Module 2; Creating the structure!

This morning I had an incredibly helpful 1:1 tutorial with Adesola. We discussed my inquiry topic idea, ethics and structuring my time for module 3. 

I had been worrying that I couldn't find any literature contradicting my thoughts of how a ballet dancer's voice is silenced during ballet training. Adesola corrected me in thinking that there wasn't anything out there - I just haven't found the right way to search for it yet. But this could take years, and this course and inquiry isn't about trying to prove a point. It is about trying to fill in the gaps. I have been formally trained as a technical dancer, not as a teacher. Therefore this inquiry for me is to try to fill some of gaps in my knowledge to help further my practice in teaching. 

So instead of worrying about finding literature that goes against my opinions of the subject, I am instead going to continue to focus on the different teaching techniques and explore the literature around them - including the outcomes that other scholars have discovered. 

In my last post I discussed my new 'sharing rule' in class. Adesola pointed out to me that I don't actually know for sure yet how this will effect the class as right now I still haven't done enough research into the results of using this peer review technique. Therefore in a way I am experimenting on the class (which sounds utterly awful and is far from my intention of bringing the class together in a focused, positive and uplifting environment.) But this has made me aware that I do need to research further into different teaching techniques and the outcome effects that they have on the students (before I introduce them to my classroom). 

This brings me on to deciding to interview teachers and their own opinions on the best ways to conduct a class in order to bring the best out of their students. Learning is a very individual thing and everyone learns differently. But to find a way that makes everyone feel included in a classroom situation would be an ultimate aim now for me. And to do this I need 

Module 2 is about creating a structure (or a road to travel down) for module 3. During module 3 we may stray away as we uncover new ideas, but the structure will be there to pull us back to the main road so that we can continue to travel towards the aim we set out with. So my next plan is to start to structure out my time - first for the rest of this module and then for module 3, so that I have more of a plan to go forward with. 

So onward with planning the rest of this module, writing my first draft of my proposal and completing the MORE form.

My ‘sharing rule’

For my inquiry, an idea I have been looking into is ballet pedagogy and how it effects a dancer’s personal identity; particularly focussing on how it silences a dancer’s voice. Speaking to a friend last night who I went to school with, without any prompting from me, she bought up how she now struggles in ‘regular’ jobs; if she doesn’t have an authority figure instructing her on what to do, she feels at a loss for what she should be doing. She is working in a primary school as a teacher’s assistant and has been struggling to keep herself busy when not instructed. She also feels nervous and shy whenever a person with higher authority does talk to her, as if she doesn’t feel worthy or appropriate to speak up her ideas. She puts this down to her upbringing in ballet. 

In the ballet studio we are instructed the whole time and we are taught to obey our teachers without hesitation. Not to say that this isn’t always a bad thing, as we have grown up with respect, manners and some would say the best hardworking mentalities and drive for perfection in whatever we set ourselves to achieve. However do we now struggle to speak up from being taught as forever inferior to the person with authority in the room? At vocational ballet schools you had to abide by the rules of the studio, or risk being assessed out therefore ending or at very least stunting your career pursuit. Don’t get me wrong, I adored every second of my ballet training, however since entering the working world, I have at times struggled to network myself or speak up to get myself noticed as it just hasn’t ever been a part of my upbringing. 

So, I have been looking at how I can make a change in the studio for my students that I teach. This half term I have begun to enforce a new ‘sharing’ rule. I separate the class into groups and then as one group dances, the other sits with me to watch and then we share with each other what was good and where they could improve. If a student, for example, recommends that another’s pirouette is falling to one side during their turn, we discuss how they can correct this and what they can look out for in themselves in the future. I have noticed the classroom become much more lively and concentrated. They feel more involved and I have noticed physical improvements in all as well as in their confidence when they dance for each other. I recommend other teachers give this ‘sharing rule’ a go ...and if you do, please let me know the outcome and what you notice in your students! 

Also if anyone has had similar experiences or indeed the complete opposite to myself and my friend at vocational ballet schools, please comment below so that we can discuss! Any ideas for further research, teaching tips etc are greatly appreciated.