I have been thinking recently about what the best way to present my artefact would be. After brainstorming ideas in my journal, I feel a video would be best. I feel a lot of people use the internet and social media and this would be something that could be shared and accessed easily.
After analysing my data from Practitioner research and Literature, it has become apparent that I have lots of valuable advice I can apply to my own practice and also share with others.
As my inquiry is about how a Freelance Dancer can sustain and maintain an active career, I will be aiming my artefact at other Freelance Dancers in the industry. I feel my artefact will inform them on this topic and hopefully help them to further their careers. I also feel this artefact would be useful for graduates and students who are at full time dance colleges and universities who are wanting a career in the dance industry. I feel it will equip them with the knowledge needed to sustain a dance career as a Freelance Dancer and also give them advice for auditions and an idea of what the industry is like.
I know what it feels like as a Freelance Dancer in the middle of their career to feel a bit lost. I think most people have had a specific point in their career when they have thought about whether performing is something they want to continue with after a few unsuccessful auditions. Therefore, I hope my artefact will be a video that they can use as a check list and make sure they are preparing themselves in the best way and motivate them to carry on. Similarly to Sarah, I feel it will be in the style of a "Survival Guide" for Freelance Dancers and inform them on how they can survive in such a tough industry.
From my own experience, I feel full time dance colleges train you technically for the industry but don't always provide you with the information and advice in sustaining and maintaining an active career once in the industry.
I am wanting to incorporate some clips from the interviews I have filmed from my employers and other Freelance Dancers and also quotes from the Focus Group and my Literature as well as images to make it grab peoples attention and make it more interesting.
I feel a video like this would have been very valuable to watch when I was at college, so I knew what was expected of me in the "real" world.
I also feel I want to challenge myself during this task and help me to become confident in a new skill. At the beginning of the course I had never put together a visual and audio clip until task 1c in Module One. I feel I want to re visit this and put what I have learnt into practice. I am wanting to make a new showreel soon, as I have realised the importance of a good show reel after carrying out my inquiry and I feel this will be a useful exercise to prepare me and allow me to practice using different programmes in order to create this.
I would love to know your thoughts on this artefact and whether it is something you would like to watch or whether it was something you would have liked to have seen during your training at dance college?
Friday 4 December 2015
Monday 16 November 2015
A Conversation with Professional externals to the BAPP Arts Network
I have recently conducted my interviews for my Inquiry with my Employers and with other Freelance Dancers. However, I have found it hard to organise a Focus Group as I have struggled to find a time that suits all participants. Therefore, I am hoping to arrange something this week.
The interviews I have carried out have been extremely interesting and the findings will be very useful when evaluating and analysing them for my Inquiry. I was struggling to differentiate between the meanings of evaluating and analysing however the blog posted by Lizzie Martin was helpful as it explains what was discussed during a Skype chat with Paula, which I unfortunately couldn't attend.
I have also had an informal chat with a Casting Director over Skype, which I found very valuable in moving forward with my Inquiry. He spoke about the criteria Casting Directors follow when auditioning and casting for jobs, which has made me think about how I can improve my own practice and what areas I need more work on.
I wanted to interview both fellow Freelance Dancers and Employers, as I want to compare their answers. It has already been interesting to see what areas the Freelance Dancers and Employers opinions are similar and where they differ.
Similar to the Casting Director, the answers from the Employers have given me food for thought on how I can market myself more effectively as a Freelance Dancer and what I should work on in order to secure work. By interviewing fellow Freelance Dancers I am able to find out where they source their information for auditions and what they do in preparation for auditions and also how they remain professional in the industry.
All the findings from these interviews will work collaboratively with the literature I have researched and help me to have a better understanding of the industry and will also give me the contents for my professional artefact. By using these findings I will be aiming to target and help other Freelance Dancers to understand what is being expected of them and what we can apply to our own practice, which will in turn help us to secure further work and remain professional in the industry.
Reflections on working collaboratively using social media
When I first started this course (which seems like a very long time ago now), my knowledge and use of social media was very limited. However, since then I feel the BAPP course has provided me with the foundations to discover what other social media I can use, which can be beneficial for my career and learning
I have always used "Facebook" and "YouTube", however I have now been introduced to "Delicious", "Google +", "Google Hangout" and "Instagram". These social media tools have helped me to collaborate my ideas with others in order to explore further into my inquiry.
"Google +" has played an essential part in developing my ideas and thoughts for my inquiry. It has been so useful for being a domain to view other members of the B.A.P.P course's blogs and join communities with similar interests. Before the course started, I had never written a blog and through the blogs I have been able to get useful feedback from my tutor and other students, which in turn has been useful to introduce ideas that I hadn't previously thought about or just to get reassurance that I am on the right track.
We have recently had a major Bollywood theatre production and through "Facebook", "Twitter" and" Instagram" we helped to promote the show, which as a result was sold out weeks before the opening night.
After speaking with some professionals in the industry about my inquiry, it has become apparent that it is essential for a Freelance Dancer to promote their self and think of their self as a product. Social media plays a vital role in Marketing yourself as a performer and contributes to networking and being seen for auditions in the industry and possibly even securing work. Therefore it is extremely important to have the knowledge on how to use social media in the most effective way.
Showreels have also been brought up a various number of times and how they are very important in securing work. Social media allows myself as a performer to share this marketing tool worldwide with ease and allow others to received it just as easily too.
Also all our rehearsal videos for the Bollywood company are put onto a "YouTube" account where we can view the videos easily. This is extremely useful as it allows us to work on the routines in between rehearsals and the show and make sure we are confident with the routines and have corrected any mistakes.
Commentary and discussions with your peers and S.I.G.s
In reflection, I think the S.I.G group I set up on "Facebook" hasn't been very successful. I feel this is because every one is focussing on different topics and I haven't yet come across anyone from my year on the course who is exploring a similar topic. Instead I have found speaking to individuals on my course through "Google Hangout" more useful. I have also found speaking with my professional S.I.G more useful, as I feel even though they aren't on my course they are sharing the same professional experiences as me and often bring up interesting topics in conversation they would like to know more about. This then encourages me to explore those paths, which in turn develops my own thinking and ideas for my inquiry.
I have been extremely busy recently and feel I am slightly behind and haven't been commenting on other blogs as much as I used to. I will now be making a conscious effort to get back into commenting and hopefully in turn this may encourage others to let me know their thoughts about my blogs also.
I have always used "Facebook" and "YouTube", however I have now been introduced to "Delicious", "Google +", "Google Hangout" and "Instagram". These social media tools have helped me to collaborate my ideas with others in order to explore further into my inquiry.
"Google +" has played an essential part in developing my ideas and thoughts for my inquiry. It has been so useful for being a domain to view other members of the B.A.P.P course's blogs and join communities with similar interests. Before the course started, I had never written a blog and through the blogs I have been able to get useful feedback from my tutor and other students, which in turn has been useful to introduce ideas that I hadn't previously thought about or just to get reassurance that I am on the right track.
We have recently had a major Bollywood theatre production and through "Facebook", "Twitter" and" Instagram" we helped to promote the show, which as a result was sold out weeks before the opening night.
After speaking with some professionals in the industry about my inquiry, it has become apparent that it is essential for a Freelance Dancer to promote their self and think of their self as a product. Social media plays a vital role in Marketing yourself as a performer and contributes to networking and being seen for auditions in the industry and possibly even securing work. Therefore it is extremely important to have the knowledge on how to use social media in the most effective way.
Showreels have also been brought up a various number of times and how they are very important in securing work. Social media allows myself as a performer to share this marketing tool worldwide with ease and allow others to received it just as easily too.
Also all our rehearsal videos for the Bollywood company are put onto a "YouTube" account where we can view the videos easily. This is extremely useful as it allows us to work on the routines in between rehearsals and the show and make sure we are confident with the routines and have corrected any mistakes.
Commentary and discussions with your peers and S.I.G.s
In reflection, I think the S.I.G group I set up on "Facebook" hasn't been very successful. I feel this is because every one is focussing on different topics and I haven't yet come across anyone from my year on the course who is exploring a similar topic. Instead I have found speaking to individuals on my course through "Google Hangout" more useful. I have also found speaking with my professional S.I.G more useful, as I feel even though they aren't on my course they are sharing the same professional experiences as me and often bring up interesting topics in conversation they would like to know more about. This then encourages me to explore those paths, which in turn develops my own thinking and ideas for my inquiry.
I have been extremely busy recently and feel I am slightly behind and haven't been commenting on other blogs as much as I used to. I will now be making a conscious effort to get back into commenting and hopefully in turn this may encourage others to let me know their thoughts about my blogs also.
Sunday 25 October 2015
Literature Reviews and ideas - Professionalism
I have found the two articles below very useful:
(Image From - http://inntrending.com/great-quotes-about-literature/)
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ARTICLE ONE
Title, Date, Author, Publisher
Lester. S (2015) "On professions and being professional" Stan Lester Developments, Taunton, UK
Where did I find the source?
Paula my adviser sent me the link to this online article as she thought it would be useful to read to gain ideas and theories about professionalism.
How is it useful to my Inquiry?
This source is useful to my Inquiry as it discusses and explores the "idea of ‘profession’ and what it means to be a professional". As I am going to research how a Freelance Dancer can achieve optimal professionalism to become the best performer they can be and help them to secure work, it is important I understand the meaning of the term profession and what it means to be a professional in order to develop my thoughts on what to research further.
Theories and key ideas
"The word ‘profession’ stems from the Latin verb profiteri, to profess, in the sense of making a formal commitment or vow (as in taking a monastic oath). This can be interpreted as suggesting that joining a profession requires a commitment to acquiring its knowledge and skills, and to adopting its ethos".
Being a Freelance Dancer requires a lot of commitment as it is a very tough industry to be in. I will be exploring how commitment and motivation play a major part in a Freelance Dancers life through literature and through my practitioner research.
"A professional might be considered as a person who embodies the idea inherent in ‘profiteri’, and following Hoyle & John20, makes proficient use of expert or specialist knowledge, exercises autonomous thought and judgement, and makes a voluntary commitment to a set of principles."
This suggests a professional is someone who uses their expert knowledge of their profession and applies it to their own practice as well as making the decision that they want to be committed to their profession.
How reliable is the source?
This article was written by Stan Lester in 2015, but grew out of a 2002 article by the author in the Journal of the Society of Archivists, vol. 23 no. 1. An earlier version was also published by the former Institute for Learning in 2009. Therefore it is a reliable source as it has been written by a professional in his field and used as an academic source. Therefore, I feel using ideas/theories from this source to develop my own thoughts and ideas will be extremely beneficial.
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ARTICLE TWO
Title, Date, Author, Publisher
Evans, Linda (2008) "Professionalism, professionality and the development of education professionals". British Journal of Educational Studies, 56 (1). pp. 20-38
Where did I find the source?
I found this article online.
How is it useful for my Inquiry?
This source is useful for my Inquiry because it includes quotes and theories from other Practitioners on their theories and ideas on Professionalism. Even though the article is referring to professionalism within the teaching industry, I feel the professionalism theories and ideas are more general and therefore I can apply these theories to my Inquiry and they will be beneficial in informing my own writing and thinking.
Theories and key ideas
Hoyle (1975) explains professionalism as "those strategies and rhetorics employed by members of an occupation in seeking to improve status, salary and conditions" (p315)
I will be applying this idea to my Inquiry as I will be researching through literature and my practitioner research how Freelance Dancers can improve their status, salary and conditions. I have found a committee on Equity who speak about improving conditions for Freelance Dancers and I have also found many sources discussing the pay of Freelance Dancers.
I will be applying this idea to my Inquiry as I will be researching through literature and my practitioner research how Freelance Dancers can improve their status, salary and conditions. I have found a committee on Equity who speak about improving conditions for Freelance Dancers and I have also found many sources discussing the pay of Freelance Dancers.
Troman (1996, p.476) similarly perceives professionalism not as an absolute or an ideal, but as a "socially constructed, contextually variable and contested concept...defined by management and expressed in its expectations of workers and the stipulation of tasks they will perform".
Freelance Dancers can be employed in many different dance styles and are always having to adapt to what the employer is looking for, for a specific job. Therefore, this theory is very apt to our industry and practice. I will be interviewing my employers so this will be an interesting theory to think about when I am conducting the interview.
Hoyle's more recent (2001, p.146) explanation of professionalism as a term used "to describe enhancement of the quality of service"
Sockett (1996, p.23) follows the same "quality" line: "Professionalism is about the quality of practice".
I will be researching and exploring how a Freelance Dancer can enhance their performance for auditions and when they have secured work. Therefore, both of the ideas above are very appropriate for my Inquiry. I will be conducting a focus group with other Freelance Dancers to also ask how they enhance their performance and become the best Freelance Dancer they can be in order to secure work, as well as exploring literature on this topic.
Boyt, Lusch and Naylor's (2001, p.322) emphasis is on the influential capacity of the professional her/himself: "Professionalism consists of the attitudes and behaviour one possesses toward one's profession. It is an attitudinal and behavioural orientation that individuals possess toward their occupations".
This theory is the one I agree with most and what reflects my view on what professionalism is. This idea explains how professionalism is down to the individual and their own attitude towards the profession. I will be exploring through literature and practitioner research how a Freelance Dancer's mental attitude helps and hinders them in securing work.
Hoyle and Wallace (2005, p.103) "Professionalism seems generally to be seen as the identification and expression of what is required and expected of members of a profession"
This idea suggests that professionalism is about the employee following the requirements expected of them in a profession. Therefore, as a Freelance Dancer it will be interesting to know what employers expect once they have employed you, or what they are looking for when auditioning Freelance Dancers. I will be exploring this further when conducting my interviews with my employers.
Hoyle (1975) introduced the term "professionality". He explained this as the "elements of the job that constitute the knowledge, skills and procedures that teachers use in their work" from that Evans, 2002b, pp. 6-7) has defined professionality as "an ideologically, attitudinalty- intellectually - and epistemologically - based stance on the part of an individual, in relation to the practice of the profession to which s/he belongs, and which influences her/his professional practice".
The term "professionality" is important for a Freelance Dancer as we must have a positive attitude as well as a good knowledge and understanding of ourselves as performers as well as the industry. This in turn will influence our professional practice and have an impact on the way we develop our technique and performance. I already have literature on the elements that Freelance Dancer's should apply to make them the best performer they can be and therefore help them to secure work. Therefore, I will be applying this knowledge to my Inquiry and own practice, as well as asking other Freelance Dancer's what they do to enhance their own practice through the focus group.
How reliable is the source?
I feel this source is very reliable as even though I found it online, as an online article, it is actually a published book as well. It consists of theories and ideas from other practitioners and professionals who have knowledge on the term "professionalism" and therefore will be very beneficial to read to inform and develop my own thoughts on this topic.
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I discussed with Paula that I needed to find more theories and ideas on my chosen topic for my Inquiry. I have already found some ideas which I have written a literature review on previously, this can be found on my blog. However, I feel I now have a better understanding of the term "Professionalism" and I will be applying the theories and ideas I have bullet pointed above from other Practitioners to inform my own writing for my Inquiry as well as the previous ones and use them all as a starting point for further exploration and research.
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BIBLIOGRAPHY
Boyt, T.E, Lusch, R.F and Naylor, G (2001) "The Role of Professionalism in determining job satisfaction in professional serivces; a study of marketing researchers. Journal of Service Research, 3 (4), 321-330
Evans, Linda (2008) "Professionalism, professionality and the development of education professionals". British Journal of Educational Studies, 56 (1). pp. 20-38
Evans, l (2002b) "Reflective Practice in Educational Research: Developing Advanced Skills, London, Continuum.
Hoyle, E (1975) "Professionality, professionalism and control in teaching. In V. Houghton et al. (eds) "Management in Education: the Management of Organisations and Individuals, London, Ward Lock Educational in association with Open University Press.
Hoyle, E (2001) "Teaching: prestige, status and esteem, Educational Management & Administration, 29 (2), 139-152.
Holye, E and Wallace, M (2005) "Educational Leadership: Ambiguity, Professionals and Managerialism, London, Sage.
Lester. S (2015) "On professions and being professional", Taunton, UK, Stan Lester Developments
Sockett, H.T (1996) "Teachers for the 21st century: redefining professionalism, NASSP Bulletin, May, 1996, 22-29
Troman, G (1996) "The rise of the new professionals? The restructuring of primary teachers' work and professionalism, British Journal of Sociology of Education, 17 (4), 473-487.
Monday 19 October 2015
Skype with Paula
- We both agreed "Professionalism" would be a better word to use in my main inquiry topic instead of "Employability". This is because I feel it is more personal/ direct to what I want to research as it allows me to explore what traits myself and other Freelance Dancers, as working professionals, need in order to enhance our careers, rather than focussing on the term employment.
Photo - (http://www.quotehd.com/quotes/frank-tyger-quote-professionalism-is-knowing-how-to-do-it-when-to-do-it-and)
- We discussed the meaning of what an idea or theory is. Paula gave me the link to a very useful article which helped me to understand these terms in more depth. Below is the link to this article taken from, "A Dictionary of the social sciences eds. J Gould and W. Kolb, Free Press, 1964."
http://www.lse.ac.uk/researchAndExpertise/units/gellner/Concept.html
- " Defined as an aspect of thought, a concept is a kind of unit in terms of which one thinks; a unit smaller than a judgement, proposition, or theory, but one which necessarily enters into these".
- " In as far as given theories require certain concepts, and in as far as concepts can be said to incorporate theories, there is no sharp line between choice of theories and choice of concepts".
- "In philosophy and the social sciences (and other sciences too) concepts enter as (a) the most general tools of inquiry as such and as (b) the content or object of some specific inquiries, notably in comparative studies."
- We also discussed if there were any ideas from practitioners from my previous literature that I thought would help inform my own writing and how it is important to keep reviewing literature to develop ideas. I want to find four or five ideas/theories on Professionalism from other Practitioners that I can apply to my own writing and practice to develop my Inquiry.
- As I am interviewing my Employers to gain a different professional view on my inquiry topic, the word "assumption" was discussed. We spoke about how this is a very useful method of practitioner research as it will be questioning my point of view and assumptions and seeing if they are similar or if they differ from theirs. By questioning my point of view it will allow me to explore other avenues and therefore develop my thinking. This will help me to grow as a professional and not remain on one level with "blinkers" on.
As I am now using the word Professionalism in my inquiry topic instead of Employability, I have been experimenting with different questions to have as an "Umbrella Question" for my inquiry topic, but I think the question below sums up what I want to research best.
"How can a Freelance Dancer achieve optimal professionalism whilst seeking and securing work?"
I would love to know your thoughts on this question.
Paula sent me the link to an article "On Professions and being a Professional" by Stan Lester.
"How can a Freelance Dancer achieve optimal professionalism whilst seeking and securing work?"
I would love to know your thoughts on this question.
Paula sent me the link to an article "On Professions and being a Professional" by Stan Lester.
http://devmts.org.uk/profnal.pdf
I will be writing a Literature Review on this article within the next week, as well as reviewing the book "Professionalism in Dance Education" by Susan R. Koff and Gianna Limone Mistry. I feel both of these pieces of literature will be helpful in defining what Professionalism is and how I can relate it to my own professional practice.
This week I will be completing my consent forms and arranging dates and times to conduct my Interviews and Focus Group. I will also be reviewing the literature discussed above and I will be sharing these reviews with you all via another blog, as well as any ideas/theories I find from practitioners which I can apply to my Inquiry. I am hoping to conduct my Practitioner Research within the next couple of weeks and am intrigued to analyse the findings.
So.....there is lots to be getting on with!!!!
So.....there is lots to be getting on with!!!!
Sunday 11 October 2015
Very useful article!!
I have been searching for Literature on my Inquiry topic, "How can a Freelance Dancer increase their chances of employability?" and came across this article which was really helpful.
It discusses what a Freelance Dancer should be concentrating on in order to survive in the industry and help secure work. It also includes the opinions of other professional practitioners, which are valuable for my research. This is exactly what I am exploring and researching for my Inquiry.
Below is the link for the article:
http://www.danceinforma.com/magazine/2013/12/how-to-survive-as-a-freelancer/
I will be exploring each one of these topics in more depth with other Literature and through my Practitioner Research.
It discusses what a Freelance Dancer should be concentrating on in order to survive in the industry and help secure work. It also includes the opinions of other professional practitioners, which are valuable for my research. This is exactly what I am exploring and researching for my Inquiry.
Below is the link for the article:
http://www.danceinforma.com/magazine/2013/12/how-to-survive-as-a-freelancer/
I will be exploring each one of these topics in more depth with other Literature and through my Practitioner Research.
Thursday 1 October 2015
Welcome Back - Reflection on Module 2 Feedback
Welcome back everyone. Hope you all had a good summer!
I have been dreading starting back again, as there seems to be so much information to take in for Module 3 and it is all a little overwhelming! I didn't manage to join a Skype conversation over the weekend, however I really appreciated Paula sharing her blog and sharing what had been discussed.
I have printed off the Handbook and Reader 7 and have read through them both. This has given me a greater understanding of the Module as a whole and has also helped me to break the module down into sections so it doesn't seem so daunting!
What have I learnt from my Module 2 feedback?
It was useful to read the feedback from Paula on Module 2 as it confirmed I was on the right track as, I know at times, I have doubted myself. However, there were also a lot of helpful points given in order to help me improve my Inquiry and help me to get the best grade possible. The main points that stood out to me were:
I have been dreading starting back again, as there seems to be so much information to take in for Module 3 and it is all a little overwhelming! I didn't manage to join a Skype conversation over the weekend, however I really appreciated Paula sharing her blog and sharing what had been discussed.
I have printed off the Handbook and Reader 7 and have read through them both. This has given me a greater understanding of the Module as a whole and has also helped me to break the module down into sections so it doesn't seem so daunting!
What have I learnt from my Module 2 feedback?
It was useful to read the feedback from Paula on Module 2 as it confirmed I was on the right track as, I know at times, I have doubted myself. However, there were also a lot of helpful points given in order to help me improve my Inquiry and help me to get the best grade possible. The main points that stood out to me were:
- "You have related your topic to relevant literature. Your have made a good start on this topic, now it is time to begin a more refined literature review of this area." - It was suggested I use professional organisations as well as Summon and the Library Libguide, in order to enhance my knowledge on my topic.
- It was also suggested that I should look for Literature on "general" employment issues in order to gain a better understanding of employability, which I can then relate to my own practice. I will also be looking for Literature that defines what a "Freelance Dancer" is in order to broaden my knowledge on this topic, which in turn will help me apply these theories and ideas to my professional work and other literature.
- I need to "Review the anonymity and confidentiality issues with your interviewees, they may not want their company names used in public". This is an important ethical issue and I need to make sure I have a formal way of getting permission from my Employers to share data based on their companies.
- As I will be conducting my interviews as an Insider- Researcher, it was suggested I "develop an even greater understanding about the ethics of being an insider researcher (Costley et al.) in your inquiry work" - This is very important as there are many advantages and disadvantages to being an Insider-Researcher and it is essential I make sure my interviews do not affect my work or relationship with my Employers and fellow cast members.
- My Inquiry questions and sub-questions are all very practical in nature, therefore once I have found more literature and written more literature reviews I will revisit these questions and change some, so they relate to theories and ideas already made by other professionals.
- Paula mentioned I should look at a previous B.A.P.P student's work, as our topics may overlap and I feel this will be very beneficial in pointing me in the right direction and may also lead to introducing different ideas and theories I may want to look into in order to improve my Inquiry.
What has changed since my Inquiry Plan?
My work situation is still the same, as I have been attending a few auditions over the summer alongside performing with the Bollywood company and performing tribute shows and shows in care homes. As my feedback stated that my Inquiry topic, “How can a Freelance Dancer Increase their Chances of Employability? is directly linked to your own professional practice as a freelance dancer", I feel my Inquiry topic shouldn't change. It is a very appropriate topic for me to research and feel it will be very beneficial to explore, as it could help me secure future employment.
I feel although my topic isn't changing, I need to focus more on refining my literature and look more into theories and ideas behind this topic, rather than the practical nature of it.
I feel although my topic isn't changing, I need to focus more on refining my literature and look more into theories and ideas behind this topic, rather than the practical nature of it.
Before the summer break I did discuss with Paula whether it would be beneficial for me to conduct a survey or not and I said I would give it some thought over the summer. I have now decided I will not conduct a survey as I feel it won't contribute any extra information. As discussed, I would need thousands of responses to be able to use the statistics as a reliable source. Therefore, I will just be conducting the Focus Group with fellow freelance performers, Interviews with my current Employers and then a Practitioner Observation with a Casting Director, where I will write the conversation in my journal, so I can keep referring to it and can apply it to enhance my own professional practice.
What's next?
After reading the handbook for Module 3, Reader 7 and Module 2 feedback, I have decided to write a list of tasks I need to follow in order to stay on track and by breaking it down I am hoping this will give me a starting point to get myself back into the course without it being so over whelming.
- Using my local Library, Summon and the Library Libguide, I will be searching for more literature on Employability, Freelance Dancers and search for theories and ideas in order to refine my literature reviews and draw up some new sub-questions which aren't as practical in nature.
- I am going to use professional organisation like Equity or Dance UK to develop a sense of a Freelance Dancer’s work.
- I need to draft a permission form as a formal way of gaining the participants consent for sharing data based on their companies.
- I will be looking at previous students' blogs who have researched a similar subject to mine in order to enhance my own work.
- I need to finalise all questions and consent forms, so I can conduct my Interviews and Focus Groups, as well as arrange dates and times with the participants.
- I need to keep blogging and discussing ideas and findings with fellow B.A.P.P students and my tutor.
- Continue adding to my journal.
I have a lot to be getting on with and it was suggested in my Feedback from Module 2 that I "Continue to reflect upon the work on the blogs and in personal journals", so I will make sure I utilise my fellow B.A.P.P students to help me and remind me I am not doing this alone.
I'm looking forward to reading all your blogs again, sharing ideas and helping each other on our final Module!
Saturday 2 May 2015
Critical Reflection on Professional Practitioner Inquiry
CRITICAL REFLECTION ON
PROFESSIONAL PRACTITIONER INQUIRY
INTRODUCTION
DEVELOPING LINES OF PROFESSIONAL INQUIRY
Arriving at an inquiry topic I felt could enhance my current professional role was challenging. I found it hard to grasp that an inquiry is "a way to learn about what you are doing while you are doing it"(WBS3630:Reader 4) and is not a process to prove or disprove theories.
I originally wanted to look at image overriding talent and the psychological effects this has on a dancer, (APPENDIX A). However, by speaking with other B.A.P.P students it soon occurred to me that this topic could be too subjective. (See comments on APPENDIX A)
I was then intrigued to research how dancers cope with rejection. (APPENDIX B). After speaking with my advisor, I realised I should make use of my current employment situation and focus on how this could enhance future employment opportunities.
"The discipline of team learning starts with "dialogue", the capacity of members of a team to suspend assumptions and enter into a genuine "thinking together" (Senge 1990). In order to do this I created a S.I.G (APPENDIX C) using "Facebook" to discuss issues and topics. However, I found most of my feedback came from speaking to other B.A.P.P students on "Google Hangout" and "Skype" as well as receiving comments on my blog. I also spoke about inquiry topics with other dance colleagues in my professional community (Work Based Learning APPENDIX D). It was by using these networks, alongside Personal Mastery (APPENDIX D), that a more positive topic was triggered.
PROFESSIONAL ETHICS
Before arriving at my inquiry topic, I understood the principles of ethics in my current workplace (APPENDIX F) and the codes and conducts I must follow. (APPENDIX G).
However, I then had to identify what Ethics I must consider for my inquiry, in order for Middlesex University to sign my Ethics form and allow me to carry out my research. I devised a checklist in order to make sure I carry out my inquiry safely and correctly (APPENDIX H). Breaking the ethical considerations down for my inquiry and answering each question in more depth, gave me a clearer understanding of what participants I wanted to use for my practitioner research, who would benefit most from the research and how I would adhere to a safe and professional process when carrying out my inquiry (APPENDIX I).
"Understanding the major advantages and disadvantages of each approach is likely to help you to select the most appropriate methodology for the task in hand" (Bell 2005). I evaluated the merits and downfalls of each practitioner research tool in order to find out what tools would be most beneficial.(APPENDIX J).
I conducted a pilot Interview (APPENDIX K), a pilot Survey (APPENDIX L) and a pilot Focus Group (Appendix M) with my professional community and members of my S.I.G. This enabled me to establish what worked well and what I would need to improve, in order to use the tools to their full potential.
I found the use of a dictaphone would be more beneficial than notating and the use of a semi-structured format worked well. After receiving feedback from the fellow B.A.P.P students who completed my pilot survey, I used the Double Loop Learning theory (APPENDIX D) to evaluate whether I needed to change the way questions were formatted, or the question itself. (See comments on APPENDIX L).
CONCLUSION
This module has informed me about the ethics involved when carrying out my inquiry and has allowed me to trial the tools I will be using for my practitioner research. To enhance my knowledge on how I can increase chances of employability for myself and other dancers, I will continue to look for more literature (APPENDIX N) and add more links to my Delicious Page, which has been beneficial for keeping my online literature in one place (APPENDIX O). Module Two has equipped me with the tools and information needed to undertake my Professional Inquiry in Module Three.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Costley C, Elliot, G, Gibbs, P .(2010) "DOING WORK BASED RESEARCH APPROACHES TO ENQUIRY FOR INSIDER-RESEARCHER", London: Sage Publications Ltd
Denscombe, Martyn. (2002) "GROUND RULES OF GOOD RESEARCH A 10 POINT GUIDE FOR SOCIAL RESEARCHERS", Buckingham: Open University Press. Available from https://www.dawsonera.com/readonline/9780335239375.
Devlin, P. (1959) “THE ENFORCEMENT OF MORALS”, Oxford: Oxford Paperbacks
INTRODUCTION
Module
One enabled me to develop a level of critical reflection about my professional
practice and an understanding of communication technology and networking.
I have used and developed these elements within Module Two in order to
plan my professional inquiry.
DEVELOPING LINES OF PROFESSIONAL INQUIRY
Arriving at an inquiry topic I felt could enhance my current professional role was challenging. I found it hard to grasp that an inquiry is "a way to learn about what you are doing while you are doing it"(WBS3630:Reader 4) and is not a process to prove or disprove theories.
I originally wanted to look at image overriding talent and the psychological effects this has on a dancer, (APPENDIX A). However, by speaking with other B.A.P.P students it soon occurred to me that this topic could be too subjective. (See comments on APPENDIX A)
I was then intrigued to research how dancers cope with rejection. (APPENDIX B). After speaking with my advisor, I realised I should make use of my current employment situation and focus on how this could enhance future employment opportunities.
"The discipline of team learning starts with "dialogue", the capacity of members of a team to suspend assumptions and enter into a genuine "thinking together" (Senge 1990). In order to do this I created a S.I.G (APPENDIX C) using "Facebook" to discuss issues and topics. However, I found most of my feedback came from speaking to other B.A.P.P students on "Google Hangout" and "Skype" as well as receiving comments on my blog. I also spoke about inquiry topics with other dance colleagues in my professional community (Work Based Learning APPENDIX D). It was by using these networks, alongside Personal Mastery (APPENDIX D), that a more positive topic was triggered.
My inquiry topic now is "How can a Freelance Dancer Increase their Chances of Employability?" (APPENDIX
E).
PROFESSIONAL ETHICS
Before arriving at my inquiry topic, I understood the principles of ethics in my current workplace (APPENDIX F) and the codes and conducts I must follow. (APPENDIX G).
However, I then had to identify what Ethics I must consider for my inquiry, in order for Middlesex University to sign my Ethics form and allow me to carry out my research. I devised a checklist in order to make sure I carry out my inquiry safely and correctly (APPENDIX H). Breaking the ethical considerations down for my inquiry and answering each question in more depth, gave me a clearer understanding of what participants I wanted to use for my practitioner research, who would benefit most from the research and how I would adhere to a safe and professional process when carrying out my inquiry (APPENDIX I).
TOOLS
OF PROFESSIONAL INQUIRY
"Understanding the major advantages and disadvantages of each approach is likely to help you to select the most appropriate methodology for the task in hand" (Bell 2005). I evaluated the merits and downfalls of each practitioner research tool in order to find out what tools would be most beneficial.(APPENDIX J).
I conducted a pilot Interview (APPENDIX K), a pilot Survey (APPENDIX L) and a pilot Focus Group (Appendix M) with my professional community and members of my S.I.G. This enabled me to establish what worked well and what I would need to improve, in order to use the tools to their full potential.
I found the use of a dictaphone would be more beneficial than notating and the use of a semi-structured format worked well. After receiving feedback from the fellow B.A.P.P students who completed my pilot survey, I used the Double Loop Learning theory (APPENDIX D) to evaluate whether I needed to change the way questions were formatted, or the question itself. (See comments on APPENDIX L).
The
combination of these three tools will be useful as it will enable me to gather
a variety of qualitative and quantitative data.
CONCLUSION
This module has informed me about the ethics involved when carrying out my inquiry and has allowed me to trial the tools I will be using for my practitioner research. To enhance my knowledge on how I can increase chances of employability for myself and other dancers, I will continue to look for more literature (APPENDIX N) and add more links to my Delicious Page, which has been beneficial for keeping my online literature in one place (APPENDIX O). Module Two has equipped me with the tools and information needed to undertake my Professional Inquiry in Module Three.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Bell, J (2005). “DOING
YOUR RESEARCH PROJECT” (4TH Ed), Milton Keynes. Open University
Press.
Blaxter, L, Hughes, C and Tight, M (2001). How to Research (2nd Ed), Milton Keynes: Open Univeristy Press. Available from http://site.ebrary.com/lib/mdx/reader.action?docID=10441949.
Blaxter, L, Hughes, C and Tight, M (2001). How to Research (2nd Ed), Milton Keynes: Open Univeristy Press. Available from http://site.ebrary.com/lib/mdx/reader.action?docID=10441949.
Costley C, Elliot, G, Gibbs, P .(2010) "DOING WORK BASED RESEARCH APPROACHES TO ENQUIRY FOR INSIDER-RESEARCHER", London: Sage Publications Ltd
Denscombe, Martyn. (2002) "GROUND RULES OF GOOD RESEARCH A 10 POINT GUIDE FOR SOCIAL RESEARCHERS", Buckingham: Open University Press. Available from https://www.dawsonera.com/readonline/9780335239375.
Devlin, P. (1959) “THE ENFORCEMENT OF MORALS”, Oxford: Oxford Paperbacks
Durrant, Alan, Rhodes, Gareth, Young, David (eds) .(2009) “GETTING STARTED WITH
UNIVERSITY-LEVEL WORK BASED LEARNING”, London: Middlesex University Press.
Hobbes, T. (1985) “THE LEVIATHAN”, London: Penguin Classics
Kant, I .(2007) “CRITIQUE
OF PURE REASON, London: Penguin Classics
Mill, JS .(1987) “UTILITARIANISM
AND OTHER ESSAYS, London: Penguin
Senge, Peter M. (1990), “THE FIFTH DISCIPLINE THE ART AND PRACTICE OF THE LEARNING
ORGANISATION”, New York, Doubleday Currency
Smith, M. K. (2001, 2013). ‘CHRIS ARGYRIS: THEORIES OF
ACTION, DOUBLE-LOOP LEARNING AND ORGANIZATIONAL LEARNING’, the
encyclopedia of informal education. http://infed.org/mobi/chris-argyris-theories-of-action-double-loop-learning-and-organizational-learning/. (Accessed
3rd February 2015)
Thielke, Janet .(2009), "A 1945 CODE OF ETHICS FOR THEATRE WORKERS SURFACES" Available online from http://lastagetimes.com/2009/08/a-1945-code-of-ethics-for-theatre-workers-surfaces/ (accessed 13th March 2015).
WBS 3630 B.A.P.P ARTS, MIDDLESEX
UNIVERSITY 2013: HANDBOOK
WBS 3630 B.A.P.P ARTS, MIDDLESEX
UNIVERSITY 2013: “PRINCIPLES OF PROFESSIONAL INQUIRY” READER 4
WBS 3630 B.A.P.P ARTS, MIDDLESEX
UNIVERSITY 2013: “PRINCIPLES OF PROFESSIONAL INQUIRY” READER 5
WBS 3630 B.A.P.P ARTS, MIDDLESEX
UNIVERSITY 2013: “PRINCIPLES OF PROFESSIONAL INQUIRY” READER 6
Friday 1 May 2015
Updated Literature Reviews
The last blog I wrote on Literature was focused on one of the topics I am no longer pursuing. Therefore, I wanted to update my blog with the new Literature I have been researching on my current Inquiry topic.
I found I had a lot of Literature to review at once as the Literature I reviewed earlier in this module I can no longer use. Therefore, the thought of doing it has been very daunting and I didn't know where to begin. I wrote an entry in my journal expressing these thoughts and felt the best way forward would be to write a list of all the Literature and documents I have found in different categories. For example, "Books", "Online Articles" and "Middlesex University Sources". Once I had done this, I felt the next step would be to break down each review by creating subheadings. This then gave me sections to concentrate on, rather than reviewing the Literature as a whole.
The Reviews are shown Below:
BOOKS
Title, Date, Author, Publisher
"Finding Balance" (1991) by Gigi Beradi, NJ, Dance Horizons/Princeton Book Company, Publishers Princeton
Where I found the source
I found this book on "Google Books" and went to my local library to see if they could order it in for me.
How is it useful to my Inquiry?
This book explains the issues faced by professional dancers, including technique and training, nutrition and diet, injury and injury prevention and career management and many more. This book is beneficial to my Inquiry as it is important for a dancer to be healthy and fit in order for them to be at their peak. It gives advice and shares knowledge on how dancers should look after themselves and I feel this is essential when looking for employment and maintaining an active career in dance.
Theories and Key ideas
I found the quote from physician author L. M Vincent interesting,
"If you're intent upon performing (regardless of level), recognise and accept your physicality, and work within your abilities. Find a type of dance or company that your body is best suited for rather than attempting to overhaul your body".
Image plays a big role within the dance industry and in extreme cases can make dancers very ill. This was a positive and healthy way of looking at image and using it to your advantage. I feel this is definitely something that should be taken into consideration when choosing which auditions to attend and what line of work your body will be able to cope with long term. This will ensure your body can cope with the demanding profession and you are more likely to remain fit and healthy longer, therefore prolonging your career. I feel I can relate to this because at college it was always drummed into us that the thinner you were the better it was and the more work you would get. Being a size 10 with little turnout I know I will never make it as a ballerina, therefore I wouldn't ever attend a ballet audition. However, Bollywood dance and technique requires dancers with curves and I feel a lot more comfortable and happier performing this style of dance than I would ballet.
Another quote I found interesting in this book was by Stuart Wright,
"The simple fact is that virtually all dance injuries result from faulty technique...Technical correction is the best means to prevention and treatment".
Good technique is a very important factor when wanting to remain fit and injury free. Therefore, in order to keep the technique up to a good standard it is important to attend class when not in work. I feel employers are more likely to employ a dancer who they can see has secure technique in an audition, as they are less likely to sustain an injury.
How reliable is the source?
Although the book is over ten years old, I feel this source is very reliable as there are profiles of professional dancers giving first hand advice and knowledge through sharing their experiences. There are also dance science and physiology findings from professionals in their field.
_____________________________________________________________________________
Title, Date, Author, Publishers
"Advice for Dancers", (1998), Linda H. Hamilton, Jossey Bass
Where I found the source
I bought this book from Amazon.
How is it useful to my Inquiry?
This book is useful for my Inquiry because similar to "Finding Balance", it gives physical and psychological advice to dancers on elements such as Body Image, being a professional, performing at your peak and the mind body connection as well as many others. I feel this book focuses more on the psychological issues that can effect dancers and I think it is just as important to remain mentally fit and healthy in order to maintain an active dance career, as it is to be physically fit.
Theories and Key ideas
There is a chapter in this book called "Performing at your Peak" which discusses the psychological techniques a dancer should use in order to give their best performance. These techniques are:
I feel all of the above are appropriate theories in which I can include in my Inquiry, as they will improve dancers' mentalities in order to make them better dancers and in turn employable.
How reliable is the source?
I feel this source is very reliable as the author was a dancer herself with the New York City Ballet and therefore, she has first hand experience in the dance industry. I feel this is important as I don't think people fully understand the industry unless they have experienced it themselves. The author Linda H. Hamilton is also a psychologist and therefore her advice will be scientifically correct as well as it being her opinion.
_____________________________________________________________________________
Title, Date and Author
"A Dancer's Manual", (1999), by Bobby Boling, Rafter Publishing
Where I found the source
I bought this book on www.amazon.co.uk from "Better World Books"
How is it useful to my Inquiry?
This book is useful for my Inquiry because it explains the "requirements, expectations and techniques necessary for achieving success in show business". The author Bobby Boling gives his opinions on elements dancers need to know about in order to give themselves the best chance of employment and maintain an active career. These elements include, Taking class, rehearsals, auditioning and performing, taking care of and preventing injuries, health and fitness, contracts, to name a few.
Theories and Key ideas
Some key ideas that stood out to me were:
How reliable is the source?
Although this book is written from the point of view of the author Bobby Boling, I feel the advice he gives is very informative. I feel this is due to Boling's experience in the industry. His show business career spanned two decades as a dancer, teacher, choreographer, producer, director, lighting, designer and writer. Therefore, he has knowledge from many different professional areas of the industry which I feel is valuable for my Inquiry.
_____________________________________________________________________________
Title, Date and Author
"A Dancer's Guide to Getting Work", (2005), A & C Black Publishers Limited
Where I found the source
I bought this book on www.amazon.co.uk from "Better Book Worlds"
How is it useful to my Inquiry?
This book is useful for my Inquiry because it gives tips and advice on how to develop and market your own performance style and abilities. It discusses elements such as career options, the importance of training, marketing yourself as a dancer, audition advice, what makes a great dance performance, health and the working dancers, business skills for the working dancer and has two case studies on two working dancers. This information is valuable in maintaining an active career and increasing chances of employability.
Theories and Key ideas
The key ideas that stood out to me in this book were in the chapter "Marketing for the working dancer:
It is essential to promote yourself and be pro active to increase your chances of employability. You need to have the drive in order to succeed. Therefore, the points mentioned above are very valuable for advising myself and other dancers how we can market ourselves in order to give us the best chance possible of an active career.
How reliable is the source?
Once again this book has been written by authors who have both been part of the dance industry. The blurb on the back of the book states "Jenny Belingy is an experienced dance teacher and John Byrne has coached many top performers and is the author of several bestselling "how to" books. I feel having the combination of two authors is more beneficial and their teaching knowledge and experience is valuable when preparing dancers for work.
_____________________________________________________________________________
Title, Date and Author
"The Dancer's Audition Book", (1982), by Martin A. David, Sterling Publishing Company
Where I found the source
I bought this book from www.amazon.co.uk
How is it useful to my Inquiry?
I was a bit sceptical about this book as it is the oldest of all my literature. However, after reading it I realised a lot of the content remains the same today. This book gives audition advice for dancers and also contains quotes from past professional dancers, choreographers and company managers. These quotes will be useful to use as evidence in my Inquiry.
Theories and Key ideas
Some interesting quotes that stood out to me were:
How reliable is the source?
Although this book is the oldest of my Literature, it has been an interesting read. I realise some of the information on the audition process e.g. what to wear has changed in time, however many of the principles are still the same. The quotes from dancers, choreographers and company managers are timeless and will be useful for my Inquiry. The author was an actor, dancer, choreographer and dance critic so has had a lot of experience within the industry. Therefore his knowledge will be truthful and valuable.
_________________________________________________________________________________
ONLINE ARTICLES
ARTICLE ONE
Title, date, Author, Source
"Audition Guide - The Extended Audition", (2009), Jen Peters, Dance Magazine
Web link
http://www.dancemagazine.com/issues/February-2009/Auditions-Guide
Theories, opinions and key ideas that link to my Inquiry
A quote that interested me was from Jim Vincent, Artistic Director of Hubbard Street Dance Chicago,
"It's rare to just find someone in an open audition; usually it's a relationship developed over time".
I have been wanting to research into whether employers are more likely to use dancers that have been recommended to them or have worked with them before. Therefore, this quote was interesting to see that employers do like to build a bond with their employees, rather than taking a risk on someone they don't know from an open audition.
It has become apparent that the employers that were interviewed in this article like to see dancers turn up to auditions well presented. Karen Kain, Assistant Director of the National Ballet of Canada says,
"If dancers come in with these ridiculous outfits, huge dangling earrings, tons of bracelets, and so on, you right away think this isn't a serious artist, a person who is going to turn themselves over to the work". She also goes on to say "it helps to wear a distinctive colour".
By researching what employers are looking for at an audition it will increase your chances of employability as we can then apply these points to ourself.
David Dorfman Artistic Director of David Dorfman Dance states,
"I want someone with a team spirit, a desire to work with others. If a person is standing there with their arms crossed, their hands in their pockets, or leaning against the wall or barre, it suggests some level of disinterest or unnecessary confrontation".
This was interesting, as it shows employers are always observing you throughout the audition, not just when you are dancing.
How reliable is the source?
This source is reliable as it consists of quotes from employers in the dance industry. Therefore the information in the article has come from first hand experiences. I realise one opinion could differ with another person's opinion, however I can still use these quotes as evidence.
_________________________________________________________________________________
ARTICLE TWO
Title, date, Author, Source
"Audition Know - how: What Directors want", (2009), Janet Eilber, Dance Magazine
Web link
http://dancemagazine.com/issues/February-2009/Audition-KnowHow-What-Directors-Want
Theories, opinions and key ideas that link to my Inquiry
Jane Eilber, Artistic Director of the Martha Graham Dance Company says,
"If they can't connect with me at an audition, how can they expect to have the audience connection".
This shows there is more to an audition than just the steps, you must connect with the employer so they can see how you can connect with the audience.
She also goes on to say,
"I love when dancers ask questions during an audition....If you don't understand the internal motivation, you cannot dance the role correctly; you have to be as much an actor as you are a dancer".
This is interesting, as I feel dancers are too scared employers will think they are "stupid" if they ask questions in an audition, so many dancers just keep quiet. This quote shows they prefer it, as it shows interest and the dancer will have a better understanding of the movement or role.
How reliable is the source?
Once again this source is made up of Artistic Directors' opinions from their own personal experiences. Therefore, it is useful to hear their opinions and I can use these as evidence.
_____________________________________________________________________________
ARTICLE THREE
Title, date, Author, Source
"Audition advice from the Pros", (2010), Rain Francis, Dance Informa Magazine
Web link
http://www.danceinforma.com/magazine/2010/09/audition-advice-from-the-pros/
Theories, opinions and key ideas that link to my Inquiry
Stanton Welch, Artistic Director of Houston Ballet states the biggest mistake dancers make in an audition is,
"Showing off too much".
A dancer shouldn't change the choreography to suit their strengths, because the choreographer has likely asked to see that particular step for a reason. Welch says by doing this it shows the choreographer that,
"they can't learn in detail what you're presenting".
He also suggest dancers should,
"get through a process of practice auditions, so that by the time they walk into the real audition, they've somehow calmed their nerves down".
This is a good idea, the more auditions a dancer goes to, the more familiar they become with the process and environment. If a dancer is more relaxed and have calmed their nerves they are more likely to perform better in the audition, increasing their chances of employment.
David McAllister, Artistic Director of the Australian Ballet suggests,
"Don't do an audition if you don't feel prepared both emotionally or physically as first impressions count".
I agree with this advice, because if you are not feeling confident in yourself, then the audition panel are likely to sense that too and your performance won't be at its peak. It is important to make a good first impression and you don't want the audition panel to remember you when you are not at your best.
How reliable is the source?
This source follows the same reliability as the above articles, as it is also comprised of opinions of people in the Industry who cast dancers, so it shares first hand knowledge and experiences.
_________________________________________________________________________________
MIDDLESEX UNIVERSITY SOURCES
As well as the handbook and Readers supplied by Middlesex University. Their extensive Reading List and search engines such as "Summon" have supplied me with a wealth of Literature which has been valuable when planning my Inquiry and researching my Inquiry topic.
The Key Literature I found helpful from the Reading Lists:
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Key Literature I have found using Summon:
This was an interesting read. It explains what a casting director does and their role in the industry
"Casting directors operate like a human resources department does. They place job notices (casting breakdowns), review submissions (headshots and résumés), and select candidates for the employer to interview (audition)." This is why I am wanting to Interview a Casting Director for my Practitioner Research, because it is often dancers are selected from headshots and CV's even before the audition. So I am interested to get an insight into what they look for when choosing applicants for submission in order for me to increase my chances of being seen for an audition.
DELICIOUS
I previously set up a "Delicious" account, however it took me a while to understand how it worked. It has been a very useful website to keep all my Literature in one place.
Here is the link to my Delicious page.
https://delicious.com/sianturner89
_________________________________________________________________________________
I am still going to continue to search for more Literature throughout the summer, between Modules 2 and 3 and also keep adding links to my Delicious page.
I have gathered a lot of Literature on advice and opinions from professionals to use as evidence, so I am now wanting to search for statistics and focus more on quantitative data to use as evidence.
I found I had a lot of Literature to review at once as the Literature I reviewed earlier in this module I can no longer use. Therefore, the thought of doing it has been very daunting and I didn't know where to begin. I wrote an entry in my journal expressing these thoughts and felt the best way forward would be to write a list of all the Literature and documents I have found in different categories. For example, "Books", "Online Articles" and "Middlesex University Sources". Once I had done this, I felt the next step would be to break down each review by creating subheadings. This then gave me sections to concentrate on, rather than reviewing the Literature as a whole.
The Reviews are shown Below:
BOOKS
Title, Date, Author, Publisher
"Finding Balance" (1991) by Gigi Beradi, NJ, Dance Horizons/Princeton Book Company, Publishers Princeton
Where I found the source
I found this book on "Google Books" and went to my local library to see if they could order it in for me.
How is it useful to my Inquiry?
This book explains the issues faced by professional dancers, including technique and training, nutrition and diet, injury and injury prevention and career management and many more. This book is beneficial to my Inquiry as it is important for a dancer to be healthy and fit in order for them to be at their peak. It gives advice and shares knowledge on how dancers should look after themselves and I feel this is essential when looking for employment and maintaining an active career in dance.
Theories and Key ideas
I found the quote from physician author L. M Vincent interesting,
"If you're intent upon performing (regardless of level), recognise and accept your physicality, and work within your abilities. Find a type of dance or company that your body is best suited for rather than attempting to overhaul your body".
Image plays a big role within the dance industry and in extreme cases can make dancers very ill. This was a positive and healthy way of looking at image and using it to your advantage. I feel this is definitely something that should be taken into consideration when choosing which auditions to attend and what line of work your body will be able to cope with long term. This will ensure your body can cope with the demanding profession and you are more likely to remain fit and healthy longer, therefore prolonging your career. I feel I can relate to this because at college it was always drummed into us that the thinner you were the better it was and the more work you would get. Being a size 10 with little turnout I know I will never make it as a ballerina, therefore I wouldn't ever attend a ballet audition. However, Bollywood dance and technique requires dancers with curves and I feel a lot more comfortable and happier performing this style of dance than I would ballet.
Another quote I found interesting in this book was by Stuart Wright,
"The simple fact is that virtually all dance injuries result from faulty technique...Technical correction is the best means to prevention and treatment".
Good technique is a very important factor when wanting to remain fit and injury free. Therefore, in order to keep the technique up to a good standard it is important to attend class when not in work. I feel employers are more likely to employ a dancer who they can see has secure technique in an audition, as they are less likely to sustain an injury.
How reliable is the source?
Although the book is over ten years old, I feel this source is very reliable as there are profiles of professional dancers giving first hand advice and knowledge through sharing their experiences. There are also dance science and physiology findings from professionals in their field.
_____________________________________________________________________________
"Advice for Dancers", (1998), Linda H. Hamilton, Jossey Bass
Where I found the source
I bought this book from Amazon.
How is it useful to my Inquiry?
This book is useful for my Inquiry because similar to "Finding Balance", it gives physical and psychological advice to dancers on elements such as Body Image, being a professional, performing at your peak and the mind body connection as well as many others. I feel this book focuses more on the psychological issues that can effect dancers and I think it is just as important to remain mentally fit and healthy in order to maintain an active dance career, as it is to be physically fit.
Theories and Key ideas
There is a chapter in this book called "Performing at your Peak" which discusses the psychological techniques a dancer should use in order to give their best performance. These techniques are:
- Goal Setting - This will help dancers "focus their attention, increase their efforts and persist". It is suggested that we focus our goals on self improvement rather than on something that is out of our control such as getting a specific job. Hamilton also suggests we should only "choose a couple of goals that have the highest priority, rather than overwhelm ourselves with many".
- Visualisation - Research shows that "imagery can improve your technique by giving you a mental blueprint to guide overt performance". It is most effective if vivid. "The more conscious you become of your senses while dancing, the more likely you'll be to recreate them through imagery". Imagery can "increase self-awareness, enhance motivation, focus attention, build self confidence, reduce anxiety and acquire skills".
- Anxiety Management - "Research shows that cognitive restructuring techniques improve performance even more than other interventions". Hamilton suggests "Besides enhancing performance, cognitive strategies can add to your self-esteem, personal growth and development in all areas of life". She suggests it is beneficial to decide how much energy and intensity you need as a performer. Dr. Jim Taylor, a psychologist experienced in performance enhancement and his co-author Ceci Taylor, suggest the following approach:
- First step - "See how your body reacts prior to and during a successful performance, so you can replicate it with specific exercises".
- Second step - "Regulate your intensity to its optimal level". Over intensity results in extreme muscle tension increasing risk of injury.
- Final step - SMILE - "it alters blood flow in the brain, releasing neurochemicals that relax you".
I feel all of the above are appropriate theories in which I can include in my Inquiry, as they will improve dancers' mentalities in order to make them better dancers and in turn employable.
How reliable is the source?
I feel this source is very reliable as the author was a dancer herself with the New York City Ballet and therefore, she has first hand experience in the dance industry. I feel this is important as I don't think people fully understand the industry unless they have experienced it themselves. The author Linda H. Hamilton is also a psychologist and therefore her advice will be scientifically correct as well as it being her opinion.
_____________________________________________________________________________
Title, Date and Author
"A Dancer's Manual", (1999), by Bobby Boling, Rafter Publishing
Where I found the sourceI bought this book on www.amazon.co.uk from "Better World Books"
How is it useful to my Inquiry?
This book is useful for my Inquiry because it explains the "requirements, expectations and techniques necessary for achieving success in show business". The author Bobby Boling gives his opinions on elements dancers need to know about in order to give themselves the best chance of employment and maintain an active career. These elements include, Taking class, rehearsals, auditioning and performing, taking care of and preventing injuries, health and fitness, contracts, to name a few.
Theories and Key ideas
Some key ideas that stood out to me were:
- It is important to research the profession, "Read books, study films. Go to shows and dance concerts. Talk to choreographers, teachers, and other dancers. Do all you can to learnt the history of the profession. To stay current with what is happening in the business, study dancing on television, in music videos, and dance magazines."
- The book explains how an audition process has two parts. Preparation (pictures, resume, clothing, music) and Presentation (how you perform at the audition). It gives detailed advice on what is advisable for an audition and what is not. I feel it is essential for a dancer to be full prepared for an audition to give them their best chance of employment. Therefore, this book will inform me further on what I need to do in order to help this preparation and presentation process.
- The book also gives advice on what to do once you have secured a job in the hope of that job leading to another, "Each job is simply a bridge to another job". This is essential in the dance industry because it is often the case that the production team or fellow dance colleagues will recommend you for another show. Therefore, it is important to build up a good reputation in the industry. It is by doing this that you are increasing your chances of employability.
Although this book is written from the point of view of the author Bobby Boling, I feel the advice he gives is very informative. I feel this is due to Boling's experience in the industry. His show business career spanned two decades as a dancer, teacher, choreographer, producer, director, lighting, designer and writer. Therefore, he has knowledge from many different professional areas of the industry which I feel is valuable for my Inquiry.
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Title, Date and Author
"A Dancer's Guide to Getting Work", (2005), A & C Black Publishers Limited
I bought this book on www.amazon.co.uk from "Better Book Worlds"
How is it useful to my Inquiry?
This book is useful for my Inquiry because it gives tips and advice on how to develop and market your own performance style and abilities. It discusses elements such as career options, the importance of training, marketing yourself as a dancer, audition advice, what makes a great dance performance, health and the working dancers, business skills for the working dancer and has two case studies on two working dancers. This information is valuable in maintaining an active career and increasing chances of employability.
Theories and Key ideas
The key ideas that stood out to me in this book were in the chapter "Marketing for the working dancer:
- Image - "Your image as a dancer is as important as your dance skills themselves". As dancers we are the product we are trying to sell. Therefore, it is important to present ourselves well. We also need to present well any paper work or online files/websites we use to promote ourselves.
- Cards - These are great to have on hand when "unexpected marketing opportunities arise".
- Photos - It is important to have good headshots and portfolio photographs. Get them taken professionally. "It is one of your most important selling tools".
- CV - Keep your CV updated and to one A4 page. "Another advantage of keeping your CV to one page is that as you do more work, you'll have to drop the smaller and less impressive jobs to make room, ensuring that your CV remains a list of you greatest hits".
- Website - "Your own website can be a highly effective marketing tool".
- Agents - "An agent or dance agency with a good reputation already has the contacts and clients who can give you those much needed work opportunities". I agree with this in certain fields of the industry such as Musical Theatre and UK Tours. However, auditions for work overseas is easier to find yourself and can often be cast from CV's, headshots and showreels. This is an element I will be looking into further through out my research and practitioner research.
It is essential to promote yourself and be pro active to increase your chances of employability. You need to have the drive in order to succeed. Therefore, the points mentioned above are very valuable for advising myself and other dancers how we can market ourselves in order to give us the best chance possible of an active career.
How reliable is the source?
Once again this book has been written by authors who have both been part of the dance industry. The blurb on the back of the book states "Jenny Belingy is an experienced dance teacher and John Byrne has coached many top performers and is the author of several bestselling "how to" books. I feel having the combination of two authors is more beneficial and their teaching knowledge and experience is valuable when preparing dancers for work.
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Title, Date and Author
"The Dancer's Audition Book", (1982), by Martin A. David, Sterling Publishing Company
Where I found the sourceI bought this book from www.amazon.co.uk
How is it useful to my Inquiry?
I was a bit sceptical about this book as it is the oldest of all my literature. However, after reading it I realised a lot of the content remains the same today. This book gives audition advice for dancers and also contains quotes from past professional dancers, choreographers and company managers. These quotes will be useful to use as evidence in my Inquiry.
Theories and Key ideas
Some interesting quotes that stood out to me were:
- Lynn Dally, co-founder of the Jazz Tap Ensemble, " A successful dancer has to have some kind of identity. For a young dancer trying to get work, part of the thing about going to a lot of auditions is getting yourself known". This is important when increasing your chances of employability you have to find something unique about yourself to make you stand out from others at auditions.
- Twyla Tharp, "I have an immediate sense for dancers. I just look at a person and look how they're changing their clothes and I know if this person is interesting to me. People have a way of just standing and some will pull your attention to them or they won't." This was interesting to hear that sometimes choreographers have made up there mind before we have even danced.
- Rudy Perez - "They have to have a certain kind of energy because I can find a way to use that. Sometimes you'll find a dancer that's just a dancer and that person, for me, is very hard to use because movement alone is not enough for my work". It is important to have a sense of performance. Perez suggests that choreographers want to employ a dancer who can do their work justice and portray it well, not just do the steps.
- Laura Dean - "If you get rejected at my audition, don't say "I've been to a Dean audition" and never come back. It might be your third, fourth or fifth audition before you get chosen. That way the choreographer knows you are specifically interested in working with him or her and that you're still in town and training yourself." Rejection was a topic I was interested in researching previously for my Inquiry topic. However, I realise it crosses paths with my current Inquiry topic. It is important for a dancer to not give up and go to countless auditions to give them the best chance of employment.
- Murray Louis - "Dancers should bring a certain ease with them. When someone comes in to an audition and makes a mistake and laughs it off and goes right on - that's an assurance I appreciate". Louis suggests he wants to see a sense of humour at an audition and a personality he will want to work with. This is interesting as I have never thought about this before and always feel I have to be serious at an audition.
These quotes have given me food for thought and have been very useful in suggesting other thoughts and avenues to explore within my Inquiry.
How reliable is the source?
Although this book is the oldest of my Literature, it has been an interesting read. I realise some of the information on the audition process e.g. what to wear has changed in time, however many of the principles are still the same. The quotes from dancers, choreographers and company managers are timeless and will be useful for my Inquiry. The author was an actor, dancer, choreographer and dance critic so has had a lot of experience within the industry. Therefore his knowledge will be truthful and valuable.
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ONLINE ARTICLES
ARTICLE ONE
Title, date, Author, Source
"Audition Guide - The Extended Audition", (2009), Jen Peters, Dance Magazine
Web link
http://www.dancemagazine.com/issues/February-2009/Auditions-Guide
Theories, opinions and key ideas that link to my Inquiry
A quote that interested me was from Jim Vincent, Artistic Director of Hubbard Street Dance Chicago,
"It's rare to just find someone in an open audition; usually it's a relationship developed over time".
I have been wanting to research into whether employers are more likely to use dancers that have been recommended to them or have worked with them before. Therefore, this quote was interesting to see that employers do like to build a bond with their employees, rather than taking a risk on someone they don't know from an open audition.
It has become apparent that the employers that were interviewed in this article like to see dancers turn up to auditions well presented. Karen Kain, Assistant Director of the National Ballet of Canada says,
"If dancers come in with these ridiculous outfits, huge dangling earrings, tons of bracelets, and so on, you right away think this isn't a serious artist, a person who is going to turn themselves over to the work". She also goes on to say "it helps to wear a distinctive colour".
By researching what employers are looking for at an audition it will increase your chances of employability as we can then apply these points to ourself.
David Dorfman Artistic Director of David Dorfman Dance states,
"I want someone with a team spirit, a desire to work with others. If a person is standing there with their arms crossed, their hands in their pockets, or leaning against the wall or barre, it suggests some level of disinterest or unnecessary confrontation".
This was interesting, as it shows employers are always observing you throughout the audition, not just when you are dancing.
How reliable is the source?
This source is reliable as it consists of quotes from employers in the dance industry. Therefore the information in the article has come from first hand experiences. I realise one opinion could differ with another person's opinion, however I can still use these quotes as evidence.
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ARTICLE TWO
Title, date, Author, Source
"Audition Know - how: What Directors want", (2009), Janet Eilber, Dance Magazine
Web link
http://dancemagazine.com/issues/February-2009/Audition-KnowHow-What-Directors-Want
Theories, opinions and key ideas that link to my Inquiry
Jane Eilber, Artistic Director of the Martha Graham Dance Company says,
"If they can't connect with me at an audition, how can they expect to have the audience connection".
This shows there is more to an audition than just the steps, you must connect with the employer so they can see how you can connect with the audience.
She also goes on to say,
"I love when dancers ask questions during an audition....If you don't understand the internal motivation, you cannot dance the role correctly; you have to be as much an actor as you are a dancer".
This is interesting, as I feel dancers are too scared employers will think they are "stupid" if they ask questions in an audition, so many dancers just keep quiet. This quote shows they prefer it, as it shows interest and the dancer will have a better understanding of the movement or role.
How reliable is the source?
Once again this source is made up of Artistic Directors' opinions from their own personal experiences. Therefore, it is useful to hear their opinions and I can use these as evidence.
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ARTICLE THREE
Title, date, Author, Source
"Audition advice from the Pros", (2010), Rain Francis, Dance Informa Magazine
Web link
http://www.danceinforma.com/magazine/2010/09/audition-advice-from-the-pros/
Theories, opinions and key ideas that link to my Inquiry
Stanton Welch, Artistic Director of Houston Ballet states the biggest mistake dancers make in an audition is,
"Showing off too much".
A dancer shouldn't change the choreography to suit their strengths, because the choreographer has likely asked to see that particular step for a reason. Welch says by doing this it shows the choreographer that,
"they can't learn in detail what you're presenting".
He also suggest dancers should,
"get through a process of practice auditions, so that by the time they walk into the real audition, they've somehow calmed their nerves down".
This is a good idea, the more auditions a dancer goes to, the more familiar they become with the process and environment. If a dancer is more relaxed and have calmed their nerves they are more likely to perform better in the audition, increasing their chances of employment.
David McAllister, Artistic Director of the Australian Ballet suggests,
"Don't do an audition if you don't feel prepared both emotionally or physically as first impressions count".
I agree with this advice, because if you are not feeling confident in yourself, then the audition panel are likely to sense that too and your performance won't be at its peak. It is important to make a good first impression and you don't want the audition panel to remember you when you are not at your best.
How reliable is the source?
This source follows the same reliability as the above articles, as it is also comprised of opinions of people in the Industry who cast dancers, so it shares first hand knowledge and experiences.
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MIDDLESEX UNIVERSITY SOURCES
As well as the handbook and Readers supplied by Middlesex University. Their extensive Reading List and search engines such as "Summon" have supplied me with a wealth of Literature which has been valuable when planning my Inquiry and researching my Inquiry topic.
The Key Literature I found helpful from the Reading Lists:
- Costley Carol, Elliot Geoffery Gibbs, Paul (2010) Doing Work Based Research Approaches to Enquiry for Insider-Researcher, Chapter 3, London: Sage Publications Ltd. Available from https://www.dawsonera.com/readonline/9781446247945. This source was extremely helpful in understanding the ethical issues that could occur whilst carrying out Practitioner Research within the workplace.
- Blaxter L, Hughes, C and Tight, M (2001) How to Research (2nd Ed), Milton Keynes: Open Univeristy Press. Available from http://site.ebrary.com/lib/mdx/reader.action?docID=10441949. This source was an interesting read and it was helpful in inspiring ideas for my Inquiry and useful in informing me how to analyse my data, once it has been collected.
- Hart, C (1998) Doing a Literature Review, London: Sage Publications Ltd. Available from http://readinglists.mdx.ac.uk/items/5C7D1777-3B47-D8C4-2B07-DF032C25DD1D.html?referrer=%2Flists%2FF8CBF8FF-F412-0D88-60B8-25B16514F804.html%23item-5C7D1777-3B47-D8C4-2B07-DF032C25DD1D. I found the figure shown below from this book helpful in identifying the main sources of knowledge and the tools in which I can gain this knowledge.
- Denscombe, Martyn (2002) Ground Rules of Good Research a 10 point Guide for Social Researchers, Buckingham: Open University Press. Available from https://www.dawsonera.com/readonline/9780335239375. I found the checklists in this book useful, as it informed me of what I needed to include when planning my Inquiry.
- Bell J, (2005) "Doing your research project (4th ed), Milton Keynes: Open University Press. Available from http://www.academia.edu/7495872/LIVRO_Judith_Bell_-_Doing_Your_Research_Project. This was informative in all aspects throughout planning the Inquiry e.g. preparation, Ethics, Research tools.
- Apoocada, Jackie (2006) "What exactly is a Casting Director?", Available online from http://rt5vx6na7p.search.serialssolutions.com/?ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&ctx_enc=info%3Aofi%2Fenc%3AUTF-8&rfr_id=info:sid/summon.serialssolutions.com&rft_val_fmt=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:journal&rft.genre=article&rft.atitle=What+exactly+is+a+casting+director%3F&rft.jtitle=Back+Stage+West&rft.au=Apodaca%2C+Jackie&rft.date=2006-02-02&rft.pub=e5+Global+Media%2C+LLC&rft.issn=1531-572X&rft.volume=13&rft.issue=5&rft.spage=9&rft.externalDBID=XI7&rft.externalDocID=142634972¶mdict=en-US
This was an interesting read. It explains what a casting director does and their role in the industry
- Rigby, Rhymer, (2010) "The careerist: Remaining Employable" The Financial Times Limited. Available online from http://search.proquest.com.ezproxy.mdx.ac.uk/docview/229252502?pq-origsite=summon. This article was interesting and speaks about how to remain employable is all fields of work. It was interesting to see the same principles apply to a dancers work, that apply to an office worker etc.
"You need to be learning continually",
"Spend 15 per cent of your time learning about fields adjacent to yours. It's a bit like the ecology of a rainforest - you don't want to be the animal who is so fantastically well adapted to one tree that they will die if that tree is cut down."
"You need to be agile and adaptable,"
Miranda Kennett, founder of First Class Coach, recommends regular checks to ensure that you're constantly adding employability and experience:
"Rewrite your CV every year". (However, dancers need to update their CV's more regularly).
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DELICIOUS
I previously set up a "Delicious" account, however it took me a while to understand how it worked. It has been a very useful website to keep all my Literature in one place.
Here is the link to my Delicious page.
https://delicious.com/sianturner89
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I am still going to continue to search for more Literature throughout the summer, between Modules 2 and 3 and also keep adding links to my Delicious page.
I have gathered a lot of Literature on advice and opinions from professionals to use as evidence, so I am now wanting to search for statistics and focus more on quantitative data to use as evidence.
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