Global Networks...

It was so great to meet and connect with our MAPP community at our Skype on Sunday, and what a big one it was! I think Skype served us well. Particularly on the level of supporting each other, sharing thoughts and questions as we embark on our individual modules. It always amazes me how easy it is to connect and also how addictive it is at times. There are new forms appearing at a fast pace. Technologies changing rapidly and connections growing. Ken Robinson who writes on the subject of creativity, touches on how we are in the process of great change and our communication methods have gained rapid momentum; “Inventor and futurist Ray Kurzweil points out that evolution of biological life and of technology have followed the same pattern. They both take a long time to get going but advances build on one another and progress erupts at an increasingly furious pace” Robinson (2001p.27) So I guess we may be at the point in time of the Dinosaurs now that analogue technologies are dying and we have reached a sort of amphibian stage. Who knows we might have Skype set in our reading glasses soon as we go about our business. I don’t think it’s far off. With Spotify (with which I have only just begun to understand) I can connect with 111,625 followers who also firstly want to ‘chill’ then acutely want to ‘chill with ‘tranquility with a beat’ what a crazy idea if you were to tell the fourteen year old me alone with my Sony Walkman! I find it exciting how our experiences have led us all to this one place. This mostly virtual place, and how our learning community of the ‘now’ is so fruitful to us. Our global network includes students that have connected with us from Dubai, The States and all over the UK. Giving us all the opportunity to develop ourselves our thinking and our pedagogies. We have discussed our commonalities; our dance, our module handbooks, our anxiety’s and our excitement as we move forward in time with the development of our research journeys or mapping out of whom we are and where our past learning occurred. I expect our passages to this point are diverse. I would like to see our journeys painted on a map of the world visually and colourfully drawn with zig zaggy lines all meeting at a final point, demonstrating our journeys from our first dance ever (where it took place) to the dance… our last dance or representation of our dance at the University theatre for our final viva’s. It may have been a slow drip urging you or a seed planted; a conversation with a colleague, an article in a journal or a search on the web that led us here to MAPP DTP at Middlesex University. Who knows, but somehow we have all arrived at this virtual place within and belonging to our ‘global network’ Decades ago we would have all had to physically have met in a classroom, Possibly moved city or town. I feel lucky… and wish us all a great term.

Today makes me...Thank you Summer

Looking back over the summer period I feel fortunate to have had the time to be a little more grounded in my thoughts with moments of stillness too having the chance to getaway and experience a change of scenery, climate and culture. Organically time has been on my side to ground my plan and to read my key texts and absorbing some of the literature has proved a valuable experience. I knew for me I would not be able to switch off completely but also knew I needed rest from full time work, family and juggling as we all do. Certain texts the reading flows and others are a struggle however returning to my research question usually sorts me out as I have had to be strict in not reading literature that leads me to get off the point i.e what I really want to find out/my research enquiry. We only have 3 months! The work of Anna Halprin has gelled together everything I understand ‘dance’ to be for my consciousness, my practice and pedagogy. Evaluating the therapeutic and creative aspects of dance in the lives of children within the dance class. As a communication and expression through embodied movement. My hope is that I can understand through my research settings and experiences and what this flags up within a children’s dance class. I decided to get my head out of the books and practically experience it for myself. I was quite scared of this, considering I spend my days dancing, teaching and facilitating dance to my pupils. This was a new experience for me and as with the MA and every module I have approached will changed me also. I finished work last Friday at 9pm got in the car and started my adventure to Folkestone (with a brief stay over at my sisters.) So I arrive at 9am and go straight to the beach! Just me myself and I and then head to the studio where I meet Lian Wilson who has been trained by Anna Halprin herself and danced on “The Deck” at Tamalpa, Marin County, California. Anna is now 94! The class was small, mostly non dancers, eight students in total. During the course of the weekend stories of our bodies unraveled and I witnessed some of the most moving and embodied dances I have seen in a long time. The commitment to each’s dance was very special and it has changed me or found me again? I’m not quite sure yet. One of the things that stays with me is something that was said by Lian the Tamalpa teacher that; “Our minds can trick us, but our bodies don’t lie.” This really helped me with the notion of embodiment, speaking through movement, listening and knowledge held in our bodies. I am also two weeks into my research. Three different contexts: • State Primary School • Special School • Private Dance School Already some notable things are being flagged up and sometimes when a child says something or moves the data hits you like a bolt of lightning. One boy in a group discussion was explaining that the reason he enjoyed dance was that he could be free. He went on to give an example of when asked to draw at school they always had to copy a painting or style and what he wanted to do was draw his own feelings. Another girl said (who has an abundance of natural resources when it comes to movement and dance) “Dance is as important as science!” On the other hand there was a boy who in week one explained he didn’t like dance. So I am interested to see what unravels there. Week 2 and with the setting and situation being a little less unfamiliar he did join in. There has been a great deal of excitement, giggling, shyness, happiness and even angry swearing so emotions are become apparent. I welcome them, which I think the children find bizarre too. I am really looking forward to connecting with the MAPP community again and wish us all a great term. Really happy we have the opportunity to connect via Skype twice a month also even if it be just to listen sometimes. There I’ve challenged myself!! Speak soon everyone. If you have a chance take a look…this is beautiful… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWxpn8wOj70