Task 3c 'Sources of Information'

Task 3C 'Sources of Information'

There is a vast number of sources which I use, as well as other professionals, to gather and organize information, ever expanding by the evolution of web based technologies. As a Dance Teacher I need reliable and up to date sources to ensure I maintain the standard of a professional and experienced Teacher. Different sources have different strengths and weaknesses, value and relativity hence why it is essential for me to be able to distinguish between the information needed and the source applicable or suitable to use for that particular type of information.

The Web

Undoubtedly the Internet is a significant source of information. I use the internet for numerous reasons:

1. Searching for Jobs
2. Research
3. Inspiration- Both for work and for my personal life too
4. Shopping
5. Email
6. Keeping in contact with others
7. World and local news 
8. BAPP!! 

If I don't know or understand something I know I can research on the Web, sift through to find a credible source and discover an answer or solution whether that may be simply by searching on Google or interactively through social networks ie Facebook/Blogs. I use social networking to stay in touch with affiliations I have made and be part of new ones. It is a way of learning through others experiences which you have not come to know yourself. Although information from the Web can be factual simply by reading text, articles and illustrations, the Web has also now become interactive, an almost 'live' source of information when you can find answers in forums, chat rooms and continually active sites such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. I believe the web is a means to experience and information is now not only available for perusal but also for live conversation, discussion and debate. 

The internet is a fast way of networking which allows me to send out CV's, Applications and emails for opportunities and get things done instantly. Although society still uses postal services, which will always remain necessary, it can be quicker, easier and globally accessible to use the Web to send a quick email rather than write a letter, send it and wait for the recipient to reply and send a response. Many companies also work electronically so a letter is simply added paper to their pile of things to do. 

I depend on the Web for downloading and listening to music which not only inspires creativity and sparks choreographic ideas, supporting my professional practice, but also keeps me 'current' and 'fresh' for my students. Music is something I couldn't live without, whether it's listening in the car, whilst cycling, at the gym or at home, festivals and live gigs, music supports my emotions and has the power to change your mind set, particularly if you are having a bad day! The internet allows me access to all this! 

Face to Face Interaction

Meeting with other professionals,colleagues and friends is invaluable in terms of informing my practice. My close friends who know about the Arts can be very resourceful as with my best interests at heart they offer advice, tips and knowledge of opportunities. Similarly to Claire Radford's blog, "I make a conscious effort to build working relationships as I feel it not only makes your professional life more manageable but more enjoyable too." Colleagues who I cooperate and affiliate with also share knowledge which is beneficial to me professionally. Before starting BAPP for example I had spoken to a colleague about her experience on the course and from that decided that it was something I wanted to do also. Employers who are more experienced than I also enlighten me to numerous things I should be aware of as a professional, specifically, information on safeguarding children, policies or regulations. 

Family, who like friends are looking out and supporting you, have have been a huge source of information. In particular my mum who would help write out interview questions, search for job opportunities and vacancies and proof read essential documentation or applications. 

Events

Undeniably a part of my social life is taken up with dance, as although it is my profession, it is also something I am passionate about and find great enjoyment in seeing performances. Whether they be smaller un/semi professional works or whether that be a show on West End or touring Company, I like to take the time to see and experience what's going on around me in the Arts world. Viewing performances is a crucial source of learning for me not only presented new information but also inspiring your own ideas and creativity. It also gives me guide as a Teacher to the level of talent and dance ability out there in younger children thus influencing my own classes and teaching dynamics.

Media

The Media can be a great source to find out about local classes, new dance schools opening, whats happening in your local area in the Arts, and keeping up to date with what is going on in the world!!
Media can of course be discussed in different areas, I also watch and read articles on line and through You Tube such as my previous post regarding #paythedancers however simply the amount of information you can abstract from a local or national newspaper is outstanding. I remember when the concept of Barre Yoga sprouted which is a class combining exercises from the Ballet barre and Yoga. I read in the 'Cambridge Evening News'  new classes had started in a dance school near me and they were advertising a free trial lesson as an incentive.
I also find value in reading, the old fashioned way, not on a kindle but a paper back book. I rarely find the time these days but I always regard what I am reading whether fictional or not, a source of information, an inspiration, reawakening mental creativity and most of all simply making you think.

Personal Accounts 

Although I never kept a diary or blog, I like to look back on photographs, videos, and my own pieces of work and analyse myself both then and now. From making comparisons and noting any differences, I can see my progression and also any lapses in my development. I have learnt a lot about myself through looking back at old photographs and asking why was I so happy/sad at that time? What was good in my life, what wasn't?  A scrap book for me is a great way to record a certain time in your life and later when you look back and read it again sometimes you are surprised about what you had forgotten and what had changed.

Conclusion

So there are my top 5 most important sources of information. The vast amount of information at hand and the numerous ways to source this means that as professionals we should find a way to organize the results of our research and always consider the credibility of a source before settling for the first answer you discover. When sourcing information it is essential to remember alongside credibility; copyright and confidentiality issues, particularly a common problem when researching from the internet. Personally, I believe if you research thoroughly you will notice any obsolete information 1. If it is not backed up with other sources 2. If the information found is contrasting to your further research 3. Whether the site is regarded ' Official' or not, although this is not always easy.
Currently there are sources of information which I feel I manage quite well. My research for tasks on this course is highlighted, noted and filed in a ring binder with any course notes I have made so that If I need to refer back to a particular task I have everything there right in front of me. I am one for printing and filing rather than reading off a computer screen!! Similarly with my emails, I have separate folders for my inbox allowing me to quickly access and find information. On the other hand, there are definitely ways to improve and progress. I have considered creating a separate personal and professional Facebook and Email. As I am currently Teaching in a new school and working on summer show pieces, a professional Facebook page would allow me to comment and post on the school page which the children use to post their rehearsals and performances and fellow Teachers use to praise or thank their class for working hard! It is definitely something I am considering at the moment.

Interesting Clip supporting #paythedancers as Dancers are expected to work for free!!

I find this really interesting to watch as it is an issue I discussed in Task 2d regarding what do you feel you don't understand and what angers you. It has always been an issue with companies advertising a dance job as 'voluntary' simply because they know performers are always looking for work and to develop their professional CV/profile. It's reassuring to know this has been so popular and sparked performers to step forward and speak up regarding the issue of unfair treatment. 

Task 3b 'Theories Relating to Networking'

Task 3b 'Theories Relating to Networking'

The opportunity for networking and information available through a network is something that is continually developing and far exceeds what was available only a few years ago. It is the ability to sift through the vast amount of information and support to find what is relevant and meaningful to you as an individual which makes networking all the more useful.

After looking at Reader 3 I could begin to see my current engagement with the key concepts, which I will talk about below, and how I already apply them to my networking now. After further reading I had a deeper understanding of how I could develop my networking both socially and professionally.

Cooperation

Cooperation, throughout numerous professional practices, is a fundamental and proficient concept which we will take part in our every day lives! Cooperation is an interesting paradox. A positive example which is constructive 'Tit for Tat' cooperation (Robert Axelrods 1984) suggesting that I would want others to benefit from my knowledge equally as much as I benefit from theirs. The social interaction of individuals within a network and the 'collaboration fostered within these social groups' essentially produces the knowledge (Driscoll 2000). On the other hand "Should a friend keep providing favors to another friend who never reciprocates? Should a business provide prompt service to another business that is about to be bankrupt?" Human nature means we are likely to cooperate until a point of benefit, whether that is cooperating fully or to make gains at the expense of others. It is interesting that cooperation has been linked to 'Game Theory' and to look at the point in which we defect from cooperation. When do we start defecting and competing? This seemingly harsh notion of ' cooperate until you have reached maximum benefit and then leave' is suggestive or regular patterns of human behavior which made apparent by Axelrod provides 'more effective results'.

If the opponent previously was cooperative, the subject to is cooperative. If not, the subject will not.

“This strategy is dependent on four conditions, which have allowed it to become the most successful strategy for the iterated prisoner's dilemma:

1.Unless provoked, the agent will always cooperate

2.If provoked, the agent will retaliate

3.The agent is quick to forgive

4.The agent must have a good chance of competing against the opponent more than once.”

I found it hard to accept this 'Game Theory' happens in our daily lives and that people defect from cooperating with others to get where they want to be. After questioning this concept however, it makes sense that an individual would be no longer willing to cooperate once they have realized there is no more to gain, particularly if that person or network is not something deeply meaningful to them. I do however think that I can sometimes be naive to this as I don't always think before I do something for somebody else, what would they do for me?

An example where we work together for our own selfish needs can be seen where tribes, cities and nations form and work together not necessarily to protect one another but to protect themselves and what's theirs. Whilst reading Carla Mason's Blog I found interesting her answer to why we behave like we do. "We are physically and intellectually stronger together than alone. Also, ultimately most of us have the same ambitions and goals in life. We commonly strive, for example, for good health, security and a sense of belonging."

Linking this theory to my professional networks I have experienced an audition where you will help and work with your friends or colleagues on choreography and then when it comes to the fight for the job it is time to defect and give that extra something to ensure selection. This is something I found challenging when it came to auditions. It is essentially cooperating for benefit until defect when it comes to the 'crunch'. This put strains on friendships and aroused fellow students to have negative attitudes towards others causing friction in a class. This is hard to balance. Cooperation is needed to ensure a professional, positive working environment and relationship however in an industry which has been labelled 'dog eat dog' is it possible to create and maintain this equilibrium?

Furthermore, cooperation to competition is something that we as humans take part in throughout our lives whether it be consciously or subconsciously. I thought Hannah Shepherd's blog regarding how people maintain certain contacts "just in case" they should ever be useful in the future, was something I could relate to and found acceptance that this is going to happen in the industry we are walking into. It's not always the case that we dislike these contacts, there may be friendships or mutual interests, but somewhere there will be a more selfish reason for keeping these connections. Hannah writes "While this is happening, we in turn are being used by these very same contacts for exactly the same reason. We may be beneficial to them at some point. This is a form of mutual cooperation."

This concept has sparked examples from my own life and personal situations as well as allowing me to apply it to examples I see in society. This has helped me to get more value out of my professional networking by cooperating with a particular group of people and bearing in mind whether or not my networking is still beneficial to others and to me after a period of time. Having read into this concept it makes me more aware of the balance of cooperation versus competition amongst a group of like minded individuals.

For future networking I now know that I need to cooperate in order to receive cooperation back. If I share information about an audition it is more likely that someone else will share information regarding auditions too, which may be one I hadn't heard of or considered!

I'm sure if I can apply what I have learnt to my networking that I will maximize its potential and develop my professional practice.

Affiliation

Social psychologists have looked into how humans enjoy and benefit from affiliations with others and the reasons why humans form close relationships. It is thought that affiliation is "a social result of psychological processes operating in our brains" (Crisp and Turner 2007) which provides us 'with a network of support that will help us when we are in need'.

"The tendency to affiliate is something people have from early on in their lives" (Larson, Csikszentmihalyi and Graef 1982). "Teenagers were happier, more alert, and more excited when in the company of others than when alone. In contrast, a lack of affiliation may have a lasting negative impact...." (Crisp and Turner, 2007: 266-268) . We all need to affiliate at certain levels to maintain our happiness, it is part of being a healthy human being.

We have a subconscious mutual respect for one another's preferred levels of social interaction and privacy. Altman described his theory of 'privacy regulation' whereby the desired levels of privacy can change in a matter of hours.I consider myself quite a private person unless around those who are close to me and I can trust their judgement and opinions. The need for affiliation within each of us may differ and the principle of 'Homeostatis' seeks to balance our interactions with others to a preferred level. We can try and match our desired level of interaction with what we are actually experiencing which is known as the 'Optimization principle'. I already balance my interaction with others based on on 'privacy regulation' and 'optimization principle' - depending on the company I am in and my security within a situation my level of affiliation varies and I would not say I am either extrovert or introvert but combine both attributes depending on the variables...it is a method of survival! In my teaching, I feel a level of affiliation between student and teacher is extremely necessary but it is equally important to draw the line for privacy so that the level of respect is not lost.

Similar to the idea of 'privacy regulation' is what O'Connor and Rosenblood refer to as relative and preferred levels of social stimulation. Social Interaction could "vary between cultures" (Hofstede 1980) and may be determined by psychological determinants and individual cultural differences between individuals. Such theories imply that the mass networking available as a tool of Web 2.0 is ideal for people to control their own level of social communication. Because of the internet, learning from others often happens in a virtual space as well as face-to-face. It takes time and effort to evaluate and develop whilst maintaining awareness of your professional practice.

I like the way within Reader 3 that networks grow sideways and upwards. In experience, sideways for me offers the support and teaching of new elements of the practice and from the ‘above’ we accept jobs and opportunities. The latter is probably in many cases a relationship through convenience ie to get a job or progressing career levels. I feel that the sideways connections are a stronger bonded relationship and the ‘above’ are surface relationships where actions are slightly less genuine. As mentioned in Reader 3 'It is up to each practitioner to see how to grow their professional networks sideways as well as upwards into the established hierarchy'.

Connectivism

The progression of society and constant regeneration of technology is altering the way we learn. In the past, information transferred from teacher to student was a very valuable and reputable theory, however in todays culture with the web being a prolific part of our daily lives, we have a smaller need for a classroom set up and learn by interacting with networks. According to connectivist theorists the traditional teaching methods are less effective than connecting with others and making sense of the information through our own, and others, experiences. The theory has been evolved as we currently learn more through communities such as  professional networks or even through liasing with people via a social network which is supported by a constant 'flow' of knowledge and experience in many sectors or topics. "...technology has reorganized how we live, how we communicate, and how we learn. Learning needs and theories that describe learning principles and processes, should be reflective of underlying social environments." (Siemens, G 2004)

I connect both socially and professionally to essentially keep up with the times. If I need to know how to do something my initial thought is Google or Web Search and often when I turn to someone else for the answer and they don't know it they automatically say 'Google It' which I'm sure is a phrase familiar to most!! It's is undeniable that I am learning in a different way to say how my parents learnt when they were my age. I don't reject the process of learning through a teacher as sometimes a personal face to face interaction can be just the guidance needed however it is inevitable that the ever developing and modernising world is providing us with vast sources of knowledge and opportunities to learn without time or location being a hurdle! It will in the future continue to grow and flourish offering opportunities for businesses and people to connect across the world.

Social Constructionism

This theory of connectivity is part of the explanations regarding the meaning of the world, through our own creation and construction we understand it. This suggests that we can create meaning and values to a group/network and contribute through engagement. "Life is what you make it. Always has been always will be." Eleanor Roosevelt (1884-1962).

When we become part of a new network its meaning is not predetermined. It is through using these networks and interacting with others that we decide for ourselves; the values of these networks, our preferred engagement and to what extend we commit to them. "Meaning emerges when consciousness engages with them." Merleau-Ponty implies to find meaning, you do not discover it but construct it.

Ultimately through our interactions we can make meaning. It is through the values we attribute, ways of engagement and willingness to contribute selflessly the to network which will reveal new opportunities, ways of thinking and practicing. Network Dance and Dancers Pro are great ways of finding our about new auditions and castings however if dancers did not create profiles and remain actively engaged in the network, companies and agents would stop posting as there would be no interest to advertise on an unactive network. It is important that we are clear of our motives for our participation in networking...after all it is what we make it!

Communities of Practice

This type of learning is the process of engagement in social relations rather than a process of acquisition of knowledge and according to cognitive anthropologists Jean Lave & Etienne Wenger, a group of people who share a craft and/or profession. Essentially a mixture of people who have common interests can be part of group where thoughts and opinions can be shared inspiring new thinking and development of ideas.The communities only function through mutual engagement and rely on the community sharing their knowledge with each other rather than one or two individuals in a hierarchy.

As a dancer, we rely on shared knowledge to help us with the numerous questions which are continually inspired by the evolving industry. Questions regarding injury prevention, choreographic ideas, what to wear for an audition, preparing for an audition, exercises, nutrition, the list goes on. It is through sharing your experiences and others sharing theirs that we begin to gain information and learn from those who have 'experienced'. I personally find great value in this theory as the more involved I become in a network the more I have to gain and benefit in aid to further my career.

I have touched upon ethical considerations for networking in a previous post as what we post, share and allow others to know about us, is something which although has its benefits as spoken about in the various theories behind networking, can also effect and determine our professional practice and success. Since persuing the BAPP course I believe that it should be compulsory that from a young age we are educated on ethical use and awareness of social and professional networks. Even though I didn't have Facebook until I was 18 I still had a certain naivety then and wouldn't necessarily consider how my social network would interact with any professional networks later in my life. Not only the growth of Web 2.0 but also the advance in technology means that social network sites are now available on phone, ipads, laptops, tablets etc making networking more accessible to society as a whole but in particular younger generations.On the course we are learning via networking and through a community of scholarly practice. Martin Weller talks about ' making choices' in order to maintain a social network without jeopardizing your professional network as the two become ever more combined in todays society.

Overall 

From the task and exploration work I can see the importance of such theories and will now take into consideration my application of these fundamental strategies. With a better understanding I am able to self reflect on my work/practice and develop my professional goals through the interaction, dedication, and participation in networking.

With regards to why and how we network socially and professionally, that this particular task delves into, I found the following question an interesting discussion between scholars and between students on their own blogs. Is professional networking an extension of our innate need to affiliate with others?
Although, whether consciously or subconsciously, I can see examples of these theories are active in my current networking as a natural way of life, professional networking is something that I feel has to be recognized as a tool and a decision to further develop our careers. For me, it seems that professional networking is not so instinctive but instead a skill which I will develop and progress in, particularly through reading, networking and learning on the BAPP course. What are your thoughts?

Task 3A 'Current Networks'

Task 3A ‘Current Networks’


The networks I am currently involved in:


Facebook-

· To keep in contact with friends and family in various destinations around the world

· To upload photographs/videos if what I am currently doing

· Inspiration

· Keeping up to date with the Dance world – auditions, jobs, opportunities.

· Informal approach to networking



Twitter-

I have Twitter however I do not ever really use it!

· Inspiration

· Daily Quotations

· Keeping up to date with the Celebrity world

· Keeping up to date with Classes, Auditions and Choreographers



Emails-

· Job and Career opportunities – applying via email

· Local events and gigs

· Personal organisation

· Slightly more professional way of Networking than using Facebook email!



Instagram –

Instagram has to be one of my favourites! Why? It tends to be more positive than Facebook with inspiring pictures/ videos and quotations to boost your mind set!

· Inspiration

· To upload photographs/videos

· Play with simple photography – something I enjoy!

· Follow and be kept up to date of trends


I use Facebook on a daily basis to communicate with my friends (including colleagues) and family and also for inspiration purposes through photos, videos and to learn from other professionals in the Performing Arts Industry. It is undeniably a great way to stay in touch as almost everybody has facebook these days. Although I’d rather keep my professional and social networking separate I have not yet created a professional Facebook page but is something I hope to work on in the near future. It seems almost absurd that Facebook which comes with such a stigma is used for professional networking however from experience it is a network that Professional Choreographer, Dancers, Agents, and Companies all use as a form of keeping up to date in the industry, advertising auditions/castings/photo shoots and can unveil great opportunities. I know former students who have been messaged on Facebook as all the choreographer has is a name and a face they remembered from a particular class or workshop offering them an invite to a private audition or even a dancing job straight off! It is easier nowadays for people to find and contact you by simply a name or photo. On the other hand this also carries danger! Privacy is something that people using networking sites really need to consider, particularly those using them for professional reasons, as your personal lifestyle, photos, and comments made by you or others posting on your wall may not be deemed appropriate in a professional situation. Whilst at College it was a rule that our teachers did not add or accept students on Facebook as it was regarded as unprofessional until we had graduated and become working professionals ourselves. I completely agree. It seems that children get past age limitations as a growing number of children under the age of 10 actually use the site! Films have a certification deeming what’s appropriate for an 18 year old is not appropriate for the eyes of anyone under that age. However on Facebook children can have access to older people pages where the content is not suitable. As a Teacher I am very aware of this as there may be things on my page as an adult which would not be fitting for my younger students to see.

Building a Network through classes is something I have found relevant in this profession. Not only do I attend class to maintain and continually work on my technique but also as a way of meeting and networking with fellow dancers, teachers and choreographers. It is an opportunity for you to showcase your skill and you never know who is watching!!

Networking with fellow colleagues is a great way to converse, learn and reflect. In the staff room you can often come across conversations regarding problems or challenges a colleague has faced and by the end of the discussion the colleague has considered new ways to confront the problem, taken on advice and has a more positive approach to the situation, using others knowledge and experience to gage their own. You can also discover information which could be useful for your own development by talking to those with similar or ‘common’ interests. As I was talking with a colleague regarding teaching opportunities within our city we bounced off each other’s ideas discussing what was missing and whether or not it was something we could change. Networking definitely provokes food for thought!


Some professionals have their own websites or You Tube channel for posting their work, this form of networking is a perfect tool for connecting and advertising YOU. Setting up a You Tube channel is definitely something I would like to do once I have a strong enough portfolio of work to put up on the web for my own professional networking.

Since starting Bapp, I have signed up to Flickr and of course become part of Blogger and the blogging community! At the moment I don’t think I use them as much as I should to reap the benefits but I am definitely expanding my knowledge of social media and looking forward to the not so obvious social networking communities! It has opened my eyes to how these sites can allow other people (including agents, choreographers or teaching panels) to ‘see’ you without meeting in person. Some career prospects whether that is an audition or interview are not always easily accessible for instance a cruise ship or dancing contract which is in another country, and this is why social networking and Web 2.0 is essential in my professional practice. By simply ‘advertising’ myself in the correct way and on networks which are current and interactive in the industry I would open up doors for my career and development.

I am particularly excited about the variety of networking sites which I was not aware existed that are designed for Dancers, Teachers and supporting Performers in the tough industry! Through reading other blogs I have become more aware of auditions and casting opportunities.

I like to believe that a person’s motive for being part of a network is a moral and valuable reason and not to cause harm, offence or to make someone feel inferior to them. Unfortunately not everyone has the same affirmative ethics. I know of a few cases where people have befriended others simply for information or a stepping stone in the industry. Of course we all want to strive to be the most successful and although stepping on others may get them there quicker personally I feel I would rather work harder to get there, make and keep friends and morals along the way! The Performing Arts Industry can be fickle and working out who are your real friends is not always an easy task!

My ideal Network would be as mentioned above; a valuable and respected community which would bring together all those interested in Performing Arts. Giving them a place to advertise and post about current work, comment on posts, share information and knowledge and be able to communicate freely any queries or advice. It would accommodate for the aspiring performer, those in training, those qualified and those already professionally working. The knowledge and experience of those in the professional field would offer those not quite there yet the guidance and support and also any tips in being a successful practitioner. Something like an interactive Facebook group or a website connected by Facebook. In order to develop this I would need to first connect with the people who I’d like to bring together in the community and secondly using the tools of Web 2.0, develop and broaden the appeal to ensure the network is current, interactive and stimulating to its members. Essentially the network would need to be easily accessed and a use ‘on the go’ style system to fit around the life of a busy working professional.

As illustrated in the Reader, our effective engagement of Professional Networking may well impact on our success, promotion and development, our sense of worth and fulfillment, and even enjoyment in our working lives.

Task 2d - Inquiry

• What in your daily practice gets you really enthusiastic to find out more about? Who do you admire who also works with what makes you enthusiastic?

• What gets you angry or makes you sad? Who do you admire who shares your feelings or has found away to work around the sadness or anger?
• What do you love about what you do? Who do you admire who also seems to love this or is an example of what you love?
• What do you feel you don’t understand? Who do you admire who does seem to understand it or who has found a way of making not understanding it interesting or beautiful, or has asked the same questions as you?
• How do you decide the appropriate ethical response in a given situation? To what extent are disciplinary responses different to that you might expect more generally in society? For example, what level of physical contact would you deem appropriate (and not) from another professional that you would find unacceptable more generally? Why?

In my daily practice, one thing that makes me feel enthusiastic and helps shake off any negativity is walking. I love being outdoors, in fresh air and particularly around water; whether that’s a walk along the river or on a beach. After travelling to Malaysia and Australia I became aware of UNESCO world heritage sites. I have visited a few on my travels one standing out being the WhitSundays in Australia and I am very excited to be visiting further sites in Vietnam and Cambodia in May. Below is the link to the UNESCO website if you fancy a look!

http://whc.unesco.org/

Although not part of my professional practice I find it prepares me for exactly this, particularly if I am stressed or having a bad day! It may sound odd but standing on a high point of land whether that is a mountain or simply a hill in my home town and looking over the city allows me to reflect on things, make decisions away from any influence and realise how small my problems are in the scale of things. Like I discovered on a fellow students blog – when you look at the scale of the earth, space and the unknown our third world problems seem so time wasting and insignificant. I also think about this a lot. I should be grateful for everything I have and for the facilities we have around us and possibilities which other people can only dream of makes me think it would be so selfish to not try for my dreams and ambitions which are not so farfetched for me in the place I live and support around me. There are many places I would like to visit for walking, sightseeing and places of reflection all which help me put things into perspective and give me time to work on me.

I’m sure not only this being a trait in my personality it is also influenced by my job working as a reservations consultant for Premier Holidays and learning, training and experiencing some of the most fascinating places in the world. Another aspect of my work that brings me enthusiasm and satisfaction is the happiness our tailor made itineraries can bring to our clients. Some clients have particular requirements whether it may be their honeymoon, birthday celebration, or for some an escape from the troubles they made be or have faced in their lives. In the particular case where I was creating a family’s last trip due to the father suffering from cancer I found such passion and emotive connection to make the trip everything they dreamed of.

I also became fascinated by the ‘Frozen Planet’ Documentary by Sir David Attenborough. Here is the link to a website on Sir David's works: http://www.davidattenborough.co.uk

In my dance practice, daily I am enthused by links from youtube on facebook, uploads on Instagram by performers and particularly by my students with their dedication, hard work and progress. Being witness to perseverance, improvement and growing confidence is the most inspirational feeling I have found since dancing and performing myself. Having been through the hardship of professional training I understand the need to rekindle passion and motivation as those are the qualities I found were drained from performers when they got tired, frustrated and worried about moving into the professional realm. Having seen this with my own eyes and experienced it myself it encouraged me to not let people’s passion fade or die, or to let the enjoyment and love be sucked out of dancing. As flamboyant as his character may be I always recall a workshop with Louis Spence in which he turned on the music, shut his eyes, forgot where or who he was and began dancing like he was completely in a world of his own. He actually got so carried away that the class was standing for 15 minutes of our hour workshop watching him in the space. We experienced and learnt about passion, emotion and confidence in 15 minutes of Louis floating around the studio!!

In the dance world there are too many people who inspire me to be able to mention in one blog however I will mention the most forth coming.

Hofesh Schecter became a huge inspiration to me in my second year of training. I was lucky to have the opportunity to workshop with such down to earth, hard-working, talented professional members of the company. We had a term to explore the ‘Hofesh technique’ which was challenging and awe-inspiring how the dancers moved effortlessly between different levels, sinking into the floor silently and transitioning eloquently into improvisation. We worked a lot with improvisation and I overcome many fears in there supportive and encouraging workshops. We would take an hour of the class looking inwards and feeling, moving and leading with a certain limb or part of the body and how using this can awaken the entire body. The experience has been great to reflect upon and I have learnt a lot from the members of the company who taught and directed us to performance level.

Below is a link to his most current creation:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kc6TZ7jsojc

And an article reviewing his work:

http://www.theguardian.com/stage/2013/oct/31/hofesh-shechter-sun-sadlers-wells-review

This quotation from the website www.thelowry.com which discusses the work of various choreographers describes Shechter as “one of the UK’s most exciting contemporary artists, gaining international acclaim for his raw, honest choreography and atmospheric music scores.” His current piece ‘Sun’ is a prime example of this quotation. The choreography of Sun illustrates how “The world is perfect. From the darkness of Shechter’s emotive and often angry world emerges a bright white light dancing out of the smoke and chaos.” Schecter’s unique and innovative use of music, lighting and costume which complements his powerful choreography makes him, in my eyes, a God of the dance world.

What fascinates me is you start to find yourself relating and understanding the meaning or stimuli and then all of a sudden you are thrown into something which is uncomfortable and often shocking or contrasting which branches off to a whole other way of feeling. His strong use of contrast, whether it be, floor work to aerial, light to dark, hard to soft, happy to sad, solo to group makes every performance a thrill to watch and spurs adrenaline for the unknown.

A line of enquiry I am really interested in is the use of contrast within choreography. How does this affect the performance physically and emotionally? And how does this affect both performer and audience?

With Regards to the question, What do you feel you don’t understand? …. There are lots of things I don’t understand! Something that I can’t get my head around is that so many talented dancers and performers are out of work and working in a job they do not want to do simply to pay the bills. Having been in this situation myself it frustrates me that the money I earned, because I am qualified as a dancer and not in an ‘academic subject’, is not competitive enough to comfortably afford living, a car, social events, bills, gym membership and dance classes let alone pay for headshots or auditions. Sometimes this means my dancing would feel like it was slipping away from me and the longer I was out of it the harder it became to get back into it. Fortunately I decided to take a leap of faith and hand my notice in my ‘bill payer’ job to make money teaching dance, that way I can stay fit, have time on my hands for my studies and for any auditions and when hours are not plentiful I continually put the effort in to email or call around for teaching opportunities.

What angers me is why as dancers we seem to have such a low profile in the public eye. Continually more and more 'reality stars' or 'born famous' people are being used in Pantos and even West End without professional training. Of course it’s important to pull in an audience and advertise names known to the public to increase popularity of the show however this jeopardises the opportunities for trained professionals especially with the ever growing number of performers entering the industry every year! The following article is one I found an interesting read with views from choreographers, critics, spokeswoman for Dance UK, and the dancers themselves telling their opinion on the treatment of dancers.

http://www.thestage.co.uk/news/2012/05/former-pussycat-doll-kimberly-wyatt-joins-calls-for-better-treatment-of-dancers/

I can relate to the comment made by Kimberley Wyatt that “Dancers are at the bottom of the totem pole when it comes to the entertainment industry – the way they are treated, paid, and the opportunities that come their way. A dancer works their entire life to be good at what they do, and when they aren’t given the opportunities or respect or appreciation, it is such a shame.” Of course it is a very tough industry which is only made harder by the fact that in most auditions you can be cut if you don’t have the right look or image despite whether you are actually the more talented dancer. It has been made harder since the recession and funding cuts in the Entertainment Industry and Wyatt depicts that the industry “moves in cycles”…” whereas dance was once what audiences wanted to see, people were currently more interested in singers and music programmes.”

The former West End dancer added: “In musicals they are frequently paid less than the singers, musicians, actors and stage management. All this in spite of their years of conservatoire training, incredibly high levels of expertise and their, all too often, short careers.” She added that dancers “deserve greater respect, remuneration and recognition for their talent and skill”. The article from The Stage which is currently raising awareness of the treatment of dancers is significant in my research.

After researching additional views I found an article online in which Claire Sheridan, founder of Liberal Education for Arts Professionals (LEAP), discusses how the workplace culture of ballet has a sorry history. “Traditionally, dancers are expected to tolerate abuse and insults from artistic directors and choreographers, work in pain, and live in poverty. They routinely sacrifice their education. Adult professionals are still called “boys” and “girls.” And when injuries end their career (usually by age 30), most dancers, ill-prepared for the future, are simply dismissed with no pension.” Although this article is predominately about the treatment of ballet dancers the point made in regards to being called ‘boys’ and ‘girls’ when an adult working professional is something I have always though inappropriate and rather condescending.

It is something which from time to time makes me question my choice of career but despite all, dancers have and will continue to put up with this kind of treatment as it is a passion and a love for what you do which makes you unable to consider changing profession!

Bapp has made me realise that I am not the only one is this position which can be very reassuring as often in the performing industry it is a combination of ups and downs, success and failed attempts. So I guess in a way, my fellow Bapp students share the way I feel and you can work around the stress and anger by finding what works for you and by reading others blogs, reflecting on your thoughts and emotions and learning from others too.

A college teacher who is currently in the West End production of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is a huge inspiration to me. He always offered guidance and most importantly his time. He would always have time to talk to you, to advise you or to push to carry on. He is an amazing hard working performer and his personality always shine through, it’s almost like he never has a bad day and every day is worth smiling about! I endeavour to be a bit more like him and have that effect on others too!

What do I love about what I do? - Quite simply, the variety and excitement of the performing industry and being able to share that passion with others is what I love about what I do. I always knew I didn’t want a 9-5pm desk job and having had experience in this field I just knew it was not for me! I remember my first day and meeting senior staff who had worked at the company for over 30 years and thinking how did you last that long? And I know I can’t do this forever! Although the unpredictability of life as a performer can be unsettling it can also be so thrilling that one day you may get a call which could change your lifestyle whether that is flying across the world for training/company work, embarking on a cruise ship or even teaching in a new environment. This almost ‘uncertainty’ gives me adrenaline and excitement for the opportunities which lie ahead.

In my line of work it is highly important that I should be able to decide on the appropriate ethical response in a given situation. In order to do this, I have to take a step back away from the situation and view it from an outsider’s perspective. As a young female teacher, who works predominately with children the majority female, it is natural that over time a bond with the students will form. When the class is considered an extra curriculum activity or ‘outreach’ often children feel that you are more approachable and friendly than one of their stricter English tutors for example where the communication tends to be slightly more formal between student and teacher. Due to this I have to deliberate the implications of my actions and always abide by the safeguarding procedures to ensure the child is protected but also that I am protected as the teacher. There are many horror stories of allegations and situations which have arisen between teacher and student and if the teacher has not followed professional practice there can be severe repercussions.  

A question which can often generate from given situations is: Should the delicate information that has just been disclosed to me by a child be passed on to a higher body of authority? It is important that the child always knows that it would be good for them to talk about what is bothering them however they must be aware that it may be necessary to pass this information on to someone of higher authority.

These are all issues that I have faced and could face regularly when teaching. Disciplinary responses differ to those generally expected in society as it is children who I work with most often and it is important to protect them as well as myself as a teacher.

Whilst in theatre school as a child it was accepted that the teacher would and could use physical contact in a dance lesson when trying to demonstrate an idea, e.g posture correction or use of arm in ballet. Nowadays however, it is important that teachers should not physically correct a student but recognise the power and the importance of the spoken word in order to be able to correct and alter technique.

Carrying out this task has given me plenty to consider with regards to my inquiry, but, I am still not sure what direction to take. I am, however, looking forward to exploring further some of the issues I have raised in this task.

Task 2b 'Reflective writing'

My journal experience has been really eye opening to me. I never imagined that you could learn from writing down your thoughts, feelings and day to day life activities as well as deepening your reflective journey enabling you to learn and flourish. Writing a journal is a new concept to me and I must admit at first I found it more of a chore each evening than something I enjoyed doing however using the various methods of journal writing outlined in the Reader has enabled me to find a way that works for me and I have discovered the importance of learning from experience.

When I opened my journal I bought to start writing, I found inspiration from the short message quoted by the designer which was printed on the first page. It said “There’s something inspiring about opening a brand new journal, with is fresh, clean pages so full of possibility. The thing I love about journals is they can be anything you want them to be. I hope you’ll use these journals for all the meaningful projects in your life, or for simply reflecting on your hopes and dreams.” Martha Stewart. These simple words reassured me that a journal can’t be right or wrong it’s for you as an individual to put your personal thoughts, feelings and experiences down on paper. It does not limit you to writing lengthy essays you can simply draw diagrams, list points, mind map or use it in a scrap book fashion, whatever works for you.

The first method I adopted for my journal was ‘Description’. This involved recounting what had happened to me throughout my day concentrating on what, when and where. This form of journal writing is one that I would naturally adopt if I were to write a journal – I think it appears the most obvious to start with the basic facts and then add the detail after. Despite this, having tried other methods after my research and reading I found other styles which suited me more. I prefer to have a clear lay out with elements of illustration and visual appeal rather than a long paragraph of text which I found the outcome of descriptive journal logging.

The second form I experimented with was ‘Initial Reflection’. I focused on the events of my day; how they made me feel at the time and how my mood was affected by certain happenings. I found this time effective and soothing as it felt like a release of the emotions that you capture throughout the day. The expressive account made it easily accessible for reflection and learning. For instance, when I looked back on a day’s entry I could see what I felt and could see how my feelings or thoughts have changed since that moment. The only negative comment is that I could not always recall what I had done that day to see what had made me feel how I felt as usually it is not one thing that’s evokes your emotions in a day it is hundreds of little things.

Thirdly I tried out writing ‘lists’, again a very time effective way of recording your day. I write lists all the time, to do lists, shopping lists, expenses, all which enable me to organize my tasks and priorities but also to organize my brain so I don’t have to remember everything I think of in a day I can simply write it down on my list and let the thought go!! This also enabled me to jot down any potential sparks of inspiration before they are lost and I found that listing can relieve a lot of stress as sometimes there is too much to think of! I’ve never really looked back at my lists as a means of deep reflection as a list can be unspecific, undescriptive – ie the use of bullet points, and would not necessarily recall what you did that day or how you felt. On the other hand, my expenses list I suppose I do reflect upon. Looking at what I have spent or saved and how I can increase my savings is learning from reflecting on past experiences. Maybe there are certain areas where a list would be useful for reflection?? I joined up to Listography and enjoyed looking through the lists that people had written. Some were so creative and inspirational which gave me ideas for my own lists. A few years ago I downloaded an app called ‘bucket list’ where I would record things I wanted to do and achieve in my lifetime. I love ticking things off the list and adding to it too with new ideas and aspirations.

‘Evaluation’ is a technique which enabled me to analyse and criticize myself which I feel is paramount as a reflective practitioner and for any journal writer. Thinking about what went well, what worked, what didn’t, and if there is any room for improvement and recording these questions and answers is key to professional growth, improvement and successful reflective practice. Without these imperative questions and evaluation my journal would seem incomplete or empty as with true assessment of your past actions you can overcome challenges and change your future for the good!

With the notion of constructing graphs, charts and diagrams to record my thoughts and events, I began to think that maybe this would not be the most practical or sufficient way in my line of work. Whilst I can appreciate that this type of journalism would be useful for data capture such as number of students in your class, progress over a term or year or for fitness records I did not find it stimulating enough for deep reflection or self-analysis. Although recording data in graphs and charts contributed to my visual and methodical learning I felt it did not ‘dig deep’ enough into learning from past experiences and personal outlooks. I gave it a go by using www.ehow.co.uk and made a pie chart to record my day.

This made me question my productivity and whether there was anything I could do to use my time more wisely to make me complete my ‘To Do’s’ but also to ensure I am having free time to relax and de-stress! An article which particularly inspired me regarding the importance of a work and play balance was from the website www.wellsource.com where by Oprah Winfrey who has spent decades in the spotlight as a talk-show host, entrepreneur, and philanthropist, while she admittedly works a lot, recognizes the importance of making time to play. “If you neglect to recharge a battery, it dies,” Winfrey says. “And if you run full-speed ahead without stopping for water, you lose momentum to finish the race.” Using graphs allowed me to assess my own work/play balance which will fundamentally affect my productivity and learning capacity.

The ‘What If?’ writing style was the next I adopted. I asked myself the following questions: What would I love to happen? What would I hate to happen? What could have happened? This I thought would be a good end to a journal. So perhaps after your day has been outlined and evaluated it would be useful to think of these questions and jot down your ideas. To discover possible outcomes, hopes, dreams and even fears opened a new expressive door for me. The thought of ‘maybe I can achieve more’ gave me the motivation to go the extra mile to make what ‘I would love to happen’ more realistic and obtainable; rather than something I hope for but take no step into achieving it. Considering what could happen also pushes to be more proactive, if a problem arises you would have previously thought about the possible resolutions and outcomes and would be able to deal with the problem there and then and not feel completely overwhelmed as you have prepared even for the improbable.

Writing from ‘Another view’ was the most challenging task for me. This involved writing about my day from the perspective of another person or object. Imagine how they would see the day. What their thoughts may have been. Imagining my day through somebody else’s eyes provided me with a panoramic view of me in my experience and also others in theirs. This gave me a more impartial view and allowed me to look deeper without the initial emotional attachment adapting my thoughts. “To reread the journal is to see oneself seeing” (Grumet, M 1990 from the book ‘Learning Journal’). By rereading my journal I could observe myself seeing and feeling in any particular moment!

I believe this will help me, particularly as a teacher, to look at an event from the student’s perspective in order to understand their outlook of the class and keep them fully engaged throughout the lesson by assessing their thoughts, needs and emotions. This would particularly come into effect if there happened to be a disagreement. I recall at college there sometimes being a disagreement between pupil and teacher and having been in a situation where the teacher would not listen to the pupil or see from their eyes because ‘they are the teacher’ and ‘it is the tough profession you’re in’ or ‘you need to be able to take criticism because you won’t walk into your first audition and get the job you have to work hard for it’, although valid points, sometimes the teacher will not allow themselves to see through the eyes of a student which can cause tension and upset particularly if the pupil is dealing with personal issues at the time. It is a hard line as although you should leave your problems outside the studio and take on your professional manor, there are times when this isn't feasible- we are only human! I think that this style of writing will develop my teaching skills and aid my learning in professional practice.

Having tried out a variety of journal writing styles I have come to realize the importance of challenging yourself to try new ways of working as what you are used to or adopt naturally is not necessarily the most useful or effective!! It’s interesting to read blogs that complement your ways of thinking and working and also those that contrast – after all there is no right and wrong all that matters is simply what works best for you individually and why! This task has helped me see how to use my journal to its full advantage, improving my practice and deepening my reflective understanding. Overall, I cannot depict one style which facilitated my learning instead it was a hybrid of styles I discovered. From the methods I tried I believe that the ‘What if’, ‘Lists’ and ‘Evaluation’ methods where the most educating for me personally. They allowed me to achieve a better maturity to my work and reflect about my personal and work environment, what I have learnt from it and what I can learn from it.

In conclusion, Journal writing has given me the chance to, in private and with my own freedom; find what works for me to achieve better results in my routine and work. I end with a final sentence which made me feel positive about looking back on past experiences “learning through reflection is not always about what you did wrong, it can also be about what you did right.” We can all learn from the bad and the good in our lives!

Task 2A ‘Reflective Practice’ and 2C ‘Reflective Theory’

Task 2A ‘Reflective Practice’ and 2C ‘Reflective Theory’

As I began writing an introduction to task 2A I found myself linking the Theory I had read in the Reader to the task of Journal writing. The theory I read taught me more about the task and what I would learn from it.

Initially when I read the task in hand I was unsure of how to approach it. As somebody who deals with most situations and tasks in life in my head, the concept of sharing those thoughts and writing them down in a journal style intimidated me. Keeping a journal is something that has never appealed to me purely because I don’t feel I would have anything to put in it. I recall my skype induction with Paula Nottingham in which I discussed with her the difficulty I find to express what I feel or think into words. Paula asked me to give her an example of a conversation I had with a colleague that day. When I told her the conversation we had she found an array of topics and opinions which could be reflected on and unknowingly things I had learnt or could learn from such an ordinary conversation. I found it fascinating that what I found to be normal in my life could actually be of interest and aid learning in others. This is when I realised I really should reflect more on my past and present experiences in order to turn experiences into learning; "Find meaning and give meaning to what we are doing". By writing down my thoughts and feelings I will be able to physically flick back to any point or event in my life and learn from it.

Task 2A asks us to keep a journal to explore your own thoughts, in a format appropriate to your needs. Simply by looking back on my notes from the very start of the BAPP course it has become evident to me that I have to brainstorm, highlight, illustrate text and make notes which make sense to me personally in order to allow myself to fully understand the tasks set out in the course. I have used this tool for learning since school, through my A Levels, Diploma and in my current studies. Before now I never thought about the ways in which I learn however I can see at this moment that I have always subconsciously used reflection and adopted ways of learning that have worked for me in the past.

Although this learning style works for me it will be very interesting to see if any of the other suggestions for Journal writing in the Reader work for me also. I will try out and evaluate each of the styles.

There is an assumption for many people that thinking and writing are linked. “Writing is a means of puzzling through what is happening in our work and our personal lives…” Boud (2001). This maybe because the main way that we share ideas in today’s world is through written text – books, blogs, texts, letters. It will be part of my professional development to puzzle through’ ideas and find ways of thinking that work best for me.This is where I begin to write my Journal to which I will come back to for Task 2B as I discover the eclectic styles of Journal writing.

Reflection is about active thinking and active looking for ways to understand the real life activities you engage in. It is a way to find meaning and give meaning to what you are doing.

Reflective practice is key to a number of professions, particularly those involved in a process of change such as Performing or Medical professions where the techniques, knowledge, demand and continually updating technology enhance the way we work, learn and progress.

Reflection is vital where Work Based Learning is concerned as it is the experience of doing something that will give you knowledge. Finding the knowledge that we are missing is the first step of understanding what we don’t know. In order to find the knowledge I am missing I need to experience and drive myself to do things out of my comfort zone for my own self development.

Having read reader 2, I discovered the different methods and hypotheses that theorists had written about in order to establish what we perceive as Reflection and its importance. I realised that there are many different ways of learning and as such different types of ‘learners’ evident in Howard Gardners (2005) article illustrating Visual, Auditory and Kinaesthetic learners as “Multiple Lenses”. By using this term he depicts that you should not be limited or labelled as one type of learner but instead use each ‘lense’ as a tool for understanding how you and others learn. He believes this will give value to the different ways we can engage with real world experiences. I particularly related to Gardeners concept of Multiple Intelligences as experience tells me that I learn from experience by engaging in these different intelligences.

From reading through various articles I feel as if I have almost ‘found reflection’ in a sense of relating ways of learning to my own experience. I always understood that you learn from experience, even from a young age if you were to touch something hot you learn not to do it again because it will hurt. When reading John Dewey’s reflection as ‘education as an experiential action’ I learnt that by “continual reorganisation, reconstruction and transformation of experience” we learn from doing/experiencing. (Dewey 1916).

Alongside learning from ‘doing’, David Kolb put forward the extended theory that there are 4 main ways of learning:

Concrete experience, Reflective observations, Abstract conceptualisation and Active experimentation.

This concept seems to strengthen my learning from multiple intelligences. Whilst thinking about my own teaching practice, the question that arose in my head were: Do I reflect throughout the class or does the reflection happen after the class? I began to look at Lewin’s idea of a ‘staircase of learning’ and Kolb’s idea of a learning circle, the idea being that the point at which you start to learn and find meaning is your entry point into the circle. An example of these concepts in my own personal life is evident in the production of my blog. At the start of the BAPP course I learnt about blogging using reflective observation – looking through other peoples’ blogs. I think I will use this predominately throughout the course as by evaluating others ideas, thoughts and knowledge I was able to find inspiration to aid my own learning.

Staircase

• Action
• Planning
• Evaluation
• Action
• Planning (Research)
• Fact Finding
• Idea

David Kolbs Cycle Analogy

Where you enter the cycle is determined by the point at which you 'realise'/start to learn something new or notice that knowledge is missing.

Alongside reflective observation, an important vice for my personal learning and development is through active experimentation. For instance, whilst choreographing I will try out ideas and if they work I will keep them or if they don’t work I will look to adapt or completely change the original idea. Through this action I am learning by trying out ideas. I see there being a fine line between active experimentation and concrete experience as both involve doing the action. It will be interesting to try other learning styles and evaluate the outcome. 

Relating these theories to my own life has made me realise that we are constantly learning both in action and after the action has taken place. When I look back at past actions ‘reflection-on-action’ I find it easier to reflect on my experiences with more knowledge and understanding than I would have done in the present moment. As dancers however we have to adapt and change in the present moment all the time, correcting choreography, alignment, performance and technical skills which illustrate ‘reflection-in-action’. We have to be able to do this as it would be less beneficial and simply not time effective to reflect back on the moment days, weeks or months later. Reflection-in-action is essential for performers as usually we are on a strict time scale for rehearsals and curtain call!! Robert Kottcamp supports this by saying reflection-in-action is harder to achieve but more powerful for improvement. Kottcamp put forward Donald Schon's idea of reflection-in-action as 'online' and reflection-on-action as 'offline'. He depicts that the latter "results in online experiments to adjust and improve one's professional actions".

Having made a connection with these trains of thought and practice in my own life I found further interest in Osterman and Moon’s discussion of Tacit knowledge. I found this to be very significant in my work both as a Dancer and Teacher of Dance. I find myself reacting in the moment frequently. Whilst training you continually adapt choreography and learn from on the spot mistakes for example if you were to lose balance on a turn you change what you are doing to regain stability. Similarly in teaching, you will not always be able to stay strictly to your lesson plan. The lesson is essentially teaching and guiding the students in their learning; thus if they need a longer amount of time to grasp the choreography or need a longer warm up as their muscles are aching or even if the students have questions, then it is sometimes necessary to change and adapt what you are doing in the moment hence ‘online’.

Tufnell, Tharp and Moon have agreed that reflection does not necessarily have to take the form of a written process, but that being able to articulate and communicate it is fundamental. “Without a sense of the body, of sensation and feeling, we lose connection to what is around and within us, to the immediate and present moments of our lives” (Tufnell and Crickmay, 2004). How something feels is crucial to our learning and professional development. As Tharp explains, we are so in tune with our ‘muscle memory’ as dancers that “her memory of movement doesn’t need to be accessed through conscious effort” –it is something that is already there. Having learnt and taught a warm up known to our college as the ‘Bodywork’ warm up it has become muscle memory and my body takes me from one movement to the next without having to think and register the movement in my head. I also find this happens in show pieces which you have been working on in rehearsals. The choreography becomes second nature allowing you to focus on your performance, presence and facial expression on stage as well as the minor and intricate details of the dance. I find great understanding in the point made my Polanyi that “we can know more than we can tell”. When choreographing my audition solo I would lie down and close my eyes to envisage choreography fitting to the music. Why these movements worked for me and why somebody else lying next to me listening to the same music would see something different I can’t express. It is knowing more than we can tell – what works for YOU. It can be extremely difficult to pass on to someone else the vision in your head. How they do something physically and how they looked doing it in your head can often be very different. Once you have passed that information on the information is almost ‘second hand’. With the help of reflective practice I hope to find new ways of communicating and developing as a professional.

Even though an individual may have one preferred method of learning, it is important to understand that an amalgamation of all learning styles is likely to be beneficial. Despite the fact that reflection, even if unknowingly, evokes learning, it is realising that you use it which opens up windows of opportunity for learning in new ways. It is the exploring and learning which enables this professional development.

Fox Martin and Green suggest that “What the practitioner research decides to do in a given situation will be determined by what he or she believes to be the ‘right’ thing to do… Professional practice is underpinned by the judgements that professional make based upon value-based knowledge” (2007). When considering ‘reflective thought’ or more recently referred to as ‘critical thinking’, it is our professional practice that will be determined by the judgements we make as professionals in terms of our knowledge of values.