Body Check In

I am often overwhelmed. I have taken on more than it is possible for me to do, therefor I am frequently very sleep deprived. I think this works against me. It is difficult to take a dance class and be fully present when I am tired and I am thinking about all the things that I need to do. I have found that class has greatly reduced my stress. No matter how stressed I am when I walk into my ballet class I know that when I walk out I will feel like all is well with the world.
I am feeling much better about my body this semester. I feel like I am continually improving and getting stronger. I still get frustrated that I am not where I want to be yet, but I am happy that I am able to see my progress. The stronger I get the more my technique improves. I also think as I improve I relax and therefor I am able to improve more.

Concept

I have discovered that I have a common problem with all concepts when it comes to modern. I am able to understand and do the concept when it is slow or done in an isolated movement, but when it is in the context of a phrase I have difficulty. My mind gets wrapped up in trying to remember the next movement and I forget to work on the concept. We have spent lot of time working on rotation of our backs and contractions. I find them much easier to do when we are doing them slowly and I concentrate on the movement. I find that I have this same problem in every class. When I can slow down and think it is much easier for me to do what I need to do properly. I think that is a common problem.

Transfer of Weight

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EC88s50rXWM

After a great deal of searching youtube I discovered it was very difficult to find a video that payed attention to weight shift. However I did find a great deal of videos of dances that could have been improved be attention to weight shift. This video is an example of a work in progress. First I would like to point out this is a terrible choice of music. That asside without weight shift it seems as if she is simply moving through the steps with no feeling or attention to detail. The lack of weight shift makes this video difficult to watch. From the beginning she does not weight shift. She begins walking and it is simply that moving through the steps. I think it would have been greatly improved if she would have weight shifted putting some purpose behind the movement. Later in the piece she comes  out of a turn and simply puts her foot down rather than putting any weight on it. I think that a little weight shift could have greatly improved this piece.

Research Summer Programs

I have to admit this assignment was a little frustrating for me. I wish that I was able to attend a summer program, but unfortunately my family life dictates that I cannot take that much time away especially in the summer. I read the article and reluctantly began my search. My criteria was simply a ballet program that would accept someone my age. I was not surprised to see that I was to old for every program I looked into.

Now that I am older I wish that I had taken more chances when I was young. After high school I assumed that I was too old to pursue dancing as a career option. The longer I am at HCC the more I see that was a foolish though pattern.  If it was not for my family and age restrictions today I would not hesitate to attend a summer program.

I love intensives. The push you and draw out skills that you never knew you had. I remember attending ballet intensives when I was young and feeling amazing at the end of them, like I had grown leaps and bounds. The long days exhaust you, but also allow you to live your dance. Dance is no longer a fun activity, but a way of life.

How Do You Learn

I'm a visual tactile learner, but until now I never thought of how it relates to dance. Recently I have been thinking about how I can have a combination clear in my head, but if I notice someone doing something wrong I become distracted and begin to question myself. I think it may have something to do with my learning style. Growing up the combination was rarely demonstrated I was simply told the steps and then expected to do them. That is simply what I am used to. Here the combination is demonstrated, often several times. When I was younger I used to close my eyes. It was the only way that I could be present in the moment and let go and dance. I find myself doing that more today. I close them for a brief moment and I see myself doing the steps. When I close my eyes I am less likely to become distracted.

I also like to be consistent. I go to the same bar each day, same place in the center and I usually go in the middle of the line when going across the floor. I think this has less to do with my learning style and more to do with my need to feel comfortable. 

Alignment

I started dancing very young and from the very beginning alignment was always addressed. For the most part it is natural for me to be aware of my alignment and in a constant state of working on it. I find it is most difficult to maintain when I am tired or my muscles are tired. I want to slump and let go. The irony is when I am not aligned it becomes more difficult to dance. I like the idea of thinking about lengthening the tail bone down rather than tucking the pelvis under. I am going to try and think of it that way during my next class and see what difference it makes.

Monica Bill Barnes

Strong technique was evident throughout the show. Although the use of comedy may have masked the technique at times it was clear they were all well trained and took their art seriously. The attention to detail was clear. They moved with precision and ease throughout the program. Their movement choices were clear. Never did I ask myself if that was an accident, if something was funny, it was clear they intended it to be so.