Task 3b: Theories Behind Networking

One of the best ways to network is to be affiliated (affiliation) with someone with a larger involvement.  The term “affiliate” means to “officially attach or connect to an organization” [Oxford American Dictionaries 2009].  Being attached within an organization puts your reputation and the other person’s reputation on the line as the term “officially” emphasizes the connection is “in a formal and public way” [Oxford American Dictionaries 2009] making the connection known to others.  We have to work hard to maintain the trust between all members contained in the network so the links remain strong and allow us to affiliate with others in the chain.

Social constructionism refers to what type of bond people make with each other, weather they are a close friend, co-worker or a business connection, they all have a different relationship.  One would not greet a business collogue with a hug or a kiss, a firm handshake will suffice for an industry professional.  When first meeting a new face, we decide what sort of relation we are going to have with this person, therefore the alliance is undifferentiated and will need to be defined.

Communities of practice is something I have always been aware of, that people that have practices in common create a community (a large circle of friends with the same interest).  When I was in school, we referred to it the “bubble”.  Our school was like a small community of dancers.  We all had dance in common and that is why we were gathered together, creating a community.  Although being in the “bubble” was good as we were mixing with people with the same interests, we also forgot that there is an even bigger community of dancers outside the walls of the school, and that in fact we were more like a small fish in a large pond.

Connectivism is vital to the networking process.  You can be given all the contacts/information in the world, but unless you know how to deal with them or how to apply them, they become useless.  A good example is auditions, you can be told about an upcoming audition, but unless you truly know who will be there, what they are looking for and how to present yourself, it could be a waste of time and money.  You can get a head start by knowing one of the people on the panel, or someone who knows them, this would involve using the connections you have in order to make the connection to assist you in the audition.

Cooperation is a tricky subject, as you can help each other, but at what point does one have to abscond from the collaboration in order to better themselves.  A teacher can teach a student how to dance, until all the knowledge has been absorbed, then the student must move on to a teacher with greater knowledge or become a professional.  However, when it comes to auditions, people are not very friendly and do no assist each other in getting a job, which could potentially be theirs.  It’s a bit of a battlefield.  Dancers who have retired may lend a hand to you, by using what they know and contacts.  Cooperation is not widely used in the dance world, more so in the training aspect, rather than assistance in gaining a job.

Task 3c: Networks

Keeping in contact with one’s network can be tricky.  I personally quite enjoy talking to people on the telephone, as I feel that some things can only be said in words.  Plus, you get a closer connection to the person as they can hear the emotion in your voice and can gain a clearer understanding of the matter at hand.  Even of your countries apart, it is possible to use technologies to call someone, using such programs as Skype, not only is thins good for cross Atlantic calls, but its free.  This means that keeping in contact is so much easier and cheaper than before.

Another good way to keep in touch is to send mail.  Letters allow you to connect to the writer on a personal level.  Sending mail gives you the possibility to send not just letters but photographs or even small packages, making it ideal when auditioning for companies.  However, nowadays we have an even quicker, faster and more efficient way to keep in contact and that is by email.  This capability means that the sender can transmit photographs, video, sound and text in a matter of seconds, to the opposite side of the world.  Again this is ideal for auditions and keeping in touch with those who are miles away.

Further to this, I have recently ventured into the world of social networking, and I feel that by using such sites as Twitter and Facebook, it allows us to network in a much more relaxed way.  By posting a “tweet” or a “status”, we are able to inform our web of connections of recent developments in our lives.  This happens on mass, making it less work for us to tell everyone individually, which can become quite tiresome.

A personal favorite of mine is to meet up with your contact.  I feel it makes the connection more personal and allows you to associate on a more social level.  It is also nice to discuss matters over lunch, or even better drinks.  It is good to connect to our network on a social level, as it shows them that we are human and also enjoy having a good time as well as being a hard worker.

Additionally, if we are in the same circle of friends and connections, we may even meet our acquaintances’ on social occasions, such as going on an outing to the theatre to see a show or even eating dinner at the same restaurant.  These “spontaneous” gatherings allow us to remain in contact with parts of our network that may not be particularly strong (such as some one we have only met once before).

In all, we keep connected with our network by simply going on a dinner date, updating out Facebook status, tweeting or even sending a straightforward email to anyone in our many groups of friends.

Happy Thanksgiving!

My first Thanksgiving, and I'm very excited to see what its all about.

I'm thankful for my health, happiness and most of all my family!
What are you guys thankful for?

Happy Thanksgiving people! =]

Discovery of a New Network

I have just discovered a new way to network.  Similar to that of Facebook and Twitter, Network Dance offers dancers the chance to upload their CV and photographs for other professionals to see.

This website also offers you the chance to apply for the auditions there and them, once a profile has been created.  This makes the application process much quicker and more efficient.

Not only is this a good website for dancers but also for photographers, choreographers and students.  This allows the photographers to advertise directly to the dancers, allow choreographers to find suitable dancers, and for students to apply for dance schools.

Also, there is a section for dancers to research more about the different dance companies, giving you vital information and contact info.

As the website suggests, Network Dance is an ideal place for dancers to grow their networks and make new connections.

Check out my profile and see what you think.

Task 3a: Current Networks

Having connections in the dance world is essential.  However, getting connections can be tricky, so where do you start?  Wayne Sleep, ex principal dancer of the Royal Ballet (who I met at a dance seminar), once told me that to be seen in a ballet class could be enough to get you a job.  He suggested that taking class in London regularly was a good idea.  In fact, he got some of his dancers from asking teachers in London about the dancers in their class (who turns up for class, who is reliable etc.).

Recently, a friend of mine got “picked up” from being seen in a class in London, to do dance in a show staring Leona Lewis, and will soon be featuring on TV.  Further to this, another friend heard of an audition while taking class in London from some of the other girls taking the class, and after turning up to the audition, she got chosen to dance with Beyonce, and from this job, a casting agent saw her.  She has also had the chance to work with Cheryl Cole as a backing dancer.  This shows that from one job, you can be picked up by choreographers, agents and companies, just by taking class.

Another way to network is to send photographs (headshot and dance shots) along with a CV to companies and agencies to see if they would be interested in seeing you.  Asking if you can take a dance class with a company is another good idea to get connections, if the director likes you, he might offer you a job, or even suggest where you may find alternative employment.

In the dance world, the higher up the tree you go, the more and more people seem to know each other.  For example, we all know who Darcey Bussell is as she is one of the people at the top of the tree.  Its like a triangle, we start at the bottom and as we go higher up to the point of the triangle, the greater the connections.  Everyone at the top seems to know each other, no matter how random the connection.  Whether they went to the same high school, worked together in a company or if they met at a barre (note the pun).

Reputation is important, once the reputation has been made, one does not want to lose it.  Having a good reputation means that you cannot lie about someone being amazing.  When they turn up and can’t do a simple step without falling over, your reputation goes down the drain.  One needs to be honest and then the connections will remain strong.

Recently I got a Twitter account, in the hopes that it will aid me in growing my network, while also keeping in contact with others in the mean time.  Twitter is ideal as it keeps all of our connections up to date with what is going on.  This is much easier that sending individual emails to different precipitants, allowing us to remain in connection with others.

Slowly our chain of connections gets bigger and bigger.  Even if we have not contacted some of our connections recently, our reputation will keep us in touch, and the trust will remain.  This is why first impressions are so important.

When starting out, we rely on the connections of others to help assist us in the dance world.  Eventually, people begin to rely on you for connections in the dance world as your web of connections continually grows.

Task 2d: Inquiry Task

So far on the BAPP course I have been writing ideas and questions in my journal about subject I feel would be interesting topics to research into.  Not only do I find these matters interesting, I feel that some of them are vital parts to being a dancer.

Why are there so many different techniques?  Also at what point do you introduce the artistry?  If there are so many opinions of technique, which one, if any, is/are correct?  I personally quite like some elements of the Vagonova technique (mainly taught in Russia) yet certain parts of the technique are not suitable such as the “snatch” of the foot to perform a pirouette, yet when performing in a ballet such as Swan Lake, you will need to roll through the foot.  In Cecchetti they refer to this a rolling through the foot as going though the “click".  Which technique is correct and why do they have different opinions?

Why is society ill educated when it comes knowledge of dance?  Someone who also shares this opinion is Emily Brenchley, noting that “some people don’t have enough knowledge of dance to be able to respect it”, in one of her blogs.

These are only a few of the many questions that I have been thinking about.  I am very interested in finding out the answers and discovering more about myself and dance.

Task 2c: Critical Reflection on Reflective Practices

I feel that this task is a continuation of Task 2b: 'Journal Writing Experience'.  I have looked at the practitioner's theories that I feel I use most in both professional practice and during my social life.

Check it out and let me know what you think, the link is below...

Critical Reflection on Reflective Practices

Task 1c: Starting out on BAPP

It took a while but I got there at last!

After realizing I had not brought my camera lead to America, the only option I had was to record the video on my phone.  So I have done my best in this situation.

Also, I wasn't sure how to upload to the Youtube BAPP channel?  Any advice is welcome!

Starting out on BAPP

Let me know what you think!

Web 2.0, Twitter and its Technologies

I'm new to Twitter but it has to be said, twitter really does get the wrong end of this stick.  I posted a comment, sarcastically mentioning plastic surgery, "OMG so much junk mail!! No, I do not want to give a gift of plastic surgery!! What does that say about your friends!! Honestly...".

Within five minutes I had a plastic surgeon following me, but what was even stranger is that the plastic surgeon is based in the city I am currently in.  How could they have got this information?  It couldn't be because of the other people following me are from that area, as there is no one from Florida following me yet.  My global position must have been tagged somewhere!

Also, a computer must have found the word surgery, and automatically started to follow me, thinking that I am interested or even a potential client.  This would be very clever had I been interested in reduced price "lipo", yet it is epically stupid when I'm being sarcastic.  It doesn't even shed a good light on surgery, and why would I even consider it!  Computers are not as clever as people think they are.  Plus, how rude would it be to give someone a "nose job" coupon for Christmas!

Further to this, stalkers and pedophiles could find victims quickly and easily using this technology, even pin pointing them to their exact location.  In fact, today I had someone start following me that I felt was highly inappropriate.  However saying this, had I been interested, it would have been an excellent way of networking.

Ballet in Relation to Science

The other day I was reading Liam Conman’s Blog about Reflective Practice and Reflective Writing.  On the blog he mentions that there are two types of intelligence, Gardners "Multiple Intelligences" such as verbal-linguistic/logical-mathematical intelligence and physical/ special intelligence or, dance intelligence.  This got me thinking about the relationship between ballet and science.

I do agree with him that dancers have an intelligence of their own.  However, everyone learns differently, and I feel that people with verbal-linguistic/logical-mathematical intelligence can become some of the most incredible dancers and choreographers.  


Click on the link below to read more...

Ballet in Relation to Science

Let me know what you think.

Task 2b: 'Journal Writing Experience'

After reading Kolb’s learning cycle, I realized that I use this theory quite a lot not only in everyday situations such as when going to a restaurant trying something new to see if you like it, and next time you will know weather or not to get it again or to suggest to a friend.

I have always referred to this theory as trial and error, as you don’t know if you will like the outcome until you have seen or tried it.  Only then you can make a clear judgment of the result.

A good example of this in my professional practice is when I was making a choreography.  The aim of the chorography was to explore partnering using two male partners and one female.  After getting some ideas together I taught the movement to a group of people and video recorded it.  At the time I liked the ideas behind the choreography, however after reviewing it back hot I realized that it doesn’t really work well with the music.  I then decided to change the choreography, but as I liked the movement I rearranged the choreography so that it was in a different section of the music.  This worked well and I liked the outcome and it was the right decision.

However, had I not liked the outcome I would probably had to have scraped the idea and start from scratch.  Although I would have “scraped” the idea, I would have saved the idea for another chorography and used it where I believe was appropriate.

We use Kolb’s learning cycle all the time without even realizing it form what fabric softener you use (trying them until you find one you really like) to what color you paint your living room.  We learn from trial and error, but we also learn more and more about ourselves in these decisions, allowing us to become better practitioners.

Task 2a: Journal

These past few days I have started to write my ideas and thoughts down in a journal, and I have discovered I have very strong opinions in different matters.

I thought it would be hard, but I am noticing more and more I can talk about each and every day.  So keep up to date with me and come back to check out what I think!  I would also love to hear about everyone else opinions would be welcome! So don’t forget to comment.

Class with Mr. Fleming

Today I had the honour of taking class with Christopher Fleming, internationally renowned choreographer and ex dancer with the legendary New York City Ballet.  He is currently the distinguished Artistic Director of Ballet Fleming.

After class was a rehearsal for Gaspar – A Pirate Fantasy, in which they were rehearsing the Water Lilly section.  A new piece to be choreographed on Nanako Yamamoto, a young, very talented professional dancer.  Originally from Japan, Nanako trained in England but now works for New Tampa Dance Theatre, where Christopher Fleming noticed her talent.

Christopher Fleming currently has a blog, Adventures of a Traveling Ballet Master, talking about his work and and his travels, spanning from Japan to America and more.

I very much enjoyed the class with Christopher Fleming, he has opened my eyes to a new technique which I had not seen before and his observations were always constructive.  This new technique has given me confidence to experiment with dance and alter certain aspect to see the outcome.  I am looking forward to my next class with him.

Twitter

Hey guys, just thrown myself into the twenty first century, and got myself a twitter account!

Check it out if you would like to hear about my goings on, but don't forget to tweet back!  The link is shown below.

@JacobHughes100

Eureka!!

I now understand what I need to do... I think?

Time to map out my thoughts in my journal.

Ohh and a big hello to the fellow bloggers who have joined me! :D

Task 1b: Professional Communication Technologies - Further Thoughts

Can we trust the information given, over Web 2.0?

As the information can be edited and uploaded by anyone, is it trust worthy?  Especially when you consider that the creator could have got the wrong end of the stick.  Not only this, but sometimes sarcasm and whit cannot be read through text.  Does this then make the text offensive or even rude?

When leaving a post on a web page, is there too much information recorded?  Most of the time it is necessary to sign up to the website, meaning personal details, such as date of birth, gender and email address are required.  This is to only verify who we are, but we could very easily lie about these details, making it simple for under age children accessing inappropriate web sites, or worse, convincing people you are not who you say you are.   Furthermore, the time and date are recorded when posting and recently I have noticed that even your location can be recorded.  Does this make us an easy target?

A friend of mine was also showing me an app on his mobile phone that allowed you to trace where people are.  This was ideal when he needed to locate his sister lost mobile phone, but realistically we could locate anyone in the world.  Since he told me about this, I have felt like I am being watched, a feeling I do not like!  

Even when using Google to search for things, Google knew my location with one click of the mouse!

Another thought that disturbed me was that children can lie about their age to gain access to any website and sign up for anything without being identified properly!

In all privacy is very important to everyone!  I feel that it should be by choice what we display to others.  We must be more carful about what we say when posting, otherwise its like saying why bother having a security PIN on your credit and debit cards.

Professional Profile – Second Draft

After looking though my first draft, I noticed that I had not mentioned my academic qualifications.
I also adapted some of the sentences, so that it doesn't sound repetitive and removed some sections that were not relevant.

Professional Profile – Second Draft

Task 1b: Professional Communication Technologies - My Thoughts and Feelings

Web 2.0 is an incredibly powerful tool that can be used by anyone.  After reading about Web 2.0 I realized that we use it a lot more that we know and keeps the user up to date on everyones thoughts and feelings.  There are two views to this, it can also reveal too much about ourselves leaving us venerable to unwelcome users.


Professional Communication Technologies - My Thoughts and Feelings

Task 1d: Photographs

Not going to lie, I don't understand flickr, but I tried my best and I know it is a little basic, but its better than nothing.  If I can make it a little more interesting, I shall let you know.


Photographs


I hope you like the photos.

Task 1a: CV and Professional Profile

Hey guys, this is my first blog and I'm new to the world of blogging, so please forgive me if anything goes wrong.


Below are a couple of links for the Task 1a, to show you my current CV and also a Professional Profile.
Your thoughts and feelings on how these could be adapted and improved would be greatly appreciated! I hope you like them.


CV
Professional Profile