STATESIDE JAZZ

I found both Helen’s and Adesola’s blogs about mantras and positive quotations extremely useful to enjoy this modules process and to use clichés to “Embrace Change” and “Navigating The Unknown” I kind of feel that their letting go of our hands a bit as we cross the road.

In reading I’m highlighting anything I feel could be useful in terms of creating my framework/reflection/dance pedagogies and then entering a log in “Notes” on my IPhone with the page number and subject hoping this will become useful later on. For example Page 23, Frying Mince. Then if I have to write something about the topic I have quick access to the citation. I have also downloaded the iPhone app which is very convenient can be downloaded at the app store if you type in “Blogger”. To blog on the go with ease!

Also I’m enjoying trying to prepare for something I have no idea what I’m making!  (I will steer away from another food analogy). I’m reading back through my AOL’s and reflective essay as suggested by Helen to come up with occurring threads I am already wishing I had completed some of the work differently in regards to the feedback I received, Now it seems obvious! Which seems crazy as it was only a month ago we submitted our work!

Although I know the genre I want to research I have no Idea what exactly in the subject I want to further explore. Been playing with ideas. I have ordered a new book on Jazz Dance which is not been released till the end of month from the University of Florida which I’m very excited for as there is an substantial lack of literature on my chosen subject as I share Carson’s view that it is seen a “Mode of Entertainment” in a lot of cultures.  So till then I am going to spend the next month reading a copious amount of books and collating data anything useful and to get my head round research as a technique and to “create something beautiful.” – Thank you Adesola #lightbulbmoment. I am in a period of critical reflection, knowing how to weave everything into my holistic journey.

Here is my headspace what I’m mainly reflecting on inwardly:

Ruth Heyler states that the work based learning project could aid the business your working for but I'm self-employed! My business is me! So I want this project to have benefits that aid me as the practioner I want to be in the future (lesson plans, choreography) But I don’t want it at the same for it to be not taken serious as a piece of research and not involve the social, historical, philosophical exploration or can I do both?

Can I find a clever way to incorporate practice as research in my framework that aid and articulate my enquiry? I want to get the most from this MA and I expect at the end of the process, because of the high level of autonomous learning to be at the standard of embarking on a PhD if decide to take that particular route or not……..!

I am really enjoying having more time to blog as with module one and my work situation at that time I had no time to do both.

Yesterday I fulfilled a dream of mine I took a master Jazz class at Steps on Broadway. It was so inspiring to work alongside a Broadway legend and her energy and positivity really upped and boosted the class it was electrifying. It spiralled so many questions to me and I started to question every single thing I’m doing during the warm up which directed back to a highlighted note that Luigi the Father of the Jazz Technique said: (Luigi,Kriegel & Roach 1997 Pg. 9)

“Balanchine spoke about dancing inside a square. I go beyond the square and dance inside a circle”  

This sparked further spirals of inner “thought-threads” for me actually why we do certain movements in Jazz warm up, how Luigi was the start/pioneer of it all?  If you did a Jazz warm up could you in theory go straight into a ballet class into centre work? Why (in my experience) is it not taken as serious as other art forms in some cultures/societies?

After the hour warm up we moved on to a routine I thought I would be absolutely knackered as It had been a while since my last professional level class but my body seemed so revitalized and energetic! I felt muscles I hadn’t felt in a while! Geared up and ready to go! After some warm ups be it at student level or when I took class in London I have been exhausted.

I intend to draw from my experiences from taking these Master classes and compare them to my prior knowledge and really try and compare the differences between the UK and the US on Jazz Dance as I feel a lot has been lost with people putting their own “spin” on things and making things their own in a curriculum. I think there is protocol that needs to be followed in the creation of syllabi or at college in Jazz education. And I feel it’s a lot to do with positive thought in both cultures in professional dance training context. And the actual thought behind the movements why are we doing these Jazz Warm ups? A lot of the time for non traditional late starters especially male dancers theirs a tendency to just “copy” at the back of the class

“Learn to develop your technique by knowing what you are doing rather than pretending or imitating” – (Luigi 1997 Pg. Xi)

To not actually know the “know-why” can be detrimental to the dancers learning to not know the thought pattern behind a specific movement. Being in the home of Jazz dance which it has been since the 1950’s, I’m at the forefront on my subject and in a unique situation. Jazz has extensively been studied here through educational degrees in the states which is the main factors to its advancement here.  Their BFA and MFA’s mainly incorporate Jazz dance and its theoretical analysis of the technique. This is crucial and is a high level of importance as it conveys the artistry of what should be a not forgotten art form in the next sixty years of its existence.

“Learn how to learn, in this way you will constantly develop yourself and keep your mind open for learning” – (Luigi 1997 Pg. Xii)