 words because they were the ones that most stood out and interested me.

Technique Class: 2nd Phrase

Recorded: 17/11/11
This phrase is taken from our technique lesson. I wanted to add this to my blog becasue we only learnt this previously in the week and this is the first time it has been recorded. From this first video, I will be able to assess my own progress when we continue to go through this in the upcoming weeks. It will also be helpful for me to look back on in the future if I need to sraw from it as a resource or source of inspiration.

Journal Entry: Improvisation and Technique/CI

This picture shows my refelctions in my journal from two different practical lessons. The first page is my mind map from my Improvisation lesson. The second is our technique and CI lesson, both on the 7/10/11. I chose to add this image to my blog because I have a tendancy to just write a whole page of writing without anything to break it up. However, on these two pages I have used a different technique to document my work such as a mind map and adding images.

How can blogging assist and support you as a dance student and dance artist?

Having a blog to write on is like having a personal diary. All your important information can be kept safely and you can return to it to look back on what you've written. It is also possible to add videos and pictures to your blog, this can help you to document your progess in media forms rather than just writting.


This is a very helpful thing being a dance student and dance artist. I can write about reflections from lessons to look back on in the future. I can talk about work I have seen and how it was inspiring, I can even talk about how it inspires me to dance. Videos and pictures can be taken in lessons and rehearsal to help see the progress being made over a period of time. Other dancers can also look at my blog and the work I have posted on it. Likewise, I can look at others blogs for inspiration and to gain understanding of new ideas.

What inspires me about dance?

Dance means something different to each individual, we all have our own opinion and perception of what dance is. This is what inspires me about dance. It isn't something that is the same for everyone we can all make it our own and interpret it in different ways.