Attending the last campus session really made me think about what I've been doing the past year. When i first started this course, i did say that i wanted to start my own community dance company and i guess that's what i have been doing although it's only now i'm beginning to think i'm working backwards. I should have been using the blogs to let you know how it was going and most importantly to seek advice and answers to so many difficult questions I've faced along the way. Truthfully, i feel that a lot of mistakes have been made but what better to do with mistakes? than learn from them. Lack of knowledge, experience and guidance were all contributors.
Today, i went round to see the vicar at my local church. They have a massive hall space that is currently being renovated and i think it will be a perfect space to uproot 'A3 dance company' to. Right now, my company is based in an amazing studio, within a local secondary school. It's everything i want, a massive space, full mirrored walls, a full length ballet bar, sprung floors and even a white board to write on when i feel like giving the kids some theory practice. Sounds perfect doesn't it? So why would i want to move?
It is just to expensive! Had i really thought about it back in march 2011 when i decided to launch A3, i would have seriously reconsidered. I just don't have enough children to pay the full studio price every week so i'm having to use my own finances (which are pretty low, considering i'm in between jobs) to fund the classes, to be honest, i can see this not turning out so well and then what will become of A3, it's only just begun!!
So now 11 months down the line, i know i have to sacrifice my "perfect" studio for a church hall. On the other hand, is it really a sacrifice? I mean, i learnt to dance in a community hall, most of the best classes i attended growing up were in halls without mirrors, you don't become so reliant on them. Is it about the space, or what is created within the space? If pioneers of community dance companies didn't have a "perfect" space, would it mean they would never be? Just something I've given myself to think about.
I now have 14 dedicated children in my class i hold on a Saturday. I call them my 'A3 juniorz' and they are doing amazingly they make me so happy. Last summer i managed to book them into their first 4 shows, mainly community festivals and their confidence as a class or company should i say has been on the up ever since. Sometimes thinking about A3 makes me anxious and i question weather it could really turn out to be the company I've imagined having for years. There's so much to do! How will i bring it forward and give it a solid place within the community and how do i get people in and most importantly, will i keep them interested? Not to mention keeping a float on the financial side of things. Maybe i tried to think big to fast. I need to chill, not take a back seat but let things develop naturally with a little push.
I'm working with a graphic designer at the moment to develop brand new flyers, a blurb and a website for A3 dance company, just some of the tools i will need to market my business. Hopefully i'll be able to upload drafts soon.
If anyone has any advice or guidance that you think i could use, i am very willing to try suggestions.
Also if you get a chance, check out the page i have already set up on Facebook for A3 dance Company and like it! Keep up to date with classes and whats going on in general at A3. Thanks in advance ;)
Here's the link: http://www.facebook.com/pages/A3-Dance-Company/199781026715600
Tuesday 14 February 2012
Wednesday 8 February 2012
First Campus session of the New spring term.
Considering i have been on the Bapp course for some time now, i'm ashamed to say this was only the 3rd campus session i have managed to attend. After gaining an insight into the ideas of others, listening to other students talk of the way they are shaping ideas for their line of inquiry, questioning my own thoughts of inquiry and most importantly receiving feedback from our tutors, i know this is just the first of many more campus sessions to come this year. The fact that i'm back to blogging within a few days of this session, is surely evidence to the benefits of it.
I think all those that attended can safely say they were motivated when leaving that day. We were shown the work of some of the third year finalist, the products of their final lines of inquiry, they were definitely an eye-opener. As well as showing what greatness could come out of this course they also gave me a sense of wanting. I want to complete this course, i want to learn and gain knowledge from investigating my lines of inquiry and most importantly, i want to give something back. All of the finalists work was giving something back, i could read through every one of those final products and come back with information that i hadn't known before, information i could actually use.
I started to think further on my own thoughts of inquiry, occasionally wondering off on a tangent and thinking about what my final product would be, on reflection, I've learnt that i can't jump ahead of myself. I need to start with the here and now..the present. I have such a broad idea and it needs to be honed in, i can only do that by research. Start discovering what i really want and need to know and who already knows what about my topic.
Rosemary had a key question to make me realize just how broad a topic Community dance could be. She asked about the Community dance Company i worked for, Irie! Dance theater. Her question was; Who are Irie!'s stakeholders. To be honest i wasn't to sure what a stakeholder was until someone stated it was people or a person who were interested in the organisation. Taking time out to find out the true meaning of a stakeholder i now know that it is a person, group, organization, or system who affects or can be affected by an organization's actions.
Rosemary then coaxed me into listing who i thought were Irie!'s stakeholders:
My topic is Community Dance...but what about it?
-Whats already known about it?
What can i do?
-Hook up with others with this interest or a similar one
-Talk to a wider professional audience
-Talk to my teachers
Adesola Akinleye gave some advice-
"Don't look for arguments and answers straight away. Just research for fun, research information for your own knowledge and take the inquiry from there."
I think this is exactly where i will start.
I think all those that attended can safely say they were motivated when leaving that day. We were shown the work of some of the third year finalist, the products of their final lines of inquiry, they were definitely an eye-opener. As well as showing what greatness could come out of this course they also gave me a sense of wanting. I want to complete this course, i want to learn and gain knowledge from investigating my lines of inquiry and most importantly, i want to give something back. All of the finalists work was giving something back, i could read through every one of those final products and come back with information that i hadn't known before, information i could actually use.
I started to think further on my own thoughts of inquiry, occasionally wondering off on a tangent and thinking about what my final product would be, on reflection, I've learnt that i can't jump ahead of myself. I need to start with the here and now..the present. I have such a broad idea and it needs to be honed in, i can only do that by research. Start discovering what i really want and need to know and who already knows what about my topic.
Rosemary had a key question to make me realize just how broad a topic Community dance could be. She asked about the Community dance Company i worked for, Irie! Dance theater. Her question was; Who are Irie!'s stakeholders. To be honest i wasn't to sure what a stakeholder was until someone stated it was people or a person who were interested in the organisation. Taking time out to find out the true meaning of a stakeholder i now know that it is a person, group, organization, or system who affects or can be affected by an organization's actions.
Rosemary then coaxed me into listing who i thought were Irie!'s stakeholders:
- Children -Caribbean Bugs
- Young People-Steps Together
- Adults- African &Caribbean fitness
- Funding organisations-Local council, Arts council, etc.
- Schools- Education outreach workshops
- Universities- London Metropolitan
- Teachers- Classes and FD Degree
- Office workers- Development officer, finance, marketing.
I could see where she was going with this. Exactly what part of community dance gets me excited? What part do i want to delve deeper into?
My topic is Community Dance...but what about it?
-Whats already known about it?
What can i do?
-Hook up with others with this interest or a similar one
-Talk to a wider professional audience
-Talk to my teachers
Adesola Akinleye gave some advice-
"Don't look for arguments and answers straight away. Just research for fun, research information for your own knowledge and take the inquiry from there."
I think this is exactly where i will start.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)