Phone call with Paula Nottingham

I had a really interesting chat on the phone to Paula Nottingham today about my progress so far on the BAPP course. I was really stuck on how to begin task 2:C, some of the theories didn't make any sense to me and I felt that I couldn't relate to them. I thought I had to interpret each theory and write in depth of how I use each one in my profession, but I just couldn't think of anything!!
However, once I got talking to Paula I realised that reminiscing about my professional career brought back past experiences, and eventually ideas. Whilst in the rehearsal period for a cruise ship we would be learning and practising 8 hours a day, 6 days a week, for 5 different shows in a 4 week period! Which was very demanding and exhausting, so a "performers diary" proved very useful as I noted any corrections that were given to me and steps of the routines- I can relate this to my journal and my blogs; it is still a progression of learning and reflecting back on your work. Most evenings all of the dancers would usually congregate in one tiny apartment to learn the shows- so we would be sharp and impress the choreographer in the next days rehearsal. We also put ideas into practice. One particular number in one of my production shows was a 'Bob Fosse' inspired routine. So to really capture the true essence of Bob Fosse's style, we concentrated on the intricate style and movements for most of the rehearsal period, to really do the piece justice. This is definitely something I can incorporate into my reflective theory- how I have put ideas into practice.
I find that I am networking everyday without even realising it. I am an avid Facebook user and I am forever looking at the stage, ballet companies and other dancers I am friends with, to see what they are up to. One video I watched today made an impression on me. It reminded me of my time at ballet school; how you have to be mentally very strong, as well as physically. You can be technically a very able-bodied dancer, but if you do not have the discipline and mentality you will not make it.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KGx7bTXa9wo&feature=em-uploademail&app=desktop


It is a huge sacrifice to be a Ballet Dancer and I found it extremely difficult whilst I was studying at Ballet School. I felt as if I was a robot; my love of dance was disappearing and the strict discipline and training was an environment I just didn't want to a part of anymore.

Currently I am working in retail for Clinique, which is something I enjoy and I am very passionate about. My Love of make up has progressed from my time on the ships as I loved preparing my stage makeup and hair before each show! I had an ankle arthroscopy about 9 weeks ago to remove a cyst, which was extremely painful but was long overdue and was causing me a lot of discomfort whilst dancing. There is a long road to recovery ahead of me, and at the moment I am gently trying to ease myself back into exercising, which is proving very frustrating as I am used to doing so much more! But I am persevering and I keep telling myself to keep positive and that I will dance again!!

So thank you Paula for stimulating my thought process again; talking about past experiences has opened up so many different ideas to expand on in my reflective theory.



Katrina x

Task 2b: Reflective Writing

So over the past week I have been writing in my journal every night, looking at alternative reflective journal styles. These were quite challenging, especially if my day was quite boring and I had to really rack my brains to decipher something interesting out of it!

Description

I found this quite mundane to do. Stating events that happened without clarity gave no real meaning to my day.

Initial Reflection 

I felt at my most comfortable in this task as I can be very reflective and expressive when I get going! I found it extremely therapeutic to grasp what I was feeling and why I was feeling it.

List

I make lists all the time; things I have to do, new make up products or clothes to purchase, but all are insignificant. I downloaded the app 'Listography', and the first thing it asks you is to list 5 things you would like to do in your lifetime. It also asked you to think about what you most appreciate in your life,  which I found very positive and uplifting to think about. It made me grateful for the precious things I have in my life and what I take for granted on a day to day basis. It was a real eye opener for me.

Evaluation

This was extremely challenging for me, as I am not used to evaluating my day in such depth. This particular day at work was very quiet and it wasn't easy to look back and try and establish what I discovered and what I had learnt.

Graphs, charts and diagrams

This was a very new concept for me as I couldn't grasp how I could relate my day to pie charts and graphs! I looked into "My life in graphs: a guided journal." I have no idea if I am on the right track but I think my first attempt at a graph clearly states what I am feeling:

I was very over emotional and stressed on this day (as you can see!) from the vast amount of uni work I face before my trip to Barcelona next week, and as a perfectionist I put an awful amount of pressure on myself to complete and meet deadlines. I am dedicating all of my spare time to the BAPP course, and inevitably my freedom and 'fun' in my life is taking a back seat. Nonetheless, I am determined to succeed, and will do whatever it takes!


What if?

I delved into my mind and asked myself, what would I love to happen? Easy. I couldn't stop my hand from writing! It would definitely be to be apart of Matthew Bourne's company. Recurring injuries have stopped me from dancing and auditioning in the past two years, and I miss it so much. I would love more than anything to be apart of this vibrant, versatile and inspiring company. How would I react? It would be pure ecstasy and I can't even put into words how I would feel. Dancers train from a very young age to be at the top of their game and sometimes that isn't enough to secure a job. There is so much talent to compete against and sometimes it is just unobtainable to achieve your dreams. 

Another view

This seemed difficult at first, but amusing once I began writing. I imagined I was a daily cup of coffee that I buy before or during my lunch hour at work ( I am obsessed with coffee!). The anticipation before we meet, the moment of joy went we set sights on each other and the relief once I have taken my first sip! It made me realise how dependant I am on coffee and maybe I should cut down a bit!!

In conclusion, I established that looking into alternative reflective journal styles were both challenging and inspiring for me. I discovered that I need to be digging deeper into my reflective journal to really obtain the most out of my day and see evident progression throughout my thought process. The initial reflection style comes most naturally to me, but I want to step out of my comfort zone and concentrate on styles that I find more difficult, like evaluating more in depth and using spider diagrams to express my thoughts and ideas.



Katrina. x

Task 2a: Reflective Practice

What is a journal?

A journal (through French from Latin diurnalis, daily) has several related meanings:

• a daily record of events or business; a private journal is usually referred to as a diary
• a newspaper or other periodical, in the literal sense of one published each day
• many publications issued at stated intervals, such as academic journals, or the record of the transactions of a society, are often called journals.^[1] In academic use, a journal refers to a serious, scholarly publication that is peer-reviewed. A non-scholarly magazine written for an educated audience about an industry or an area of professional activity is usually called a trade magazine.^[2

I have used journals in the past as a way of expression and as a release of any angst or frustration that has built up inside me. I found writing down my feelings definitely helped my state of mind. It cleared my head of negativity and it seemed as if the journal had taken the feelings away. 

It was nostalgic returning to writing a journal as part of this task and it made me realise that communicating my feelings and ideas on a regular basis somehow released a sense of calm over me.

Whilst I was at Ballet school we were asked to keep a ballet 'diary' everyday, to note down what corrections were given to us throughout class or rehearsal, and what we personally wanted to improve on. I guess this was a type of journal, however it was quite regimented and there was no room for expression in the diary. How did I feel when I wasn't picked to be apart of the end of year performance? How did I feel when I felt inadequate in comparison to the other girls in my class? These feelings of exasperation were never vented, and I think an expressive journal would of undeniably helped. 

I find it really interesting that journal writing as a reflective tool has been developed in nursing, health and education. New ideas are being discovered and professionals in these fields are constantly learning more about their work and how to put these ideas into practice. Dancing is seen as more than an 'active' profession, so the reflective part is laid to rest and it can be hard to see your learning process written down on paper. However, after looking through Robert Kottcamp's concept of reflection-in-action, it began to make sense to me. His view is that reflection-in action (reflection in the midst of an ongoing action) underlines the fact that the type of profession you come from has an impact on the ways you reflect. As a dancer, our 'reflection' during dancing means correcting ourselves simultaneously, most of the time without us realising it. I was brought up in a profession to constantly reflect on my movements and find ways of amending my steps so I can improve. Dance is a physical way of learning, and delving into the conceptual way of learning is something which is very new to me. Kottcamp's theory intrigues me and I will definitely expand on this later on in this module.  

I am looking forward to incorporating different journal styles into my writing to see which method suits me best!

Katrina 

x

Task 1D: 2d images

I use instagram on a regular basis and it's a genius way of sharing photos with friends and family.
It's quite nostalgic too, and I love to reminisce and reflect on past experiences through it. I have attached a link to my instagram post from when I was dancing onboard the Sea Princess in the Caribbean, great memories!!


https://instagram.com/p/0Aulb6m33y/?modal=true

Katrina x 

Task 1C: Audio-visual ( Video Blog)

This was quite tricky as I have never uploaded a video of myself to youtube before and after many failed attempts I finally uploaded a half decent clip of myself!!

I'm not sure if I am giving enough of my own thoughts on the course yet but then I have only just started and this video was scary enough in itself (!!!)

So here it is.....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xY--eFAsosc&feature=youtu.be

Katrina. 

Task 1B: Professional Communication technologies

What is Web 2:0??

noun

1. the second stage of development of the Internet, characterized especially by the change from static web pages to dynamic or user-generated content and the growth of social media.

I had no idea what web 2:0 meant when I first flicked through reader 1. Then realisation hit me and web 2:0 is something that I actually use everyday! Web 2:0 is the 2nd generation of web-based communities - Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and social networking blogs. The way it differentiates itself from Web 1:0 (one way communications- newspapers, books, television), is that is allows the reader to actively participate in the creators work, providing an opportunity for both the reader and creator to interact, therefore the reader will become the creator. 

This basically means that sites like Facebook can give the reader the tools needed to comment, share and network with others, and as a result both reader and creator are interacting with each other. 

The Web as a platform

This got me thinking about O'Reilly's "Meme map"of web 2:0; visualising social media as having a gravitational core.
It was a big blur to me when I first looked at it - but when I started to disassemble the parts it began to make sense. You control the information you share with others, there are no real boundaries or rules to stop you from expressing yourself. The cost effective scalability allows more people to get involved, therefore constantly developing your network. It expands an approach; thousands of people may read or react to a specific blog or youtube video, and it has the power to keep developing and growing whilst more people are using it.
The user can freely comment, share and express themselves through web 2:0, with so much information  at their fingertips.

O'Reilly's 'meme map' of Web 2:0

Ethical considerations for using Web 2:0

" Teachers are probably the most vulnerable group in danger from violations of boundary crossing between one's personal and professional lives". ( Kuehn, 2010, P86). 

We as the reader have the power to alter what people can see on our profiles, what information we share and who can see it.  We have the freedom of expression, but what you say and discuss with others should be seriously considered as a professional.

Facebook means we can connect with others- I have previously danced on cruise ships and I have friends from all over the world, Facebook enables me to keep in touch with these people and form an online relationship with them. 

I always fix my settings to private on public forums so my photos and posts are not easily accessible to the general public, and are adjusted so that just my family and friends are able to see them. Nonetheless I do have work colleagues as my friends on Facebook and I have to be very careful what language I use and what photos I post as I want to be viewed as a professional. 

Also, can future employers google you? Can parents from a school you are teaching at search your profile? How easy is it for them to find your Facebook profile picture? It can be a very easy boundary to cross if you're not careful and I do not want to take any chances. I would like to be perceived in a professional manner and not with a few drinks in my hand!

                                  "Why web 2:0 is good for learning and for research:

                                                       Principes and Prototypes."

                            (Ullrich, C, Borau, K, Luo, H, Tan, X, Shen, L, & Shen, R, 2008)

http://www.slideshare.net/ullrich/why-web-20-is-good-for-learning-and-for-researchprinciples-and-prototypes

The web is very different from 5/10 years ago. This phenomenon that is web 2:0 has become so popular the world over, it is amazing to just take a step back and see how this has affected thousands of people. Ullrich states that web 2:0 facilitates active participation, allowing students to express themselves and learn through the interaction of others. This is a very useful tool which I have used to search for jobs in my career. 

The 'Hustle' on Facebook is a page where performers can post and interact with each other on upcoming auditions, advice on companies, and even posting available rooms to rent. Promotional jobs are frequently posted on 'Promo Fo's',(also on face book) which is a genius way to interact with others on your availability for work, and it's very convenient for dancers who are in between jobs and looking for an extra bit of cash. Twitter is another tool which I use, following 'The Guardian Jobs' and 'The Stage UK'  keeps me up to date with upcoming jobs in my area and auditions in London.

Instagram

I use Instagram daily as a learning tool for myself; I work in the Beauty industry and relish any tips and advice from instagram accounts and video tutorials into my work.
Here is an example of a video tutorial on an instagram site I follow:

https://instagram.com/p/zsk0KwB6NT/?modal=true

 The blogging experience was all very new to me until I discovered an account through instagram which caught my attention, titled 'Deliciously Ella':

http://deliciouslyella.com/

This example portrays how the power of social networking has transformed her blog into a bestselling book, a recipe app which is number one on itunes, and doctors wanting to test her plant based vegan diet on patients. Her blog was a way of turning something negative (she was diagnosed with Postural Tachycardia Syndrome) into something really positive, with health and lifestyle tips and recipes promoting a positive, healthy way of life. 

In conclusion, Web 2:0 surrounds our daily life whether we like it or not. I can now clarify between the positive and the negatives: From expanding and developing our social networks to our advantage, and being vigilant to what content we share with others online.

I definitely think I can utilise my social networking further on this course. Task 1:B has made me realise how much more I can use Web 2:0 to my advantage; by connecting with other students online, discussing theories and ideas on Skype and commenting on other BAPP blogs.


Thank you for reading and any comments or advice would be greatly appreciated!

Module 1:Task 1A- Professional Profile

What is a professional profile?

I envisage a professional profile to be something that 'sells' yourself to the consumer, an effective and snappy paragraph that pin points all your key attributes, as if you were presenting it in person, eg; in an interview. It should cover a brief history of your training, qualifications, and career in a personable manner and still keeping interest. 

My cv's

I have a variety of cv's for different job applications. After looking at some alternative BAPP blogs I discovered that many had the same 'structure' like myself. My professional dance cv has a recent headshot on the top right hand corner, which can be crucial to directors/choreographers sifting through piles and piles of cv's - if you have the right look,just from your cv, than can alter your chances of getting the job. 

This biased attitude is unfortunately well known in the dance industry, and I can remember an audition where we were all lined up in height order, studied rigorously, then told to leave the audition because my 'look' was not suitable for their standards. 

Underneath my profile I state where I trained, and my theatre credits in chronological order.

Here is my Professional Dance cv:

The professional dance world provide jobs that are few and far between. In auditions you are competing against fresh talent straight out of full time training, which is hard as you cannot comply to this standard as you are not studying dance for 7 hours a day anymore!
This is why I always have a CV for 'inbetween' jobs, and especially in the last 2 years where I have suffered dance injuries, a torn knee ligament and an ankle arthroscopy has stopped me from pursuing jobs in the dance world. This is definitely something I will expand on later on in this course.

Here is an example of my retail CV:

https://www.cv-library.co.uk/cgi-bin/view.cgi

This is attached to CV Library, a website which is designed to find work for you. This CV is different compared to my Dance CV as it presents a brief profile at the beginning of myself, my current employment status and what path I wish to take in the future.
My employment history then demonstrates my skills and job title in a few sentences, so the employer obtains a better understanding of myself in the workplace.



My Professional profile (draft)

My name is Katrina Wilson and welcome to my blog. I am a Dancer currently living in Southampton.
I began dancing from the tender age of 3 and wasn't particularly interested in dancing until I was chosen to take part in a local pantomime by my dance teacher. I was transfixed by the theatre and the performances were mind blowing to me. It was at that point I was opened up to the dance world and developing one love in particular, Ballet. I auditioned for the Royal Ballet mid associates programme by age 13 and was accepted on to the course, travelling every weekend with my dedicated mother for classes at the Royal Ballet Lower School at Richmond Park Surrey, and the Upper school in Covent Garden London, until age 15.
I decided I wanted to pursue ballet as a career. I auditioned for many vocational schools and I was accepted with a full scholarship into Elmhurst School for Dance, in association with the Birmingham Royal ballet, where I graduated after 3 years with a National Diploma in Professional Dance.
Ballet school was not everything I thought it was going to be. Injuries, pupil favouritism and a 6 day week/ 8 hour day timetable was a challenging environment, and the magic and love of ballet slowly began to disappear.
I wanted to be able to 'dance' again. I started auditioning in my third year and after countless knock backs and recalls, I was offered a contract with Princess cruiselines. There I had the time of my life dancing in the production shows visiting the Caribbean, New Zealand, Australia and Hawaii.
I was then lucky to gain employment with the worldwide production of 'Sesame Street', where I was a Swing dancer.
Eventually recurring injuries could not be concealed any longer and I decided to fix my body whilst I was still fit and healthy to do so. Time out from dancing enabled me to think long and hard about what my next step would be. My new adventure is very exciting, the BAPP course at Middlesex University. I want to expand my knowledge, and completing this course will enable me to accomplish many things that I know I am capable of.






Any comments or advice on this blog would be greatly appreciated, thank you.