Monday, 17 March 2014
Body Image in dancers
In relation to my inquiry and post below , I found a YouTube video from teenage American dancers on body Image. Its incredible what that say. One girl said " I don't feel fat ,fat but i don't feel like a skinny person or a qualifying person". Talking about going on diets at the age of 12. It just really shocked me that dancers so young feel this way. Dance in my opinion is much bigger in the US meaning a lot more people and adolescence must feel similar. It was just a thought provocing video for you.
Rejection from and the mental attributes of dancing as a professional.
I feel very ancious to start again as I have been so busy in london working and auditioning , I've gotten caught up in the hustle and bustle of it all, as usually I'm at home in Peterborough working in retail and reading through Readers. I recently got to the end of a Disneyland Paris audition. I was absolutely exstatic, I got through the first round and then the second.I had my hair and make up done by the make up artist and then stood in front of the judges as they scrutinised every detail of my face to see if it fit the character. I didn't get the job in the end, which is a shame because i would ADORE to live in Paris but what will be , will be.
As I want to base my Inquiry on or around dancers and performers coping with rejection and the low self- esteem that may occur from the rejection , I found some interesting blogs that talk about it.
The first blog is from a mothers point of view. She has a daughter who wants to be a dancer. This lady talks about making everything positive as children are so vulnerable to critique. "Disappointment can lead to a point of self destruction if it is left to manifest, so it is essential that she learn how to respond effectively". Many young children start dancing from as young as 3 but is it healthy to be put in such critical industry so young as it does effect self esteem so strongly? This blog was nice to see from the point of a constructive dance mum instead of a "Pushy mum" which if any of you watch the TV show 'Dance Moms' you see quite often. The link for this blog is below.
http://www.theballetblog.com/article/i-know-that-dancers-have-a-tough-time-coping-with-rejection-and-dealing-with-losses-at-competitions-how-can-i-help-my-daughter-prepare-herself-so-she-comes-through-these-situations-easily/
Another interesting blog , is from and ex ballerina and current ballroom dancer. She offers helpful tips about dealing with rejection and lists some very famous people who had to deal with rejection early in their own careers. She talks about accepting what you can not control , like the producer wanting a certain height or hair colour but then owning the things that you can control , like the way you danced and how you acted in front of the casting director. Rejection is a big factor in any professionals life but I feel the performer faces rejection more so. I wonder how an average worker would cope with such rejection..every week maybe even daily as we do? I have asked and recorded some questions that I have written in the blog post before this , to professionals in the industry and not , to see their different views. I will be putting up the video on youtube shortly and posting a link. It has just been hard getting to everybody and finding free times that is good for everyone. The link for the retired ballerina is below.
http://reflectionsinverse.blogspot.co.uk/2011/07/handling-rejection-as-dancer.html
As I want to base my Inquiry on or around dancers and performers coping with rejection and the low self- esteem that may occur from the rejection , I found some interesting blogs that talk about it.
The first blog is from a mothers point of view. She has a daughter who wants to be a dancer. This lady talks about making everything positive as children are so vulnerable to critique. "Disappointment can lead to a point of self destruction if it is left to manifest, so it is essential that she learn how to respond effectively". Many young children start dancing from as young as 3 but is it healthy to be put in such critical industry so young as it does effect self esteem so strongly? This blog was nice to see from the point of a constructive dance mum instead of a "Pushy mum" which if any of you watch the TV show 'Dance Moms' you see quite often. The link for this blog is below.
http://www.theballetblog.com/article/i-know-that-dancers-have-a-tough-time-coping-with-rejection-and-dealing-with-losses-at-competitions-how-can-i-help-my-daughter-prepare-herself-so-she-comes-through-these-situations-easily/
Another interesting blog , is from and ex ballerina and current ballroom dancer. She offers helpful tips about dealing with rejection and lists some very famous people who had to deal with rejection early in their own careers. She talks about accepting what you can not control , like the producer wanting a certain height or hair colour but then owning the things that you can control , like the way you danced and how you acted in front of the casting director. Rejection is a big factor in any professionals life but I feel the performer faces rejection more so. I wonder how an average worker would cope with such rejection..every week maybe even daily as we do? I have asked and recorded some questions that I have written in the blog post before this , to professionals in the industry and not , to see their different views. I will be putting up the video on youtube shortly and posting a link. It has just been hard getting to everybody and finding free times that is good for everyone. The link for the retired ballerina is below.
http://reflectionsinverse.blogspot.co.uk/2011/07/handling-rejection-as-dancer.html
Monday, 24 February 2014
Task 4A.
I am quite excited to start this module. Coming up with the questions I wanted to ask came easily but wording them in to a way people can understand outside of my mind was the difficult part. I am hoping to ask my set of questions to friends inside the industry, who like me haven't got a job yet,ones who have. Also, people that used to be in the industry but found it to hard and then friends and co workers who are not in this performing society to see their views. I want to capture their answers on video as much as I can, as I find that it feels more realistic and relatable. And i did create a YouTube account for the programme , I might as well put it to good use!
My question's seem to ask more about the individual's opinion, than the industry itself but they are all linked, I just hope I'm on the right track.Here are my questions that I am hoping to develop:
1. How do you as a professional cope when it comes to rejection from auditions/jobs?
2. In your specific job training ,were you taught that there is a right and wrong way to do things or do you believe there are different learning tools suited to each individual?
3. Do you as a performer often suffer from a lack of confidence due to the industry and if so why do we think so negatively?
4. When going for an audition , do casting directors and agents base their choices purely on the day and the way someone looks or do they take in to account nerves ,training, personality etc.
Monday, 6 January 2014
My Critical reflection for the end of Module One.
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The link above is the link to my final draft of my critical reflection essay for the end of module 1. I feel I have overcome such a milestone in completing this part of the course and I definitely feel a lot better then when I started. I know its too late for helpful comments now but I thought it might be helpful for all the people starting in January or later.
The link above is the link to my final draft of my critical reflection essay for the end of module 1. I feel I have overcome such a milestone in completing this part of the course and I definitely feel a lot better then when I started. I know its too late for helpful comments now but I thought it might be helpful for all the people starting in January or later.
Thursday, 2 January 2014
3B Theories relating to network.
Being part of a professional network is something ,before reading Reader 3,I didn't know I was a part of. Also, I didn't know really how many professional networks I was a part of. When you follow a company or dancer on a social network, you then become a part of that network.
Cooperation in Professional Network.
What came to my mind when I read this section, after I read up upon 'Prisoner's Dilemma' was how ,when we had cardio lessons with Kevin Adam's at Bodywork, that if one individual gave up then we would all suffer and do another set of sit ups, squats etc. In the same way that if the prisoners decided to rat each other out or just prisoner A gave up prisoner B , Prisoner B would suffer while Prisoner A gets away with it. Just how say , Jane gives up on squats because it hurt , everybody else carries on but she gets a break, then Kevin catchers her then we all suffer another set because of Jane. It is always in our best interest's to cooperate with one another to get the end best result. Working within a professional practice, it is necessary as we are always working with someone else; wether you are dancing in a group having to cooperate with other dancers or doing a solo, then cooperating with the lighting and stage managers. It is easier in life in every one cooperate's , I personally believe that I get along with most people as I don't like to cause drama but I can think of some people who would benefit from learning how to cooperate as seeing them have conflicts from disagreeing with a higher dancer has cause them to be cut from choreography and they will not be working with them in the future.
Affiliation in professional Network.
Affiliation is a social process that provides us with a 'network of support that will help us when we are in need' ( Reader 3, Crisp & Turner 2007) . O'conner & Rosenblood's theory of Homeostasis made more sense when I looked up what Homeostasis was. One example from the internet is that of when the human body regulates it's temperature on the inside because of the conditions on the outside, it balances. Thus referring to the need to affiliate with others differs with in each one of us yet affiliation and interaction to each persons desired level is the main goal for everyone.It is nice to realise this for myself as I do tend to become introvert when I first meet somebody but if everybody deep down really does just want to interact then there is nothing to be cautious about, as long as they are decent people.
I do think culture plays quite a big role in how we affiliate as people. I find that the British culture is very reserved and keep themselves to themselves, contrary to people brought up in the Caribbean , where you whole neighbour hood is your friend and I have found them to be very social and open people who love to be in peoples company 24/7.
Referring to the question in the reader 'Is professional Networking an extension of our innate capacity and need to affiliate to develop our careers?' I believe the answer is yes. Now that the internet along with its social networks have been created, people of the word have become lazy and would rather interact with their friends online. This is still because of every human beings need for interaction. But for those of us who are using it to develop certain professional skills, I think that Dancer's in-particular are extremely social beings, it is to do with our need to affiliate and our ease with human contact.
Connectivity
Connecting with each other. We understand things more through other people talking to us and interacting about the subject with us. Through our interactions, we make meanings and morals that we give to our networks. Through interacting with our friends and family from young ages, there is where we made our very first morals and got our values from.I am using my networks for my career and social life yet I see some people using them for purely vein purposes, for their ego's and self esteem. Examples such as girls and guys posting nude picture online for the attention of men or women on their networks that is just their social and personal network , they're not glamour models , so its not for their job other wise that is the using it for their career.
I tend to be very stubborn about my opinions but being able to read other peoples blogs and having the chance to see how everyone has they're own view on each task's is really mind opening for me. From doing this task I now understand that we all like to interact with each other, sometimes I doubt myself as to wether I should comment on someones work, will they think I'm being horrible, but it is just a chance for two new people to interact about a subject they have in common. And after all, that is a big part of this course also.
Cooperation in Professional Network.
What came to my mind when I read this section, after I read up upon 'Prisoner's Dilemma' was how ,when we had cardio lessons with Kevin Adam's at Bodywork, that if one individual gave up then we would all suffer and do another set of sit ups, squats etc. In the same way that if the prisoners decided to rat each other out or just prisoner A gave up prisoner B , Prisoner B would suffer while Prisoner A gets away with it. Just how say , Jane gives up on squats because it hurt , everybody else carries on but she gets a break, then Kevin catchers her then we all suffer another set because of Jane. It is always in our best interest's to cooperate with one another to get the end best result. Working within a professional practice, it is necessary as we are always working with someone else; wether you are dancing in a group having to cooperate with other dancers or doing a solo, then cooperating with the lighting and stage managers. It is easier in life in every one cooperate's , I personally believe that I get along with most people as I don't like to cause drama but I can think of some people who would benefit from learning how to cooperate as seeing them have conflicts from disagreeing with a higher dancer has cause them to be cut from choreography and they will not be working with them in the future.
Affiliation in professional Network.
Affiliation is a social process that provides us with a 'network of support that will help us when we are in need' ( Reader 3, Crisp & Turner 2007) . O'conner & Rosenblood's theory of Homeostasis made more sense when I looked up what Homeostasis was. One example from the internet is that of when the human body regulates it's temperature on the inside because of the conditions on the outside, it balances. Thus referring to the need to affiliate with others differs with in each one of us yet affiliation and interaction to each persons desired level is the main goal for everyone.It is nice to realise this for myself as I do tend to become introvert when I first meet somebody but if everybody deep down really does just want to interact then there is nothing to be cautious about, as long as they are decent people.
I do think culture plays quite a big role in how we affiliate as people. I find that the British culture is very reserved and keep themselves to themselves, contrary to people brought up in the Caribbean , where you whole neighbour hood is your friend and I have found them to be very social and open people who love to be in peoples company 24/7.
Referring to the question in the reader 'Is professional Networking an extension of our innate capacity and need to affiliate to develop our careers?' I believe the answer is yes. Now that the internet along with its social networks have been created, people of the word have become lazy and would rather interact with their friends online. This is still because of every human beings need for interaction. But for those of us who are using it to develop certain professional skills, I think that Dancer's in-particular are extremely social beings, it is to do with our need to affiliate and our ease with human contact.
Connectivity
Connecting with each other. We understand things more through other people talking to us and interacting about the subject with us. Through our interactions, we make meanings and morals that we give to our networks. Through interacting with our friends and family from young ages, there is where we made our very first morals and got our values from.I am using my networks for my career and social life yet I see some people using them for purely vein purposes, for their ego's and self esteem. Examples such as girls and guys posting nude picture online for the attention of men or women on their networks that is just their social and personal network , they're not glamour models , so its not for their job other wise that is the using it for their career.
I tend to be very stubborn about my opinions but being able to read other peoples blogs and having the chance to see how everyone has they're own view on each task's is really mind opening for me. From doing this task I now understand that we all like to interact with each other, sometimes I doubt myself as to wether I should comment on someones work, will they think I'm being horrible, but it is just a chance for two new people to interact about a subject they have in common. And after all, that is a big part of this course also.
Monday, 30 December 2013
3A..Theories relating to networking
I use Facebook and twitter and a website called 'The Stage' to engage in professional work opportunities, I simply check on them each day to see if any new auditions or jobs are coming up. A choreographer that I know uses twitter and facebook to post everyday what time her classes are and if there are any special choreography requests for that class.
Daily I use Instagram ,whatsapp and Facebook for general social networking, catching up with friends etc. I hopefully intend to send up a separate instagram just full of dance pictures to enhance my professional profile. I prefer to use instagram to flickr just because I already have a vast network of people I know on there, therefor making it easier for people to see my work account. Using instagram , I will be able to upload pictures and video's of my work along with hashtags to be seen by a vast audience across the world and friends and colleges in my profession.
Daily I use Instagram ,whatsapp and Facebook for general social networking, catching up with friends etc. I hopefully intend to send up a separate instagram just full of dance pictures to enhance my professional profile. I prefer to use instagram to flickr just because I already have a vast network of people I know on there, therefor making it easier for people to see my work account. Using instagram , I will be able to upload pictures and video's of my work along with hashtags to be seen by a vast audience across the world and friends and colleges in my profession.
Wednesday, 18 December 2013
Task 2D...Inquiry
Reflection in my practice is used world wide , Dancers are constantly reflecting because they thrive to improve.They want to be better than the person standing next to them; to get the job. I always come out of an audition and straight away think "I should of done this". Now from this course I think more in the lines of "why didn't I do this" , "what were the circumstances of why I could achieve what I wanted".
Everybody has question's about life. Wether its on a surface level of work promotions and social events or deeper things such as contentess and happiness within ones self. I personally like the ways of Buddha for the questions which I ask myself. "We are shaped by our thoughts; we become what we think. When the mind is pure, joy follows like a shadow that will never leave".
Professionally I question "Was this the right thing to do?", "Is this what I want from life?". Im always questioning my self, am I good enough? This probably comes from having trouble believing in myself. Am I skinny enough, am I not pretty enough? I think my profession does have an impact on the way we, especially females, view ourselves. Not getting a job simply because of hair colour or height. However, the panel never tell you why you didn't get that particular job so the mind starts to sway, was there more to it?
However, I try to keep my thoughts and mind positive. I prefer to ask myself more pleasant questions. " I wonder when my next job will be?" , "I wonder if the choreography will be great in the next audition" etc.
I really admire Darcey Bussell,as she was told in earlier training that she would never be a ballerina..look at her now! She started training as a Ballerina at the Royal Ballet School at what is to be considered the late age of 13 and is still working now of shows such as 'Strictly Come Dancing".
I had a Ballet teacher at Bodywork called Kasper Cornish who really inspired me. He was such a fun and bubbly spirit. He would come in to class after doing research in his own hours to show us videos of amazing dancers. We weren't just watching them for fun. We all know that every teacher has a different style. Most teachers say the you should releve onto a pirouette never rise. However, Kasper had come in to show us videos of people rising onto pirouettes and doing 30-40 of them. He inspired me to look at all these amazing artist's on YouTube and I learnt that there never really is a right or wrong way to do things , if the result is the same.
It frustrates me when people ask "Why haven't you got a dance job yet". People don't understand how hard this profession is. They do not understand how many people there are in the UK wanting to be professional dancers. I get angry when I am in an audition and there is no room what so ever and they expect you to still make an impression. The message board on www.MyFitnessPal.com also expresses some of these feelings when they go into a Zumba class for example.
I liked the question in the Handbook about physical contact with another professional the might seem inappropriate to somebody else, and why is that different? Because it is completely true that while your part of a company you have quick changes so theres bare skin every where, to cool down you just stand there in your underwear in the presence of men , of which I would never do in any other situation. Why? I think this is because when you are a dancer and dancing with somebody , you get to know them very well. They're misplaced hands and sweaty feet , there is no room for embarrassment or self consciousness if you are dancing with a partner.
Yet with another non performing human being you never get that close that quickly so you have the rules and regulations that you have been set in , mostly from your parents growing up and the people around you.
Everybody has question's about life. Wether its on a surface level of work promotions and social events or deeper things such as contentess and happiness within ones self. I personally like the ways of Buddha for the questions which I ask myself. "We are shaped by our thoughts; we become what we think. When the mind is pure, joy follows like a shadow that will never leave".
Professionally I question "Was this the right thing to do?", "Is this what I want from life?". Im always questioning my self, am I good enough? This probably comes from having trouble believing in myself. Am I skinny enough, am I not pretty enough? I think my profession does have an impact on the way we, especially females, view ourselves. Not getting a job simply because of hair colour or height. However, the panel never tell you why you didn't get that particular job so the mind starts to sway, was there more to it?
However, I try to keep my thoughts and mind positive. I prefer to ask myself more pleasant questions. " I wonder when my next job will be?" , "I wonder if the choreography will be great in the next audition" etc.
I really admire Darcey Bussell,as she was told in earlier training that she would never be a ballerina..look at her now! She started training as a Ballerina at the Royal Ballet School at what is to be considered the late age of 13 and is still working now of shows such as 'Strictly Come Dancing".
I had a Ballet teacher at Bodywork called Kasper Cornish who really inspired me. He was such a fun and bubbly spirit. He would come in to class after doing research in his own hours to show us videos of amazing dancers. We weren't just watching them for fun. We all know that every teacher has a different style. Most teachers say the you should releve onto a pirouette never rise. However, Kasper had come in to show us videos of people rising onto pirouettes and doing 30-40 of them. He inspired me to look at all these amazing artist's on YouTube and I learnt that there never really is a right or wrong way to do things , if the result is the same.
It frustrates me when people ask "Why haven't you got a dance job yet". People don't understand how hard this profession is. They do not understand how many people there are in the UK wanting to be professional dancers. I get angry when I am in an audition and there is no room what so ever and they expect you to still make an impression. The message board on www.MyFitnessPal.com also expresses some of these feelings when they go into a Zumba class for example.
I liked the question in the Handbook about physical contact with another professional the might seem inappropriate to somebody else, and why is that different? Because it is completely true that while your part of a company you have quick changes so theres bare skin every where, to cool down you just stand there in your underwear in the presence of men , of which I would never do in any other situation. Why? I think this is because when you are a dancer and dancing with somebody , you get to know them very well. They're misplaced hands and sweaty feet , there is no room for embarrassment or self consciousness if you are dancing with a partner.
Yet with another non performing human being you never get that close that quickly so you have the rules and regulations that you have been set in , mostly from your parents growing up and the people around you.
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