Week 1 - Choreographic Practices

Task 1:

Improvise, unrestricted for 3 minutes, a partner will observe and write for 3 minutes, once the improvisation has finished and reflect on the movement that has just transpired (Similar to debriefing).

Reflective notes from Debbie:

• Polyrhythmic movement/Polyinitiated.

• Undulations of joints.

• Imagery - underwater nymph.

• Internal flamenco with light out projection.

• Clear connection with the floor.

• Focus to self. Personal connection.

• Awareness of space.

Habits are important - How can we utilise these? How do we break those habits to make room for new nuances?

Task 2:

What qualities do you look for in dancers?

How do you explain what is important to your practice/movement?

Who is an artist that influences you?

Task 3:

Reflective Task: 'Don't just describe what happened, dig deeper and find the learning' - Sarah Lockwood.

Reflect on an impactful moment on your training.

Heather Walrond Company Class

Start with a description of what happened to remember what occurred - Within Fijian Dance there is significant meaning behind movement and gesture, representations of physical and metaphysical. This changed the way that I viewed repertoire.

Record feelings to understand your own, your dancers and the audiences to gain insight on how it is being interpreted. With educational perspectives, it influences how you teach. Phenomenological experience cannot be separated from ourselves.

• Frustration over understanding and connecting the movement and meaning.

• Feeling drained and lethargic before the class.

• Feeling motivated and energised after - others also felt this

• Glad to have had the experience and inspired.

Evaluation - What worked?

• Enthusiasm from teacher.

• Energising music.

• Performative group work.

• Rhythmic tasks deepened concentration.

What didn't work?

• The normal lesson was cancelled due to the studio being double booked, this threw off my focus.

• Previous experiences of alternative space was negative.

• It was late at night after a busy and practical day.

• Tired.

Analysis - This is a section to include academic literature and connect your research. Find work, writers and choreographers that resonate with you. Evaluate and analyse why that is and how can you connect that with your own work?

Conclusion - Make conclusions about what happened, summarise your learning and highlight what changes to your actions could improve the outcome. This should be a natural response to the previous sections. Ask questions such as what else could I have done? What skills do I need to develop to handle the situation better?

Action Plan - Plan what you would do differently in a similar or related situation in the future through active and controlled experimentation. What new questions do you have? With this experience, how would I develop this approach or idea? How do I replicate or work against another persons viewpoint of my work?