Presentation and Journey Reflection

As I'm unable to make the presentation days at the campus next week I did my oral presentation over skype a few days ago therefore I wanted to share a few things with you all to round up what I have learnt over this course. Throughout the course I have found visual learning to help me the most as I find I remember things and understand them more clearly when they are interesting to look at. So firstly here is the enlarged mind map which shows the main subject findings of my inquiry:

You can see I colour co-ordinated them to help visually. The following colours link with my four inquiry questions:
"What do show directors believe the purpose/function of a dance show is?"
"What do show directors believe their role is in relation to the dance production?" 
"How does the process of directing a dance show begin?"
"What are the key steps to creating a dance production?"

Along with this I wanted to share with you the things I have learnt that help me as a professional:

• Understanding the importance of beliefs and implementing them into the work.
• Dancer-director relationship is improved when there is an understanding of the ideas/rationale behind the actions.
• Understanding the vision behind the production can improve performance.
• Communication is important.
• Taking initiative in trying new choreographic approaches during rehearsals can help the creative process.
• Being aware that there are different versions of the truth and embracing these.
• Question and analyse work situations to seek new insights - create a second head to stand back from the situation and question what is usually assumed to be "truth".
• To test the assumptions implicit in my practice.

In my presentation I was questioned on my choice of the word 'director' and not 'choreographer'. Firstly both of my interviewees have the official job title of 'director' of these productions within my workplace hence why I used this term. They have the responsibility and final say for everything in the shows - including aspects such as lighting, costumes and scenery. To me and my own practice I know the term choreographer to be specifically related to the creating movement discipline. Adesola pointed out that a choreographer is usually not implicit to just movement especially in present time although in my theatre 'director' is how they are known. As my theatre's first language is not english either there are translation differences too. 

I was also questioned on the relation between beliefs and behaviours. "Are they not the same thing?". My inquiry aim was to explore what the beliefs were to try and understand the reason for specific actions - as a dancer we are given movement to dance to but aren't always necessarily told where this idea came from or why this movement? The same with the methods director's use. I found literature in my inquiry that stated beliefs and ideas are very closely linked to behaviours. I didn't explore this in huge depth as had so much to cover in my inquiry. I believe they are not always the same thing. For example looking at the dancers beliefs and actions - sometimes you are taught something and you just do it even if your own beliefs and ideas are different. Adesola's said this was applicable to a dance student. I agree that this is the transition between being a dance student and becoming a dance professional- being able to 'think' as as well as just 'do'.

I have really enjoyed my learning journey on this BAPP course and I feel it has already helped me in my own professional practice. I feel I have acquired knowledge that will also be very beneficial to my future practice and have found more pathways to acquiring further knowledge later if I choose to do so. The future is exciting.