Today we had the first student voice discussion meeting and it was great to see everyone and make a connection. The student voice will provide an opportunity for us to create a community of support during your time on the course and the platform to discuss positive notions as well as any issues that you may be facing or have faced on the course in areas that support your experience as a student.  This is an important element of the Student Voice and key to continue the development of the MAPP. We have set up WhatsApp groups so that we can communicate as students to give support to each other and if you wish to be added please contact  Jacob  or myself.    There will be a meeting for further discussion in a few weeks time so that we can gather more thoughts in preparation for the Student Voice meeting with the Dean. We hope that you will find the SV helpful in many ways as well as a reminder that you are not alone on your journey through the course!

The next chapter has begun! It was really wonderful to meet new and current students at the welcome back zoom on Friday.  It was great that we got to see each other and feel a sense of togetherness right from the onset. This term, as I move into Module Three, I will also be taking on the role as a Student Voice leader along with  Jacob Hughes .   As mentioned at the meeting, this will provide an opportunity for students in the MAPP community to provide feedback that will enable the course to continue to progress.  We are also hoping that it will allow us to connect as students to encourage a support network as we move through our studies.  There will be a Zoom meeting on Thursday 11 February @ 3pm UK time, the link is on the Unihub programme page.  We hope to see you there! I certainly feel that the MA so far has taken me on a rollercoaster of emotions but mostly an amazing journey of learning.  I feel excited to be at the point of carrying out my...

I was so encouraged by our last Skype discussion, everyone spoke with a passion for their beliefs and it was really interesting to observe.  Everyone really does communicate in different ways, there's no right or wrong way to express yourself its all part of our individuality.  I think that sometimes we can over think, I am victim to this myself, about the content of what we say and if it all sounds correct but really we should think the exact opposite of this, whatever and however anyone says something it will spark a discussion, a method of communication.   During this second module of the MA, I feel that I have already learnt so much!  I do not come from an academic background so I have felt that everything within this MA so far has been a new learning for me and I am really quite pleased with all this new knowledge and understanding.  I still have far to go but each assignment is a step forward and certainly not backwards!  I feel that I have been ...

Visualization is one element of dance but what is beyond that? The visualization of dance will always be the primary feature, however, the artistry in a performance requires a very different direction and approach, allowing the dancer to perform with true integrity to their emotions and expressions. I believe in the connection of the mind and body, the embodiment of dance that enables a more profound experience to take place. It is at this point; I reflect on my experiences of dance and respond to my initial training as a child, I feel that it was directed in a positivist mode, – ‘This is what is to be done and this is how to do it!’, following strictly to a syllabus aiming to ensure the success of an examination, within a fixed timescale to work to and did not allow further exploration of the subject. The ‘free’ movement section of the ballet exam was a very scary prospect as it was just that – ‘Free!’, we hadn’t been taught this!   Through my own experiences of tea...

 At this point in my studies, in module two, I am still searching for what I believe will be the most appropriate methodology and frameworks for my inquiry.  I have so many thoughts and questions in my mind but I have set myself a goal to pin them down so that I can keep moving forward.  I do find it difficult to be patient at this point as I want the proposal to be in a clearer place right now but I know that this part of the process and all the reading is so necessary to bring me to that place. I think that part of the problem is ensuring that my methodology and research methods will open the doors to the wonders of my proposal and provide me with an opportunity to continue the development of my practice. Understanding the ethical considerations and ethical procedures of my research is of course one of the main areas to include.  I understand the importance of ethical procedures, from my teaching practices in both the UK and US, the safe guarding of performers and ...

Sunday’s group discussion really touched on a lot of areas that sparked off our thoughts and standings. It elated and inspired me to feel more connected with the group to be discussing topics that we have to consider every day in some way or another and it was so interesting to hear everyone's views. I feel it is important to stand by what we believe works best in our practices but at the same time, remain open minded to new possibilities and approach circumstances/situations with deeper thought and maybe even try out a new different direction. I personally believe that observing recordings of myself helps me to strive for an improved performance, I don't really like watching myself but I feel it is an essential action.  I like to feel my artistic expressions and I think this is why in class a mixture of mirror and non-mirror teaching adds value and also helps to direct the students towards expressing their feelings and emotions without a visualization of them.  Videoing stude...

It was really great to feel reconnected to the MAPP community following the 'welcome' skype, an opportunity to refresh and re-ignite the passion of exploring further into our professional practices. As I now begin module two of the MAPP, I wanted to add a few of my thoughts to help those who are starting module one: I enrolled into the programme quite late and so I didn't fully engage into the expectations of the first module early enough to feel that I fully understood what I needed to do and I panicked!  This is were I found the blogs so helpful and they gave me a great insight and a much deeper understanding of the direction that I needed to be going in.  Reading the blogs also made me appreciate the wealth of knowledge that we have as a community, the value in us sharing it and also to act as a trigger to reflect on our own practices and experiences. Give yourself plenty of time to read and write, it took me much longer than I anticipated I also found it helpful to ask ...