The End Is Just a New Beginning!

Today I did my Oral Presentation at the University and it was a scary but rewarding experience.

It was intriguing to find out what other students have been researching and exploring and it was really interesting to meet other students and the tutors after all this time.  Stephanie Vezmar and I even went for a well earned drink (or 2) after the presentations!!

Good Luck to everyone presenting their work tomorrow!!

I can not believe the course has come to an end, I still feel as if I have a mountain of work to do.  It has been extremely tough at times, however I feel I have accomplished something rewarding.

I would like to thank the other B.A.P.P students for sharing their ideas and experiences as well as motivating me, along side my tutor Paula.  Your support has definitely been appreciated.

I feel the course has equipped me with the knowledge and skills needed to enhance my career and to continually self analyse and develop as a Freelance Dancer.  Even though the course has finished I will carry on using the skills I have acquired during the course and the learning process will definitely continue.

Thank you again for reading my blogs and supporting me on my B.A.P.P journey!

Best Wishes for all your future endeavours, hopefully see you all at graduation!!

Sian x

Submission!!!

After much hesitation and motivation from Stephanie Vezmar, I finally did it......I pressed the SUBMIT button!

It has been an action-packed year and I feel I have learnt so much through out the course and even though at times I have found it very challenging and have wanted to give up, the support from other B.A.P.P students, Paula and my professional community has been very much appreciated and has helped me get to this submission point!

It has been very rewarding and satisfying seeing everything I have learnt from each module come together and supply me with the tools and knowledge needed to carry out my Professional Inquiry and Professional Artefact.

I am now about to start the process of working on my Oral Presentation and I am looking forward to meeting other B.A.P.P students at the presentations, as I haven't been able to attend any campus sessions over the course.

Good Luck to everyone submitting their work!  This is a big achievement for us all :) x



           

Critical Reflection on my Learning Experience in Module Three

Critical Reflection

Introduction

I feel the Inquiry process has been very challenging, but rewarding.  I have learnt a lot about my Inquiry topic and how I can enhance my own practice as well as learning the key fundamental tools needed in order to carry out an Inquiry. 

What have I learnt through the Inquiry Process?

I feel all modules have equipped me with the knowledge, tools, theories and methods needed in order for me to carry out my Professional Inquiry.  It has been very rewarding to be able to combine everything I have learnt on the course and put it all into practice, as well as explore and develop a topic I am passionate about.  

Throughout the course I have learnt how to apply communication technologies, reflective theories and  practice, theories to networking, ethics and practitioner research tools to my own practice as well as learn how to write literature reviews.   I feel all these concepts and tools will aid me in becoming a more knowledgeable Freelance Dancer within the industry and allow me to continue to self-analyse on a regular basis. 

Before the course, I had never written a blog, however I have enjoyed learning how to blog and sharing my findings and ideas with other B.A.P.P students (APPENDIX O) and my tutor (APPENDIX P).  Their responses have been extremely valuable and have contributed in shaping my Inquiry.  Blogging will be a tool I will continue to use throughout my career.

I found the S.I.G (APPENDIX Q) I created on Facebook was not as successful as I had first hoped.  I feel this is because each student is focussing on their own topic and I was not familiar with anyone exploring a similar topic to myself.  However, alongside blogging, my professional network have been extremely helpful by consenting to participate in my Practitioner Research and Professional Artefact, as well as show their support and inspire my thinking and ideas for my Inquiry topic

My journal, which I started in Module One, has been a beneficial reflective tool throughout the Inquiry process and is a tool I will continue to incorporate into my every day practice as it is an effective way to document and reflect.  

I leant in Module One, that I learnt best body kinaesthetically.  This means I obtain the best results through a “hands on” approach.  Therefore, conducting the interviews (APPENDIX R) and the focus group (APPENDIX S) for my Inquiry was an effective method of learning as well as getting the opportunity to speak with professionals within my professional community.  In Appendix R and S you can see how I colour codes each theme to help analyse them.

Their answers have been extremely valuable in developing my thinking and knowledge of the Freelance Dance industry.  Their responses have given me an insight into what employers look for at an audition and the other Freelance Dancers who participated in the focus group have also expressed their views on the industry and given advice and raised issues.  This gave me a platform in which to explore further ideas, which in turn, contributed to moulding my Inquiry, helping me to become a more knowledgeable performer. 

Through carrying out the practitioner research, I have learnt the skills needed to organise an Interview and a Focus Group as well as the knowledge and skills needed to plan a professional research project.   

Ethics have been a key focus throughout the course.  I have now learnt how to carry out an Inquiry safely and professionally.  I have also been made aware of the issues and concerns surrounding ethics in the workplace and the ethics of using participants in an Inquiry process. 

  

Conclusion

I will be sharing my findings from my inquiry through my Professional Artefact which is in the form of an Audio-Visual clip.  I decided on this form of medium so that it can be accessed easily by other Freelance Dancers through the internet and social media. 

Before starting the B.A.P.P Arts course self-analysis was an element I did not incorporate in to my practice.  However, I now realise its importance and how essential it is to continually analyse where I am in my practice and what I can do to improve my practice. ‘The entrepreneur always searches for change, responds to it and exploits it as an opportunity.’ (Drucker, P. 1985, p.5).  This in turn will ensure I continually grow and develop as a Freelance Dancer.  

An Evaluation of my processes for doing the Inquiry

Planning played an essential role in making sure I used my time in the most effective way to gain the most effective results.    I used Action Planning as this enabled me to identify the different tasks I had to undertake in order to make sure my Inquiry included all the necessary elements. 

    

After reading about the "Gaant Chart", I composed my own schedule based on this model. This enabled me to keep to a time scale whilst still allowing some flexibility.  Designing the schedule in weekly intervals worked very well and made sure I incorporated all the elements of the Inquiry process within the given time frame.  By planning the research and activities it allowed me to visually see the tasks I needed to undertake and also have a structure to follow.  

At the end of Module 2 I chose the tools I thought would be most effective for my Practitioner Research.  These consisted of Interviews, a Focus Groups and a Survey.  I wanted to incorporate a survey as I thought it would be useful to gather some quantitative data within my findings. However, after considering this tool in more depth over the summer, I realised a survey would not be as valuable as the other tools I had planned to use.  Therefore after reviewing my feedback I decided to take a qualitative approach to gathering data as the information I felt would be beneficial to my inquiry was of a qualitative nature.   

I conducted three interviews, two with my current professional employers and another with a fellow Freelance Dancer.  I also arranged an informal professional discussion with a Casting Director which was conducted over “Skype”. 

One employer in particular gave very detailed and elaborate answers and I felt really embraced the interview and even on the closed questions this particular employer would still elaborate on her responses.  I feel this is because I carried out this interview over a Skype call which allowed the participant to feel relaxed in their own environment and schedule in the necessary time frame required, allowing them to elaborate on their thoughts and ideas.

However, in the other employer’s interview, the responses were not as detailed and I felt they were not fully engaged in the interview and unable to express their opinions spontaneously.  This could have been due to the fact the interview was to take place before leaving to perform a show.  I had previously arranged a set time for the interview to take place allowing a sufficient time frame.   However, the particular participant was late and I felt this affected her responses and thought processes.  On reflection I would have given her the questions prior to the interview to enable her to consider her answers before participating.

Originally, I thought I would use a Dictaphone when recording my interviews. I learnt from conducting the pilot interview that I remained more focused and engaged with the participants if I wasn’t constantly writing notes throughout the interview.  However, after thinking about what I wanted to do for my professional artefact and with the consent of the participants, I thought it would be beneficial to have the option of using visual footage.  This worked well as it allowed me to focus on what was being said in the interview and respond accordingly, which in turn made the interview flow easily. This then enabled accurate transcription and from using the recording I was also able to recognise the tone in which the participant was speaking.  

I also conducted a Focus Group made up of other Freelance Dancers. I chose Freelance Dancers whom I currently work with and whom I have worked with previously.  I found the focus group a very useful tool as it consisted of other Freelance Dancers who “have similar characteristics or experience…or are known to have a professional concern about and knowledge of the issues involved” (Bell,2005, p.162).

I originally planned to use four participants in my Focus Group as I felt this number of participants worked well in my pilot focus group.  However, it was difficult to get all four participants available simultaneously.  Even when a time and date had been agreed and scheduled a work commitment would occur for one of the participants involved and ethically I could not allow my practitioner research to interfere with the participants’ work.   Therefore, I felt it was a good opportunity to practice what I had learnt throughout the course and work collaboratively with social media.

I thought the most effective way of using social media would be to use a private group on “Facebook”.  This enabled me to ask the same questions I would have asked in the Focus Group in person, however the discussion would now be written instead of verbal.

I was unsure how effective carrying out this method through social media would be after planning to conduct the focus group in person. However it worked well as each participant shared interesting views, which in turn, triggered responses from the other participants.  The discussion felt very relaxed and the participants could answer in their own time and not feel pressured in front of the other participants.  Although the data gathered was valuable to analyse, I felt the focus group conducted in person, would have enabled more interaction between the participants as it felt slightly like a questionnaire. 

I used a purposive sample of participants as I thought I would “choose people who can answer the questions using defined criteria (qualitative) in order to look at particular or situated phenomena”. (WBS3630: READER 7)

I feel the decision to use a purposive sample of participants worked well as it was a perfect opportunity to utilise my current professional work community in order to help further my career and find out more about my workplace. I wanted to get an insight into what they look for when employing Freelance Dancers and question my own assumptions and preconceived ideas.  I was beneficial to interview my employers as it enabled me to arrange a suitable time with them.  I also felt we were both at ease in the interview as we were known to one another. 

I used a semi-structured format which allowed me to include my set questions which I had prepared prior for the interviews.  This structure also allowed flexibility for any interesting issues that arose.  This structure was effective as it allowed the participant to speak about their views freely, but ensured that they reverted back to the inquiry topic if the discussion had strayed.

I also used a variety of open and closed questions.  On reflection, I feel the open questions were more valuable to my inquiry and more effective as they required a more in depth response. 

The Literature I used consisted of books, online articles, Delicious, “Summon”, Reading Lists, Readers and Handbooks supplied by Middlesex University.  These have all been valuable and essential in developing my own thinking and enhanced my inquiry.

The Books and online articles I have been studying have mainly consisted of points of views, theories and advice from other professional practitioners in dance.  Their advice has been extremely useful in sparking topics within my Inquiry topic.

In conclusion, I was happy with the tools I chose and felt they were best suited to my Inquiry and the data I needed to gather.  I feel all the processes used for my inquiry complimented each other to give me very valuable findings.  

Summary of my main findings in 100 words

I have found out a lot of valuable information from carrying out my Professional Inquiry and therefore it was very hard to summarise it in only 100 words.  However, after much deliberation, I have managed to summarise the main findings very briefly in 96 words below:

From carrying out my professional Inquiry I found out; how to market yourself effectively and the correct tools in which to do this; how a Freelance Dancer can remain professional; the ways in which a Freelance Dancer can prepare themselves for the audition process and the attributes needed in order to secure and maintain an active career. Through Practitioner research, I am now aware of what Employers expect from a Freelance Dancer and I now feel equipped with the knowledge I need to apply these findings to my own practice in order to further my career.

Thoughts about my Professional Artefact

I have been thinking recently about what the best way to present my artefact would be.  After brainstorming ideas in my journal, I feel a video would be best.  I feel a lot of people use the internet and social media and this would be something that could be shared and accessed easily.

After analysing my data from Practitioner research and Literature, it has become apparent that I have lots of valuable advice I can apply to my own practice and also share with others.

As my inquiry is about how a Freelance Dancer can sustain and maintain an active career, I will be aiming my artefact at other Freelance Dancers in the industry.  I feel my artefact will inform them on this topic and hopefully help them to further their careers.  I also feel this artefact would be useful for graduates and students who are at full time dance colleges and universities who are wanting a career in the dance industry.  I feel it will equip them with the knowledge needed to sustain a dance career as a Freelance Dancer and also give them advice for auditions and an idea of what the industry is like.

I know what it feels like as a Freelance Dancer in the middle of their career to feel a bit lost.  I think most people have had a specific point in their career when they have thought about whether performing is something they want to continue with after a few unsuccessful auditions.  Therefore, I hope my artefact will be a video that they can use as a check list and make sure they are preparing themselves in the best way and motivate them to carry on.  Similarly to Sarah, I feel it will be in the style of a  "Survival Guide" for Freelance Dancers and inform them on how they can survive in such a tough industry.

From my own experience, I feel full time dance colleges train you technically for the industry but don't always provide you with the information and advice in sustaining and maintaining an active career once in the industry.

I am wanting to incorporate some clips from the interviews I have filmed from my employers and other Freelance Dancers and also quotes from the Focus Group and my Literature as well as images to make it grab peoples attention and make it more interesting.

I feel a video like this would have been very valuable to watch when I was at college, so I knew what was expected of me in the "real" world.

I also feel I want to challenge myself during this task and help me to become confident in a new skill.  At the beginning of the course I had never put together a visual and audio clip until task 1c in Module One.  I feel I want to re visit this and put what I have learnt into practice.  I am wanting to make a new showreel soon, as I have realised the importance of a good show reel after carrying out my inquiry and I feel this will be a useful exercise to prepare me and allow me to practice using different programmes in order to create this.  

I would love to know your thoughts on this artefact and whether it is something you would like to watch or whether it was something you would have liked to have seen during your training at dance college?

A Conversation with Professional externals to the BAPP Arts Network

I have recently conducted my interviews for my Inquiry with my Employers and with other Freelance Dancers.  However, I have found it hard to organise a Focus Group as I have struggled to find a time that suits all participants.  Therefore,  I am hoping to arrange something this week.

The interviews I have carried out have been extremely interesting and the findings will be very useful when evaluating and analysing them for my Inquiry.  I was struggling to differentiate between the meanings of evaluating and analysing however the blog posted by Lizzie Martin was helpful as it explains what was discussed during a Skype chat with Paula, which I unfortunately couldn't attend.

I have also had an informal chat with a Casting Director over Skype, which I found very valuable in moving forward with my Inquiry.  He spoke about the criteria Casting Directors follow when auditioning and casting for jobs, which has made me think about how I can improve my own practice and what areas I need more work on.

I wanted to interview both fellow Freelance Dancers and Employers, as I want to compare their answers.  It has already been interesting to see what areas the Freelance Dancers and Employers opinions are similar and where they differ.  

Similar to the Casting Director, the answers from the Employers have given me food for thought on how I can market myself more effectively as a Freelance Dancer and what I should work on in order to secure work.  By interviewing fellow Freelance Dancers I am able to find out where they source their information for auditions and what they do in preparation for auditions and also how they remain professional in the industry.

All the findings from these interviews will work collaboratively with the literature I have researched and help me to have a better understanding of the industry and will also give me the contents for my professional artefact.  By using these findings I will be aiming to target and help other Freelance Dancers to understand what is being expected of them and what we can apply to our own practice, which will in turn help us to secure further work and remain professional in the industry.