Day 243 - Lots of Teaching = No Blogging

So, last time I was on here I was at a friends birthday party after having taught adults ballet. The party was absolutely amazing which explains why I needed a whole day to recover!

Sunday and Monday don't allow much room for any dancing of any kind as I have to go and do a normal job with normal(ish) people, and I don't think they'd take too kindly to me choreographing and not answering calls. I might make some sketches next time I'm there if there's a quiet patch :)

Tuesday through to Friday or Saturday are my dancy days. Advanced 1 ballet on Tuesday evening was great but tiring, especially with the cycle to and from. I was quite pleased with myself that I got up for college on Wednesday morning.  I could have, and probably should have, spent some time Tuesday daytime preparing for classes and choreographing but housework needed attention and took precedance.

I turned up for open ballet on Wednesday at 10.30 but due to teacher availability I ended up doing my first contemporary class in far too long. It made me more determind to get back to contempary on a regular basis. Hopefully Tuesday morning next week at the Island. While preparing to head home I was asked to teach the college pointe class. Luckly I had music and pointe shoes with me. It was a small class of two so plenty of time to really work on detailed corections. I finally jumped on the bike at about 1pm to head home only to leave again at 3 to teach at 4. Unfortunetely there was no key for the hall so I had to cancel. Back on the bike and home for a much needed early night.

Thursday, today. Phew. I had open ballet, DDI and advanced 1 as normal and was supposed to be working this eve. I am currently sitting in a school in Bradley Stoke waiting for the last class of the evening to finish. I have been covering 4 ballet classes from pre-primary to grade 2. My feet hurt but boy has it been a valuable evening :) I haven't taken grades 1 or 2 before although we did cover grade 1 in DDI today and grade 2 is one of the classes I'm observing. Really lovely students and feel very greatful for the experience. Zoe, one of the regular teachers at this branch, will be dropping me back at college where I can jump back on the bike and head home. Very much looking forward to my bed and no alarm in the morning. More teaching tomorrow evening though :)

Day 242 - Teaching Choreography

Sometimes I forget that the people i'm teaching choreography to can't see the pictures in my head, but we did get the first section done :)

Very happy with the way it's progressing but there will be some damage control to do next week. Lots of re-capping to do as well.

 

Chilling at a friends birthday party now so blog done and time to dance :)

Day 242 - Back to College

Today was my first full day back at college. That meant 1hr 15mins open ballet, 2hrs DDI (teaching lesson) and 1hr 45mins advanced 1 ballet. It goes without saying that I am exhausted but pleasantly so.

On my way to work for a quick 3 hours just to round off the day and then possible party planning for tomorrow.

I am quite excited that the last bits for my bike arrived today so no more buses once it's assembled and working again :)

Day 241 - TACT Choreography etc.

Phew, ok it's time to try again.  I can't seem to find my stride but hopefully this will help.  I had a little bit of time in the studio today before my class arrived so I put down the first bit of choreography for the TACT charity show in November.  This will be part of Dance for TACT: an evening of dance to raise money and awareness for the fostering and adoption charity.  Saturday 22nd November 2014, 8pm, 334 Dance School, Bristol. Tickets, £8, available at reception.

 I'll post a link for the show soon, but here is TACT's site:  http://tactcare.org.uk/

I also started teaching the choreography to my adult beginners on Friday for the January show.  Very please with the amount we got done this first week and hoping this Friday will involve a similar level of concentration and effort.  Looking forward to teaching the next couple of sections which will involve lots of spacial awareness and team work :)

College starts back this week so I will have more time in the studio to get some filming done.  I do need to sort my home studio space out again for more home-work.  Now that my knee seems to be letting me dance more :)  For now here is a short beginning to my piece for Dance for TACT.

Music = Le Onde by Ludovico Einaudi

Day 240 - Timetable

Timetable done for the next 10 weeks. Anything blank is earmarked for study and written work. Gonna be a busy term! But so much dancing :)

Day 239 - Teaching Pointe

This evening was the last summer adult class which included half an hour dedicated to pointe work. It's been a really valuable experience for me to develop my teaching methods and my own pointe technique.

In the adults ballet class on Fridays there are usually a few doing the class on pointe. I have been spending some time correcting and advising but my time is divided. Having a dedicated class means that i can fully focus my efforts to describe and demonstrate exercises and techniques in greater detail.

From the in class reaction and feedback I am confident that my methods are well receieved and beneficial.

Day 238 - A long Hiatus

Hello again.  It's been a long road to getting here, almost injury free and with energy to spare.  The family holiday in the Netherlands helped :)

School term starts again next week and college not long after that and I have a lot of work to do this term.  Making sure I am fighting fit for dancing, teaching and the two choreography projects to be performed in November and January is key, so this morning I got up and did a 20 minute ballet barre and some necessary stretching.  I'm back to the office today so getting back in the studio this morning was calming and hopefully a good start to September.

See you tomorrow.

Day 237 - College etc.

Just a quick word about college today as I'm shattered.  Thursday is a long day with college and then work in the evening (and voting as an extra today) and I'm now ready for bed.  A very physically and mentally exhausting day.  Music was the underlying theme for my DDI class today, looking at how to communicate to examiner and pianist the rhythm, tempo and style of the desired piece of music for a particular exercise.  I think of my self as a musical person but this seems to he a hurdle for me.  I plan to make note of how I do this while teaching tomorrow and see if I can develop it further.  I'm wondering if it's being put on the spot that stumps me?!  

After DDI I had an Advanced 1 Ballet class.  I'm still not completely up to doing everything in class because of my knee, particularly jumps, but I think small improvements are being made.  I haven't put my pointe shoes on since the re-injury but today I made plans with some fellow students to do some extra pointe work after half term which is next week.  

Anyway, night all :)

Day 236 - 2 for 1

Here are two excerpts from today.  A bit of phrase development and an improv.

Music = Crimes by A Perfect Circle and Ego Brain by System of a Down.

Day 235 - Feet DTM and Stretching

The need to take good ecare of my feet has been known to me for quite some time and I have been doing this deep tissue massage and stretching exercise on and off.  Since it was shown to us at Dartington I have been developing a set routine of movements, influenced by my Indian Head Massage work, that address the needs of my feet.  However, I really need to be doing this on a more regular basis, particularly after a classes. 

The routine starts with warming the feet up with gentle and then more vigorous rubbing.  Making sure that the toes, heels and ankles get as much attention as the arch and instep.  

Next I start to press a bit harder, still using big sweeping motions, following the lines of the tendons and then crossing them.  These movements can be achieved with the thumbs and fingers and pinching techniques.  

Once the feet are warm and pliable I begin to use more focused kneading under the arch from heel to toes and then around the toe joints. 

Next I take each toe in turn performing small circles over the toe to the nail and the gently pull the toe away from the foot without yanking.  Take all the toes together and ease away from the foot again. 

Keeping that hand on the toes and using the other to grasp the ankle I stretch the instep and then flex the foot to stretch the arch again.

While doing this I and focused on how my feet are responding to each motion. As there are so many bones and tendons within the foot it is crucial that care is taken when doing that may cause harm to them.

Another thing added to my theoretical daily schedule!

Day 234 - Current Penche

Flexibly. Something I have battled with since hitting puberty and post injury.  In the hope of motivating myself into doing some kind of stretching routine on a regular basis, building up to at least once a day, I have done some before shots of my Penche (pronounced pon-shay).

The little niggles in my pelvis, back and shoulders are more obvious here as well as the difference in height, and therefore flexibility, each side.  Hopefully some improvement will show over the coming months.

 

Day 233 - Feet and Grade 1

I saw my guest off for his audition and then made my way to MSN.  While waiting at the bus station and during the journey I listened to the ISTD Grade 1 class music and worked my way through the sylabus guide.  I must have listened to it about 5 or 6 times through with going back to repeat some exercises.  I'm pretty much there with knowing the set exercises from the music and I have a few ideas planned for the free exercises.

After a very nice day chilling in the sun I threw together this little feet piece to Ancora by Ludovico Einaudi.  The quality of my camera close up is getting pretty shoddy, might need to invest again soon.

Day 232 - Dancers Brains

Although normally on a Friday I would be teaching Adult Ballet, it was cancelled today due to the Dress Rehearsal for this weekends show being held in that studio tonight.

As a result I had lots of time to spend getting the house ready for and then entertaining my guest.  An dancing friend from my childhood dance school is staying with me as he has an audition in Bristol tomorrow.  We have have been discussing some interesting things about the way dancers brains work and how this affects us in the real world, that and reminiscing!

During dance classes as children we were encouraged to think several steps ahead when learning exercises or choreography to improve memory and the flow from one movement into the next.  This eventually became second nature and a very useful skill and maybe something that those who didn't have this kind of intense vocational training as children would really truly understand.

Having talked about this at length today we both agreed that this has had an impacted on how we go through everyday life.  The ability to consider the next ten or so things that need to be done can be both an asset and a hindrance. The often subconscious internal mantra which usually goes: I need to do this, followed by this, followed by that, which means this has to be next etc etc etc can be a very useful tool when life is busy and fast paced and needs that extra push to get you through all the many and varied tasks ahead.  However, when trying to relax and de-stress after all that running around, turning the internal mantra off is not easy.

Ok so I'm not a psychologist or cognitive scientist and this may just be an oversimplification of how our brains work and are developed but it's an interesting idea that I am keen on pursuing.  If any one knows where to start I'd be open to suggestions.  I have seen articles about how dancers brains can be a tool in helping to understand the way memories form and further discussions about how this can assist in helping people with memory forming and recognition.  Definitely some further research needed if I can find the time.

Day 231 - Failed Thursday

Ugh, today has been horrible due to a very stubborn headache.  It's clearer now but college and work were both out, just being vertical was a struggle.

So what have I done dance related today you ask? Paperwork.

Teaching = being self employed. Self employed = tax return (next year) so trying to keep receipts etc in order so it isn't a complete nightmare when the time comes.

Day 230 - Monday on a Wednesday Improv and Teaching

It's Wednesday so I headed of to teach ISTD Primary.  For my teaching exam (hopefully at the end of this year) I need to know the exercises from each grade from Primary to Grade 5.  This is just for this level, after that I will need to know these plus Grade 6 and Intermediate.  This is not a straight forward thing for me as I did not do these grades growing up.  I figure that as there are 6 grades I need to learn, with 1 day at college a week, that leaves a grade a day for the rest of the week.  OK so this is a big undertaking but I'm hoping that by the end of this term I will mostly be able to recognize each exercise from the music and at least some of them without this prompt.

On my way to teach today I listened to the complete class about three times (doing the exercises in my head and with my feet on the bus!) and then did the class by myself once I'd got to the hall.  As I have been teaching this grade for 4 weeks now I feel pretty confided about the content of the syllabus, this is mostly through physically doing it as well as teaching. Therefore my plan to at least visit each grade once a week should hopefully be a successful one.

While in the studio I also did a small improvisation to ease my way back into choreographing.  My knee is still a weak so this is very calm and controlled.  Music = Monday by Ludovico Einaudi.

Day 229 - Blog Revamp!

An explanation for my absence:

My last post was on March 6th, not exactly a great day for me or my knee.  I aggravated an old injury which had been behaving very well since an operation 10 years ago, thankful it was so long, but still upsetting and painful.  I just pushed myself too far and, after a busy week of cycling, classes, college and working on things for the blog; my knee gave way.

Two months of (mostly) resting later; getting back to walking, cycling and dancing has been a slow road.  The first couple of weeks held small victories like being about to walk up and then downstairs!  I've been back at college, ballet and teaching (more on that later) for a few weeks now so it's time to crack on with this!

WARNING! WARNING! BLOG REVAMP IN PROCESS!

Okay so after this little slap in the face from reality I have decided this 365 project needs to be more about what I'm doing in my dance life and less about forcing creativity each day.  As a very good friend has been trying to tell me for a while, it's not just about the video's. I'm paraphrasing but she's right.  I do so much in preparation for this project that doesn't really get seen; hence the re-vamp.

This will be a good thing for me and my sanity.  Limiting my personal definition of the word choreography, and my relationship with it, is stifling my creativity (the opposite of what this project was supposed to do).  This is most apparent in the ritual I began to find myself performing everyday for the blog.

Find space,
what to wear,
find music,
place camera,
check placement,
press record,
press play,
dance,
stop,
watch,
record,
dance,
play,
dance,
play,
dance,
stop,
watch,
repeat til kinda satisfied,
pack up,
import,
attach audio track,
trim ends,
fade in/out,
play with visuals,
export, upload, blog and share!

An absolutely terrible way to create.  Or is that just me?  There was definitely a lot more energy going to the creating but I was beginning to feel trapped by the process. A trap of my own doing.

Moving forward with a bit of background.

I normally have a pretty crazily scheduled life but this year it has become pretty bonkers.  Earlier this year I was traveling back home (6 hours each way) most weekends to teach children's ballet classes on Saturday mornings, helping out a friend until a more long term solution could be arranged.  I did this for a couple of months (both before and after the recent injury) and it was a fantastic experience for the teaching course I am also doing at the moment.

Current Timetable:

Through my college I am now teaching two ballet classes in Bristol, again temporary but good experience.  One is an adults beginner class (Fridays) and the other is ISTD Primary (Wednesdays).  The course I mentioned is ISTD (Imperial Society of Teachers of Dance) Diploma in Dance Instruction, hereafter referred to as 'college'. I do one day a week (Thursdays) plus other classes (usually Ballet on Tuesdays) and going in to do observations etc. (more about these soon).  On top of this I also work part time (Mondays, Thursdays, Sundays) and try to fit in time for study, a social life and this blog!  I said it was crazy.

Onwards!

SO this revamp thing. It will involve all aspects of my life relating to dance.  I'm going to live my life, day by day and being to piece together a picture that somehow resembles my love affair with dance.  And it is a love affair. With all the hurdles that perusing this passion has thrown in my path it must be love for me to keep coming back and not be able to function properly without. Either that or obsession!

Right that's it, enough soul sharing, something creative.

On Wednesday 5th March I went for a lovely walk with some friends and we found a rather large log.  Nice place for a rest and a photo shoot?  OK I couldn't resist having a balance on it, here are the best pics :)

Day 228 - Break the Chain 4 (and break myself in the process)

So this clip was just supposed to get me moving to the music before putting together ideas more formally.  But then disaster struck, okay maybe not disaster, but for my knee it wasn't great. Resting up now but hoping to be back on my feet soon.

Music = Break the Chain by Oh Land.

 

Day 227 - Break the Chain 3

So day three of this mini project is another improvisation. However as I did this after Ballet class yesterday it has a different style; both due to the style of movement I had being doing for the previous 90 minutes and the fact that I could travel more in the studio.  

I have another two days this week where I have access to a dance studio so I think there will be a lot of traveling in this piece buy the end of the week. 

I'm not sure of which direction the style of the piece will go though but I'd like to incorporate movement material from all three improvisations done so far;  I'll probably be watching them quite a few times over the next couple of days.

Music = Break the Chain by Oh Land.

Day 226 - Break the Chain 2

Day 2 of my mini project. A development of yesterdays improvisation and some new 

ideas.

 

Music = Break the Chain by Oh Land.

Day 225 - Break the Chain 1

 

Another weekly project started today in the hope that it will kick start me getting back on track with the 365.  Here is an improvisation to show the start of the process. Very rough around the edges but with some ideas to work on over the coming week.

Music = Break the Chain by Oh Land

Day 224 - Position Relocation

Having worked a little with using the same position with the body but changing the location in the space the other day; here is a further exploration.  

It's a little rough around the edges and done in a small space but I like the direction it's going in.  I plan to play around with this idea more, but I think it would be better explored in a dance studio or outside space; depending on the weather. 

I'm really enjoying working to music by The Gaslamp Killer thanks to the MSN crew :)

Music = Zalim by The Gaslamp Killer

Day 223 - Nissim

Music = Nissim by The Gaslamp Killer with Amir Yaghmai.

Day 222 - Cool Improvisation

A short improvisation before work today.

Music = Cool Improvisation by Michael Price.

Day 221 - Shaft of Sunlight

 

After teaching today I took advantage of the studio and the shaft of sunlight through a stain-glass window.

Music = Twelve Eight by Michael Price.

Day 220 - Happy Birthday Mum

 

Today is my lovely Mum's birthday so here is a little piece just for her.  The music is from a contemporary dance CD of my Mum's found in a CD player she has lent me for this teaching, thanks Mum.  xxx

Music = Soft Folk by Michael Price.

Day 219 - Pastoral 2

 

As promised yesterday here is the rest of the pastoral play around from last week.

Music = Beethoven's 6th Symphony

Day 218 - Pastoral

 

Busy does not even begin to describe it. I have started teaching on Saturday mornings, filling in for a friends school while a more permanent teacher is found, but the traveling is quite tiring!  This is a short excerpt from something done last Saturday, more to come tomorrow :)

Music = Beethoven's 6th Symphony

Day 217 - Starálfur

 

Another few excerpts from my play in the college studio yesterday.

Music = Starálfur by Sigur Rós.

Day 216 - Silent Improv

The title says it all.

Day 215 - X-Ray Pointe

Here is the second of the two I did yesterday.  Again I just danced to whatever was on the radio but I put my pointe shoes on for this one as we didn't get around to doing any in class.  I have avoided using the x-ray filter in the past but I like the effect it has in the studio and with the teleportation that occurs in this piece.

Oh and 150 days to go!

Music = Wouldn't it Be Good by Nik Kershaw.

N.B.  Having watched it back it is a little more pink than I was expecting especially on the fade in and out, but I like the rest :)

Day 214 - Affirmation

Had a great evening at college; ballet class and pilates beforehand. I have been listening to Jack.fm a lot this week so managed to get it working on the college stereo and went with what I was given. Got two different pieces done but just posting the short one tonight, more time to edit before work tomorrow. 

Music = Affirmation by Savage Garden.

Day 213 - Human

Just a short improv to another Daughter track after work.

Music = Human by Daughter.

Day 212 - Wipe your Feet

Something a bit different today. I started withe the squeaking sound of wiping my feet and used that as a starting point.  After videoing Iain suggested putting it to this Aphex Twin track and seeing how the squeaking worked with it.  It wasn't quite right but still sounded like we were on to something. But before hunting out another track I tried it without the footage audio and this is the result.  We think it works, what about you?

Music = Bucephalus Bouncing Ball by Aphex Twin.

Day 211 - More Projection

I'm back in Midsomer Norton for a relaxing weekend after the business of the shows and prior to starting teaching for a bit in February back home.  The projector was set up for a bit of fun with images and a baby bump and of course a dance.  The music is Nature Boy by Eden Ahbez, performed by Mantovani, and the film clip is from a BBC Wildlife documentary - Tree and plant life in the jungle - David Attenborough.

Day 210 - Solsbury Hill

 

A little improvisation in the kitchen following a Toto party which led on to a bit of Perter Gabriel.

Music = Solsbury Hill by Peter Gabriel.

Days 207, 208 & 209 - From the Wings

The penultimate posting from last weekends show, the last will be the super duper quality film from the front once it is available.  This video is a combination of Sundays 2pm and 6pm performances seen from the wings.  It has taken a few sessions to edit the two versions together so hence the multiple days.

 A note on the show:  Wow, what a weekend. I am so proud of my cast for pulling off this quality of performance after six rehearsals and in a style most weren't used to.   So; Alex, Charlie, Hollie, Laura, Martha and Sophie: THANK YOU!!  

Day 206 - Dress Rehearsal

Well it's been a busy week or so preparing for the show on top of everything else.  Here is yesterday's dress rehearsal.  Unfortunately we were down a cast member and as it was the first run with the lights it is a little dark; apart from when the photographers light comes on near the end.  The first performance went very well tonight with all six dancers, looking forward to the two shows tomorrow :)

Day 205 - Andvari

 

Music = Andvari by Sigur Rós.

Day 204 - Sixth and Last

So the final rehearsal has been and gone and the piece is finished.  It doesn't quite look like it in the video but got to save something for the show :)  Very proud of my dancers for the hard work they have all put in.  Looking forward to seeing it in full costume and under the lights on Friday at the Dress Rehearsal.

Music = Smother by Daughter

Day 203 - Projection

Whilst having immense fun at my housemates Joss Whedon themed birthday party we got up to some nonsense with the projector.  Thanks to Jerome for filming :)

 

Music = Olsen Olsen by Sigur Rós.