This weekend i participated in the Making Tracks Masterclass with Thomas "Talawa" Presto. http://www.iriedancetheatre.org/education/professional-development/making-tracks/
Presto is the Artistic Director of Tabanka African and Caribbean Peoples Dance Ensemble based in Norway. I knew that by attending this masterclass, i would be able to get an idea of how other practitioners taught their technique, most importantly without being part of an examining body.
I noticed that although the Masterclass wasn't set, it still maintained the fundamentals of the African and Caribbean dance technique,whilst still allowing a freedom of improvisation and self-expression. I was also able to learn about the history of the movements i was taught, the culture and how the movements had been developed.
This weekend i also attended Collabo 2011 held at East London Dance.
Stratford Circus - Dance - Collabo www.stratford-circus.com. I was surrounded by dancers who specialize in all forms of Hip-Hop, Locking, Popping, Vouging, Waacking and House to name a few. I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to hold a small discussion with one of my oldest friends whilst on our way there. She has been dancing since the age of three and in the earlier years of her dance career, took IDTA exams. I basically wanted to get an idea of how she felt as a dancer now, in relation to taking these exams when she was younger.
She stated that she DID NOT think these exams had helped her progress as a dancer, her main concern was the fact that she or her guardian at the time had to pay for them....and they are not cheap! Although as a dancer she feels exams are "a waste of time and money" she did express a genuine interest when i asked her if she thought Street and Hip-Hop dance forms needed some way to measure the development of a student.
She mentioned that it is vital for students of these dance forms to know the fundamentals, the history and the culture in order for them to grow within them. Stylizing through self-expression is encouraged but without knowing the basic movements, the original style will be lost.
So it got me thinking..
- WHAT IS A SYLLABUS REALLY?...CAN IT COVER ALL ASPECTS YOU WANT IT TOO?
or is a syllabus, in effect, having information and passing it on?.....If that's the case could i not create my own?
- WHAT WOULD I INCLUDE?
- HOW WILL I BREAK IT DOWN?
I would want students to have an understanding of.....
- Why they are doing a movement
- Where the movement came from
- Cultural aspects
Thinking back to Communication Technologies and Networking, i know i am going to have to connect with other practitioners,masters and community Companies, in order to discover answers to these questions and in effect, find my final line of inquiry and my award title.
I want to....
- Conduct interviews
- Look up examining papers
- Create an SIG group
- Network
