Showing posts with label learning. Show all posts
Showing posts with label learning. Show all posts
Tuesday, 5 July 2011
Merestone Residency continued.....
During the week there were many reminders of why I enjoy this work so much. There are the obvious reasons such as creating work from a simple idea and watching the end result performed infront of you on the final day. A lovely thing happened on the final day when one of the School Governors was visiting for a meeting.He sat down at the back of the hall whilst the group were going through their final rehearsal before performing to class mates and teachers. He congratulated the group on such a wonderful performance and announced that he was due to leave at that point to attend a meeting, he decided however to stay and watch the performance a second time as he was so impressed.I feel this was real praise to everyone involed throughout the week. I really hope that I can continue to carry out projects at Merestone in the future.
Merestone School Residency Evaluation
Drawing from previous residencies held at Merestone School, I entered into the week with enthusiasm and an expectation of being part of something really special. In addition i also felt very reflective due to the fact I would be co-leading on the project with Ray Jacobs.Ray was my mentor at Blue Eyed Soul in the early years.
The participants came from Merestone and Forset Oak Special School and Smithswood Secondary School housed next door to the other two schools.
We chose to follow the theme of the Olympic games and its values and ethos. Its funny how that ethos was present throughout the process with the integration aspect working smothly without it being made into a major issue. The level of understanding of what the group nedded from staff was amazing which in tern really helped Ray and I focuss on delivering enjoyable sessions, and creating a beautiful performance piece. I felt that this residency allowed me to explore creative ideas and get them across into the piece and I noticed a new confidence in myself throughout the week. This initially was a concern for me as the project was my first residency after being off Ill for 7 months.To say i felt a bit rusty was an understatement. However once inside the 'bubble' of the week things seemed to really flow for me.
The participants came from Merestone and Forset Oak Special School and Smithswood Secondary School housed next door to the other two schools.
We chose to follow the theme of the Olympic games and its values and ethos. Its funny how that ethos was present throughout the process with the integration aspect working smothly without it being made into a major issue. The level of understanding of what the group nedded from staff was amazing which in tern really helped Ray and I focuss on delivering enjoyable sessions, and creating a beautiful performance piece. I felt that this residency allowed me to explore creative ideas and get them across into the piece and I noticed a new confidence in myself throughout the week. This initially was a concern for me as the project was my first residency after being off Ill for 7 months.To say i felt a bit rusty was an understatement. However once inside the 'bubble' of the week things seemed to really flow for me.
Friday, 17 June 2011
Reflection on 'Ignite'
Ignite built upon the success of a pilot disabled artists’ training course run by Gloucestershire Dance in spring 2010. The 2011 programme took place in the inspiring, fully accessible rural setting of the National Star College, near Cheltenham and its continued development runs in tandem with Blue Eyed Soul’s own Dance Transformations programme.
Ignite included a 4-day course and a day of debate and sharing. Participants were able to choose a particular area of interest to follow in the Choreographic Labs: dance for camera, issue based work, or work for non-traditional spaces.
Rachel Freeman led the work for non-traditional spaces lab with four emerging choreographers and eight dancers. The choreographers were supported in creating original material that was shown at the Seminar. Along side the aesthetic journey was an exercise in project management which the artists took on board with enthusiasm and growing understanding. Gaps in knowledge were quickly identified and addressed by the team of artists, leaders, mentors and facilitators.
Perhaps the most fundamental lesson learnt was the need to reflect upon the process and product, to become a discerning artist, to make choices and assert your own creative vision. The inclusive dance sector has a times in been danger of settling into an all embracing, positive, supportive, come what may, cosy nest but Ignite ‘got real’ and in search of artistic integrity pursued honest, constructive critical reflection.
The residency was intense, complex, invigorating and inspiring. Working with a broad range of artists and making very individual choices. Blue Eyed Soul Dance is looking to nurture the links between agencies, organisations and artists all committed to and passionate about inclusive dance and the professional development opportunities for disabled artists.
LIKE Youth Dance - Perform at Telford Culture Fest 23 July
LIKE Youth Dance, a set on Flickr.
Busy selecting more images for our gallery on the main website. If you would like to perform at Telford Culture Fest, the LIKE Youth Dance Envision Dance Group are holding workshops in Telford on Sundays. Find out more here:
http://www.blueeyedsouldance.com/calendar-of-events/
Wednesday, 2 February 2011
Strictly..... All Saints and Haiku!!
The Bridge Youth Dance Company
We made a dance to the All Saints song, Never Ever yesterday, using the groups' enjoyment of making strong shapes. It began with stillnesses contributed from each dancer, and built up to a crescendo of flowing group improvisation. It was really lovely and we enjoyed observing a gentle blossoming of the group's dancing.
Contact
I've just noticed how the two groups planning has been structured directly opposite to each each other! Not intentional I assure you! In Contact we started exploring ways we could make contact with the floor- especially using parts of our bodies that don't usually touch the floor! And shifting up and down the vertical plane. We explored being low but feeling very light, and being high but feeling very heavy, and vice versa. It was so funny how every time we went low whilst feeling high we all sped up!
We then used some Haiku to create duets which led to quartets. They were so satisfying to watch and had 2 completely different feels- one very seabased and windswept; one very animalistic, warm and controlled.
Haughton School:
If I hear "Can we vote now?" one more time! Ha ha ha. Haughton are obsessed with Strictly Come Dancing!! So we have compromised and have been exploring partner dancing through counterbalances. With yesterday being their first exploration of giving weight to their partner they did incredibly well. Everybody made a travelling duet with 3 counterbalances in 3 different places in the space. It was a lot of fun!
We made a dance to the All Saints song, Never Ever yesterday, using the groups' enjoyment of making strong shapes. It began with stillnesses contributed from each dancer, and built up to a crescendo of flowing group improvisation. It was really lovely and we enjoyed observing a gentle blossoming of the group's dancing.
Contact
I've just noticed how the two groups planning has been structured directly opposite to each each other! Not intentional I assure you! In Contact we started exploring ways we could make contact with the floor- especially using parts of our bodies that don't usually touch the floor! And shifting up and down the vertical plane. We explored being low but feeling very light, and being high but feeling very heavy, and vice versa. It was so funny how every time we went low whilst feeling high we all sped up!
We then used some Haiku to create duets which led to quartets. They were so satisfying to watch and had 2 completely different feels- one very seabased and windswept; one very animalistic, warm and controlled.
Haughton School:
If I hear "Can we vote now?" one more time! Ha ha ha. Haughton are obsessed with Strictly Come Dancing!! So we have compromised and have been exploring partner dancing through counterbalances. With yesterday being their first exploration of giving weight to their partner they did incredibly well. Everybody made a travelling duet with 3 counterbalances in 3 different places in the space. It was a lot of fun!
Tuesday, 25 January 2011
New Year... New Fun!!
Hi everybody.... I'm so excited to be dancing this year with 3 very different projects with Blue Eyed Soul Dance Company...
They are weekly and I am going to post every week this year, so you will be able to really build up a picture of our group developments and growth!
Fun eh!
The 3 groups are
The Bridge School Youth Dance Company, LIKE Youth Dance, 12-19 years old
Haughton School 'Wake Up, Shake Up' after school club, LIKE Youth Dance, 5-11 years old
The Contact Group - Adult Inclusive Dance group
We are in our second week and having a blast!
Yesterday at the Bridge we discovered how strong and creative the dancers are. So far their favourite things are making really strong balances and shapes low to the floor. We explored rolling and had a great time setting each other off across the floor. I co-deliver with Misha for this group and I am really enjoying the energy and enthusiasm she brings to the group. She has such a flair for explaining movements and noticing what people are really brilliant at.
Last night in Contact we looked at our breath being the initiator of our movement. It brought a sense of suspension and release into our dancing that we all found beautiful to watch and perform. We explored this in solo, duet and trio forms. I for one felt very lucky to be a witness to the delicious performances.
I will be at Haughton School shortly. Last week I got to watch Rachel Liggitt deliver a session and I found it truly inspiring and thoroughly enjoyable. In that session the group worked on creating performance with either very flowing movements, or very strong movements. Today we will create performances using very stretchy and elastic movements.
Yes, even with the driving, I find it is absolutely the best way to start the week!
They are weekly and I am going to post every week this year, so you will be able to really build up a picture of our group developments and growth!
Fun eh!
The 3 groups are
The Bridge School Youth Dance Company, LIKE Youth Dance, 12-19 years old
Haughton School 'Wake Up, Shake Up' after school club, LIKE Youth Dance, 5-11 years old
The Contact Group - Adult Inclusive Dance group
We are in our second week and having a blast!
Yesterday at the Bridge we discovered how strong and creative the dancers are. So far their favourite things are making really strong balances and shapes low to the floor. We explored rolling and had a great time setting each other off across the floor. I co-deliver with Misha for this group and I am really enjoying the energy and enthusiasm she brings to the group. She has such a flair for explaining movements and noticing what people are really brilliant at.
Last night in Contact we looked at our breath being the initiator of our movement. It brought a sense of suspension and release into our dancing that we all found beautiful to watch and perform. We explored this in solo, duet and trio forms. I for one felt very lucky to be a witness to the delicious performances.
I will be at Haughton School shortly. Last week I got to watch Rachel Liggitt deliver a session and I found it truly inspiring and thoroughly enjoyable. In that session the group worked on creating performance with either very flowing movements, or very strong movements. Today we will create performances using very stretchy and elastic movements.
Yes, even with the driving, I find it is absolutely the best way to start the week!
Thursday, 21 October 2010
Luminous Soul Residency in Belfast- Thursday
As I sit here writing this blog my mind and body is full of memories from our fantastic week in Belfast. I've had a very powerful reminder as to why I am a dance artist and why I love this work so much. Today it was so obvious how much everyone's confidence has grown and how much of a connection there is between the group.
We began to look today at what material we will show at the sharing tomorrow. The whole atmosphere of being on a residential week is so powerful. I really enjoyed last night as we all sat downstairs in the hotel Lobby singing songs and playing guitar... I loved every minute of it. I cant believe we are on the final day tomorrow I really hope the group continue to develop and that maybe one day I can re-visit them.
I have loved working with Miriam again and having Julia here as my Support Worker has been so valuable... thank you both for all the laughs, support, interesting conversations, the singing and just simply for being you!!! Can't wait to post some images in future blogs.x
We began to look today at what material we will show at the sharing tomorrow. The whole atmosphere of being on a residential week is so powerful. I really enjoyed last night as we all sat downstairs in the hotel Lobby singing songs and playing guitar... I loved every minute of it. I cant believe we are on the final day tomorrow I really hope the group continue to develop and that maybe one day I can re-visit them.
I have loved working with Miriam again and having Julia here as my Support Worker has been so valuable... thank you both for all the laughs, support, interesting conversations, the singing and just simply for being you!!! Can't wait to post some images in future blogs.x
Monday, 18 October 2010
Open Arts Residency in Belfast
Sally Miriam and Julia have really enjoyed day one of the residency with Luminous Soul in Belfast. We are staying in a very comfortable Hotel. We all sat down together for dinner with the group of about 20 people from all over Northern Ireland on Sunday and got to know each other....lovely evening!
Today we focused on get to know you games and a selection of improvisation tasks. The group already look like they have been working together for months. One of the participants said that this approach to dance was less what dance looks like and more like saying "here's me"... Lucky that because we had already decided to follow that very same theme. In preparation for the week Sally and Miriam have choreographed their own solos based around this theme. The day ended with the group learning Miriam's and it was a brilliantly unifying high point to a fantastic day.
Today we focused on get to know you games and a selection of improvisation tasks. The group already look like they have been working together for months. One of the participants said that this approach to dance was less what dance looks like and more like saying "here's me"... Lucky that because we had already decided to follow that very same theme. In preparation for the week Sally and Miriam have choreographed their own solos based around this theme. The day ended with the group learning Miriam's and it was a brilliantly unifying high point to a fantastic day.
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