January Blog Post

6th January - 31st January

6.01.14 - Release Based Contemporary
This was our first lesson back after Christmas and I was a lot more engage than I thought I would be. I began with continuous movement to get started and this really worked for me. Continuous movement doesn't always have to be fast and busy, I prefer a slower and more flowing approach in order to keep moving. I found it easiest to connect with some of the principles we have studied in Experiential Anatomy in particular, naval radiation, yield/ push and reach/ pull.


13.01.14 - Release Based Contemporary
In this lesson, I was working with the connection between the heels, tail and skull. This is a focus I have engaged with the most since the end of Year 2. I don't why, but I can always come back to this notion when I am stuck for movement. I like the feeling of being connected down the back surface of my body, I can really feel a stretch through the back of my legs. I don't necessarily think of my spine in order to find these connections, I think its more of a cellular/ skin feeling. I documented my findings through this movement in the form a family tree. This is the first time I have journalled like this and I would like to use it again because it shows my initial thoughts at the bottom and how these expanded and grew throughout my moving experience.

17.01.14 - Experiential Anatomy

At the start of the lesson we wrote our aspirations for Term 2.

My aspirations are:

- To always arrive in the space early to give time to prepare for class

- To continue to explore new/ unfamiliar ideas to step out of my comfort zone

- To keep up to date with readings, journalling and blogging.

Reviewing these aspirations now, I feel that I have been arriving with enough time to do what I need to before the lesson starts. Sometimes I enjoy just resting in the space and sometimes I feel more active. I do try to explore unfamiliar ideas however, I like to stay with what I know works for me too. In Experiential Anatomy, we have been learning about different movement patters so I have been able to experiment with new ways of moving, for example, homologus, homolateral and contralateral. I haven't really kept up with my readings and blogging because I have focus a lot of time to my dissertation. However now it is completed, I will dedicate more time to this work.

In the main body of the class, we studied the homologus movement pattern, also known as the frog pattern. It marks the distinction between the upper and lower body. The movement to me, is symmetrical with both legs together and then both arms together. The movement mainly uses the sagital/ wheel plane of movement. I enjoyed learning about this, because it is something I have not studied before and I find it interesting.

22.01.14 - Workshop with Cecilia Macfarlane

In this workshop, we learnt about the differences between therapy and therapeutic. From our discussion, I now understand that therapy is a form treatment in which a professional gives therapy to someone on a one to one basis. The term therapeutic is something that relaxes us for example, it could be shopping or watching television, it is something that can be done individually without the help of a professional. In the following Experiential Anatomy lesson (24.01.14), we discussed what we had learnt and taken away from Cecilia's workshop and what questions had been provoked.

- Speaking and listening is a form of therapy

- Energy does not always come from the obvious places

- Dance movement psychotherapy is a form of therapy. It is undertaken in a clinical setting, there is a client and therapist role and it is on a one to one basis.

- Dance artists offer therapeutic creative services. It is undertaken in a group setting and in a dance setting rather than a clinical setting.

24.01.14 - Experiential Anatomy

We started this lesson by creating a homologus movement phrase that we shared with a partner and then with another partnership. We were focusing on where the intention of the movement was initiated from. This was a real turning point and discovery for me personally. I realised that, "you don't have to dance identically to have the same intention in moving."

After this, we studied the homelateral movement pattern, also known as the lizard pattern. This is where the right arm and right leg move together, and the left arm and left leg move together.

31.01.14 - Experiential Anatomy

At the start of the lesson we began working with a partner. I noted the differences between mine and Chelsea's movement. Chelsea worked with the homelateral pattern, balance, folding and vertical plane. On the other hand, I worked with the homologus pattern, sweeping movements and was more grounded to the floor.  

We continued the progression with movement patterns and focused on the contralateral movement pattern. It focuses on the relationship between opposites in the body and is present in mammals. It differentiates between the 4 quadrants of the body. This movement pattern allows us the crawl, walk and run.



December Blog Post

25th November- 13th December

15.11.13 - Improvisation and Instant Composition
In this lesson I had a lot of questions... Am I copying? Am I following? Do I fill in the gaps? Am I in the way? Am I restricting movement?
I found this task confusing to be honest, each time we did it with a different partner, I still couldn't get into it. However, the final time we did it, I felt I could completely comprehend. I realised that I didn't have to copy to be a part of the dance. I complimented in a way that felt right to me.

29.11.13- Feldenkrais
I felt that in this particular lesson I learnt something that Feldenkrais hadn't taught me in previous lessons. We learnt about the four cardinal (?) points of the body. Baring weight on two hands and two feet. I was able to test my balance in a simplistic way without complicating it with grand movements. I suppose I really understood the purpose of this technique, to take things back to basics.

6.12.13 - Experiential Anatomy
In this lesson, we were talking about the structure of the spine. Typically, you would think that it is rigid and straight however, if you think of all the ways in which the spine can be moved, it is quite malleable. When drawing a picture, I drew honeycomb because it represents the spaces in between the spine.

November Blog Post

24th October- 22nd November

 

Another month has passed far too quickly and there are plenty of things to blog about. So...

 

29th October - Release Based Contemporary

 

My Focus for this lesson was quiet ribs. I always thought that they were generally quiet in class anyway and haven't noticed any changes in other styles of dance either. However, the week before, when jumping, I noticed tension in my shoulders and my chest which changed the way I held my upper body. This week, I wanted to pay particular attention to this area in order to improve it.

 

Landing Exercise One: In this exercise, when leaning backwards over the legs, I have a tendency to arch my back and drop my head backwards. However, after talking about the head to tail connection a lot recently I realised that I needed to keep the connection in this movement also. Since, I keep my tail bone, spine and head in a straight line.

 

 

 

1st November - Experiential Anatomy

 

In this lesson, we focused on the Naval Radiation Pattern (Star Fish Pattern). We were given a task in which we had to lie in the star fish position and visualise a colour dispersing from the centre of the body and out to the limbs. This was a very clear and vivid image for me, and instantly made me think about this video below...

 

 

 

 

 

 



4th November - Improvisation and Instant Composition

Today, both Katye's group and Polly's group worked together. In this lesson, we began working with levels in moving, for example:
Level 1 - Floor
Level 2 - Sitting
Level 3 - Pelvis lifted off floor
Level 4 - Standing

We then worked with the notion of curling and uncurling the spine. I moved in a way that my body arched forwards over the legs and then backwards into a high release. I imagined this, as a flower with two leaves arching in different directions. In my journal I tried to reflect this in my drawing.

 

5th November - Release Based Contemporary

Today, we were asked to reflect on the aspirations we set ourselves at the beginning of the year. I feel that I working consistently in class to maintain my concentration levels. I sometimes feel now that I can't always fully engage, but I still continue the movement to try to recapture this again.

I feel that I want to make the most of my final year of training because classes will be less accessible to me as a dancer when I graduate.




8th November - Experiential Anatomy

In this lesson, we discussed the Mouthing Pattern and how the mouth and digestive system offers a line of support through the body. After moving with an awareness of the digestive system, this is the drawing I created.

 

For me, I see the digestive system as one long line travelling from the mouth, through to the stomach and to the intestine. At the intestine, this line becomes a tangle and a maze inside the body. This is what the picture portrays.




18th November - Skinner Releasing Technique

I received a lot of useful feedback during this session when moving alone and in contact with a partner. This feedback was:

Keep moving forwards, not backwards
Keep eyes closed
Keep chest open, not closed (front surface)
Keep pelvis in contact with partner.

I think that this feedback reflects things I have previously tried to improve but in the moment of dancing, this time, they have slipped my mind. In second year, I began to work with the idea of moving forwards because I received that as feedback then as well. I have always struggled to keep my eyes closed in certain tasks and clearly this is reflected in the feedback I received again today. I have not previously noticed my chest being closed before but when it was pointed out to me today, I could see why this correction had been pointed out to me. In future, I am going to try to be aware of this feedback when working in partners again. I feel like the last snip it of feedback sometimes applies to me but sometimes doesn't. When working in partners, it is important to apply a lot of pressure and receive that pressure back in order for Contact Improv to work. Sometimes, if I do not receive enough weight off my partner, I am reluctant to give them my weight and risk falling over! Depending on how I work with a particular partner depends on how I respond to this sort of task and today, I couldn't give my weight as it did not feel safe to.

In this lesson, we also worked with the arms as sails, from the shoulder to the little finger and down the length of the body. The spine was a rope hanging down the centre. With this imagery, I felt expansive, wide, seeing out, fluid, swirls of energy,
continuous movement...

 

I was given feedback in which it was explained to me that I needed to be able to fold more easily in the hip, knee and ankle joints when moving. I understand this as usually, I tend to fold only at the hip joints.

October Blog Post

Monday 30th September - Thursday 24th October

This term is going too fast already! We have covered so much in our Movement Studies practice so far and I am going to highlight some of the key areas that have been beneficial for myself.

 

4/10/13

In our first Experiential Anatomy lesson, we were asked to note our aspirations for our final year and also to reflect upon our previous year. This task really helped me to think about how I personally want to benefit from practical classes as well as targets to aim for.

 

Aspirations:

·         To continue or better the level of concentration I was working with last year.

 

·         To develop my intellectual knowledge to coincide with my physical practice.

·         To find more ideas that I particularly enjoy working with and exploring.

 

How can I do this?

·         Read more publications/ articles that are related to areas covered during physical practice.

·         To be prepared for classes so I can fully engage.

 

What am I bringing from Yr 2?

·         Connection between the skull, tail, and the feet.

 

In the same lesson, we were asked to define, ‘What is a Somatic Practice?’ Considering it is what I have been studying for the last two years, I would assume I could explain it. However, when actually asked, it was much harder than I thought! Over the coming weeks, I hoped had hoped to develop my understanding of this area.

 

 

4/10/13

We have not studied Feldenkrais before so this was going to be a next experience for us all. I did some basic research into this subject in order for me to understand why we were doing it.

 

What is Feldenkrais?

·         It is a somatic educational system designed by Moshe Feldenkrais.

·         It aims to reduce pain or limitations in movement to improve physical function.

·         It expands movement repertoire.

·         It works with kinaesthetic and proprioceptive self-awareness.

 

 

8/10/13

At the start of Release Based Contemporary, we were asked to think of something we would be working with for the duration of the class. I said that I would be thinking of the connection between the spine, shoulders, arms, hands and to the fingers. I had a very clear image in my head of the wing span of a bird and consequently, I drew this in my journal.

 

 

18/10/13

During this Experiential Anatomy class, we spoke about the systems of the body and how they are categories differently depending on who is looking at them. In particular, we focused on the anatomical and BMC categorisations.

 

 

We also had to move for a time and then draw which body system we were most aware of whilst moving. I could feel the blood pumping and racing around my body and therefore, I drew the circulatory system.

 

 


21/10/13

In SRT, I began with a connection with the bone and the joints, especially in my arms. Over time, this did start to drain through my body into my knees. We were then asked to think about the connection between the base of the skull and heels which married nicely with my already present thoughts about bone.


We moved on and worked in partners. I can’t quite explain how, but I could feel forces opposing… resistant… pushing… repelling… resilient. The energy and effort required was very intense. My partner compared it to magnets which I thought was a great image to explain the sensation.

 

 

21/10/13

 For Improvisation and Instant Composition, we were set a homework task in partners to investigate the hand. Having completed the task, here are the thoughts that I was left with.

 

 


 

Overall, I feel I am already meeting some of the aspirations that I set at the start of the term. Having being offered several reading about Somatic Practices, I feel I am now much more able to explain what they are. These readings have also helped with my dissertation research as I am looking into SRT, a Somatic Practice.

 

Weekly Overview

Monday 5th March- Friday 9th March

The choreographic workshop lesson  gave me time with my partner to practice our duet and to spend time discussing as well. We found it most effective to work in short bursts, swapping between talking/ journalling and dancing. This was a new way to structure our rehearsals and I think we should continue this way because it was best for us.

We made a timeline of our piece in order to structure it into sections. We are coming to the end of our making and beginning to see the end. After performing our duet to some members of the class they gave us some feedback to think about. We were advised to make the work more dynamic by adding a range of tempos and pauses.

Later on in the week, we had made time for another duet rehearsal. I feel as thoughwe have done the improvised section so many times that we are becoming bored of it and we repeat what we have done before. Its not spontaneous, its vague and unclear. In order to recover this, I think that we should ignore the improvised section for a short time before returning to it again.

In SRT this week, I really feel as though I engaged with the lesson fully. I found it easy to grasp the feeling of the movements and this is the reason why I was so focused. The idea of loose legs was present within my body. I could imagine a ragdoll with two legs hanging from the body. I enjoy SRT more when I am fully engaged, so I hope to maintain this every week.

Finally we had our workshop with Florence Peak working with pen and paper. The idea was to trace the movements and the shapes your partner made on the paper. I found it difficult to keep up with Emma even though she wasn't moving fast. In every move, there was possible potential for a pen line.

Personally, I prefered to trace than to move because I felt too enclosed on the paper. We then transformed the art into scores and begain moving to other peoples drawings. Emma and I discussed that you see the tempo the dancer was moving at depending on how much colour/lines were on the paper. I would like to try this lesson again but use bigger pieces of paper in order to overcome the feeling of restriction.

Weekly Overview

Monday 30th January- Friday 3rd February

At the start of our phrase class, I felt engaged in the task but completely out of focus. I didn't know how to bring myself into the space without being covered in a sort of haze. However, my focus soon improved. 
We learnt a new phrase from the corner '1234 and 1234 and 1234...'. To begin with, I found it difficult to match the timing with the feet however once I had got this working for me I found it quite easy. I felt I travelled across the space well and remembered all the key elements associated with the corner sequences. We added in arms after which didn't necessarily help me to do the phrase easier, but added to it.

In choreographic workshop, we talked about how the work we create is seen by the audience. We discussed where to place the audience, their interpretation, expectations, duration, proximity, amongst others. I believe that this discuss will really help when creating my duet with Emma because they are all important factors to consider.

I spent some time thinking of what ideas I would like to present to Emma for our duet. I created a mind map of basic ides that we could build on and add to. I asked myself questions such as sound or no sound? props or no props? I want to see what ideas Emma has so we can collaborate and begin to try some ideas in the studio.

Experiential anatomy was a really interesting lesson for me this week. We spoke about the 3 points of contact in the hands and feet which I have previously blogged about. I don't know why but something really clicked inside my head. I think its because my attention has never been drawn to thinking about this before. I honestly could have spent hours just experimenting and playing with this idea and then going against the natural ways to move. I would like to spend more time doing this sort of work because it really interests me and boggles my brain!! :P

This was our first SRT lesson with Polly. I was really looking forward to seeing how she taught us in comparison to the guest teachers we had previously. The partner graphics were really easy to follow and understand. The way Polly explained them was very similar to the way I felt them. I guess this is due to the experience she has doing them. I am looking forward to learning even more graphic over the coming lessons.

Overall, I have enjoyed the lessons this week. I know I probably say that every week but I like to learn new things and experience them for myself. We are constantly building on what we have already learnt to further our experimenting with movement.

Weekly Overview

Monday 23rd January- Friday 27th January

The first lesson of the week was Technique Phrase Class. We went through the movement phrase we have been looking at for a number of weeks. We gave individual feedback to another member of the group; the feedback I received and discussion I had really stood out to me this week in particular.

Feedback:

·         Believe in what you’re doing.

·         Don’t look at others dancing around you.

·         There is no competition in the class, everyone is equal.

·         Dance because you love it.

In Choreographic Workshop, we looked at the resources we had for choreography. I really liked the idea of experimenting with sound, temperature and speed.  It is something I would like to explore further maybe to find some inspiration for our duets.

Sound:

·         Listening to others in the room

·         Listening to water/ liquid

·         Covering the ears to make everything echo

·         Feet shuffling and stamping (contrast)

Temperature:

·         Wall/ Radiator

·          Using different body parts

·         Hands were warmer than my feet

·         This affected how they responded to the same temperature

Speed:

·         Slow walking pace

·         Running around the room

·         Didn’t really explore a mid pace

·         I was observing other peoples paces

Our Experiential Anatomy lesson was one that I really enjoyed again. I found myself with a partner that I haven’t really worked with before. I didn’t know how we would respond to each other’s movements. However, I was really pleasantly surprise! We were very creative with the movements and experimented with ideas that I didn’t expect to. I came away from this lesson really positively and I would like to work with this person more often to see if we could create the same atmosphere again.

Part of our homework was to go on a trip to the art gallery with our duet partner to see if we could gain any inspiration from it. We went as a small group of people together. I feel I would have like to have spent more time looking and reflecting on what I think the art is trying to portray. I feel others in the group were less appreciative and therefore, I felt rushed to finish. Maybe I will need to find time in order to try this again on my own.

Our final lesson of the week was SRT with a guest lecturer, Suzanna Recchia. I was very fond of the work that we did in this lesson because we got the chance to learn many different phrases. I enjoy learning phrases because I get to try movements I haven’t attempted before. It challenges my ability and develops my knowledge. I also like the fact she wanted the class to be very disciplined. This is something I am used to and I like to have.

Overall, I have enjoyed the lessons I have taken part in this week.  Next week I would like to start doing more work towards my duet with Emma. I would like to come up with some ideas so we can start moving together in the space.

Weekly Overview

Monday 16th January- Friday 20th January

In our phrase class we learnt a new floor sequence travelling from side to side which I really enjoyed. To begin with, I found it challenging because I couldn’t figure out where my hands need to be in order to hold my weight and balance however, I soon grasped the idea. I was able to move with ease and make each movement blend into the next. I would like to try another phrase like this because it was fun to learn and perform.

I found the Experiential Anatomy lesson a really valuable and interesting one. We explored shifting out weight from foot to foot in all directions. I pushed myself to the limits to see how far I could go before falling. I pushed myself that much that I became disorientated and I began to feel really ill. I needed to stop and gather myself again to be able to carry on. We then moved on to another exercise thinking about filling and emptying the limbs. I found this a really easy concept to understand and interpret. I would describe the sensation like an egg time. The sand is emptying from one end and is filling up the other.

-          The body parts carrying the most weight felt full and the lighter ones felt empty.

-          When lying on the floor, the areas with greater pressure felt full and the areas with less pressure felt empty.

-          It was as surreal feeling.

In Improvisation, we worked with falling and then catching yourself at the last minute. It was really simple to dance but complex to watch. You could hear distinct rhythmic patterns with the feet. It was interesting to see which directions people were going to go and which space they would occupy. I really liked the idea of this for a score and I would like to try this again. It switched a light bulb on in my head!

We continued to work on this task in partners. I almost felt like we could sense what each other were thinking and what the next move was going to be. It felt like a game, chasing, jumping, playful, childish, copying, following, bonding. We were constantly tricking and testing each other.

Our SRT lesson, was with Florence Peak. This was our first SRT lesson and I wondered what I would gain and learn from it. I expected it to be more hands on with partners because we only briefly touched on this. I didn’t expect to learn any choreography which I was surprised by. I really enjoyed learning this because it showed me something I didn’t expect in SRT.

I  have enjoyed the lessons last week and I feel I have gain knowledge which I can used again, learn from and develop.

Weekly Overview

Monday 9th January- Friday 13th January

I apologise it’s been a while since I last posted anything on here. There was some stuff I was going to put on here before the holiday but I didn’t have a chance to. Anyway…

I always think after a long break its quite easy to fall out of routine and then it becomes very hard to refocus when its time to get back to work. And this time there was no exception! We began going straight back into how we working before Christmas and I couldn’t keep up. I had had the whole of last term to build myself up and then I felt as if I was starting in the deep end again. I needed more time to fully engage in the work we were doing and regain my focus levels. However, I did slowly get back into the swing of things and now after a week I feel I can fully concentrate again.

Coming back also made me realise how lose my body was before the holiday and how stiff I had become during this time. Stretching and lengthening really helped me to feel free again and open spaces inside my body. My spine was particularly tense and needed to relax and stretch out.

This week, we began discussing our duets in Choreographic Workshop. I am really looking forward to starting them soon because we haven’t had a chance to work with someone else in so much detail before. I feel I would like to be partnered with someone who I haven’t done a lot of class work with, but someone I still feel comfortable around. I can’t wait to find out our partners to begin looking at ideas and movement.

For the first time this week, I met up with Karen, a 3^rd year student to work on her FMP piece. The company is called Perspective, and we had our first meeting all together to discuss what she would like in her work and what our thoughts were. Karen would like to use different improvised scores in her piece and then change between them. This change, would be indicated by wither a change on light or music. We listened to Karen read out a score and then moved to it as we listened. I felt myself using movements I hadn’t before and finding new and different ways to move my body. I really surprised myself and I came away from the meeting feeling really positive!

Let’s see what next week brings…

Weekly Overview

Monday 28th November - Friday 2nd December 2011

For me, there had been a big build up to this week and I was looking forward to getting to do my solo and get it out the way. Then, I would feel like I have achieved my first major milestone being at uni and something I could be proud of before we break up for the hoildays.

I spent a lot of time this week concentrating on my solo and the written element to go with it. I wanted to convey something that showed my own personal style of dancing but also showed my experimental side and not being scared to try something new. I wanted this to come across in my written work too.

When it came to performing my solo I was nervous however, not as nervous as last week. I think the taster last week helped me to control this because I knew what to expect. I felt like I was being viewed from every angle because the group were sitting in a cirlce around me. I would find it interesting to have been watching myself from different areas of the room to see if my piece portrayed a different perseptive from varied angles. it felt like I was dancing forever, like my piece had become never ending. I almost became lost in the silence and caught in the moment. I began to enjoy dancing my solo rather than being scared of it. Once I had finished, I was overcome with a sense of relief that it was over and I could enjoy and appreciate the work others had done.

Being a member of the audience watching others, was almost as important as the dancing for me. It was the first time I had seen everyone in the group dance individually and I could get to know them as a dancer. Some dances were really engaging to watch because the movement style and quality was something I hadn't witnessed before.  It was challenging to be able to guess what the movement score was because most of them were very deep and complex. I could just about make out the body parts and possibly the quality.

I also found our improvisation lesson very interesting too. Towards the end of the lesson, we had to draw or moving selves, thinking about the skeleton and muscles. My drawings interpreted both of these. I tried to show my muscles in large shapes and the skeleton in thin lines in movements I had used throughout the lesson. I will upload the images when I have chance.

Overall, I was both looking forward to and dreading this week but I must say, it hasn't been as bad as I thought. I can breath as sigh of relief that my solo is complete, on the other hand, I still have other work to think about for next week!

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...