What a week!

This week I began the data collection for my research inquiry project with three workshops exploring improvisation and how it relates to play, empathy and kindness.

 
Over the last two years I have been privileged to work with a group of mature dancers. Like most people we have worked hard to find ways to connect physically and emotionally through lockdown, embracing both the restrictions and freedoms granted by working across the internet.

However, very excitingly my research workshops were all site-specific. We danced in the park, the woods and on a huge sunny beach! The combination of freedom of space, freedom of movement and mental freedom transformed the experience into something quite unique and frankly glorious.

I am writing this looking out of my window with the wind battering the trees and the grey clouds deepening in colour as they threaten more rain. It seems crazy that earlier this week we danced in the sun-shine, our movements flowing in and out of the sea and entwining with the trees - Wow, how we played!

Although I know I am collecting data for my research project, I am aware it is really important to be completely present in the moment, sharing the experience with my peers. Not just for the honesty required to investigate my inquiry question, but because of the world we are in, here and now. Who knows where we are heading and what future restrictions are coming our way. When life is challenging it is always important to seize every moment of joy!

Thank you Iris for calling us to arms in your blog 'A REVOLUTIONARY SUMMER PART I - JOY. I wanted to share my experience of joy, made possible through the learning processes of this extraordinary degree. I am continually surprised by the unexpected pleasures it brings me.

Iris' Blog: https://irisdebritouk.blogspot.com/2020/09/revolutionary-summer-part-i-joy-wow.html

Looking Back - Moving Forward

I am excited to be starting module two and getting stuck into the process of pinning down my research inquiry, but it seemed appropriate (on this course) to begin module two, by looking back and reflecting on our learning from module one.

I learnt a lot from the process of the AOLs and the final essay and with the help of Adesola's feedback, I came to understand that it is something about ending and beginning again (the part in the middle) that enabled me to clarify my thinking to begin to move forward. I think I explained this a little better in my response to Adesola:

"it was interesting to me that the moment the essays were submitted my mind starting understanding the theories that threaded through Module one in a more complete way, as if in the act of ending everything became clearer. It is possible, with more time, I would have reached the same understanding and articulated this more clearly in the essay, however, I feel it has something to do with the process of finishing and beginning again, as you and Helen have said ‘the place in the middle’ that helps connect the learning."

Connection is so important for the learning process on this course and I am determined (like others have said) to make full use of all the exciting connections made possible by the blogs and Skype. For those who are starting module one I wanted to post a little thought I had in my 'review of learning' essay about the learning journey this MA affords us and the connections we make;

"I understand each student on this course comes from a different set of experiences, the connection we have is this MA and dance. The combination of learning from this MA and our prior experience, is unique for each of us, the connections we make allows knowledge to develop in a connectivist way.  By blogging about our reflections and ideas, we are each adding to the learning journey of the whole group, by framing these journeys in this MA, enables us to move forward individually but connected. Through Skype and blogging, I encounter theories and knowledge I didn’t know I was looking for, sometimes this causes immediate development of learning, affecting my research and sometimes it adds to my ‘slow-cooker’ of ideas, to dip into when ready."

So, welcome to all those beginning the journey, I am looking forward to hearing your unique perspective, and for all us 'veterans' thank you for all the inspiration so far, I'm going to do my best to share my journey, research, theories and ideas as often as possible. 

Between the in-and-out of a Box!

Cornelia Parker's Cold Dark Matter - A Deconstructed Shed

When I re-invented myself as an installation artist, I had no previous training in the visual arts - (my drawing skills are shocking). Through my degree and subsequent career, I have found this lack of formal 'skills' in the subject a really useful tool for always forcing me 'out-of -the-box'. When I start a new project/creation I have nothing to draw on, no technique, I just think to myself what do I need to do to get this done, and what is this 'this' that needs to get done? My media is anything from a shoe to a beach-hut, from video to sticky-back plastic - whatever feels right and through process, both practical and conceptual, connections and communication, I arrive at a 'this' - I'm surprised at how often it seems to be the natural path, the route that I was always going take to get me to where I end up.

With dance I find the complete opposite is true; having had many years of dance training and a good solid foundation of technique to draw on, when I've tried to create dance in the past, I seem to be smack-bang in the middle of the box - repeating and repeating the convergent information referred to in the video. I'm not afraid of the unknowing, I just not sure what not to know?

MAPP is my way of encountering the 'unknowing' - hopefully finding the experiments that will take me to new ideas, new research and a whole box load of divergent journeys.

How old is too old to dance?

Wednesday evening is my company class with Encore East, a Dance Company for the older dancer housed at Dance East, Ipswich - We are 14 dancers over 50 - I am the youngest at 52 and Pam is the oldest at 78.

Last night was our first class back after summer break and we are privileged to have a new tutor/mentor, dancer Chris Owen (The National Dance Company of Wales, Scottish Dance Theatre, Candoco Dance Company, National Theatre of Scotland. Christopher has worked with international choreographers including; Emanuel Gat, Hofesh Shechter, Nigel Charnock and the Trisha Brown Company)

Chris began the class with the expected introduction during which he told us he was in his mid-thirties and was still dancing - 'hanging on by his fingertips!'
What does it mean for an art-form when you struggle to sustain a presence after thirty?
I was surprised to be confronted with the embodiment of my research so soon after starting the course, I plan to use Chris as research.

On the drive home, Leonard Cohen's 'Hallelujah' came on the radio, I found myself immersed in his gravelled voice, rasping vocal crescendos and mature celebration of all that is life - not once did I wonder about his right to create and perform his artwork at the age of fifty.
Much to ponder as I proceed on my MAPP journey.