I am working on my critical review – trying
to write notes as I go so it is real and honest, and I have just mentioned my
change of focus within my teaching. When
I started this MA I came from an interest in the way I taught compared to other
ballet teachers, for sure not thinking I was better than anyone – more that I
was different in my approach to anyone I had watched when observing as part of
my job.
Since learning so much about imagery I have
tried lots of new approaches in my classes and although my fundamental ethic of
taking time to ensure that the students know what they are doing – my obsession
with ‘How to’ – has not changed, the ways I am trying to procure understanding
have. I am happy to have been able to
tap into so many different ideas and theories and feel that my more holistic
approach which includes more work on positive self-talk and imaging before
doing, with a healthy sprinkling of my usual anatomical/metaphorical teaching and
other new ideas may be reaching a wider audience.
I am interested in what the interviews may
throw up – especially amongst those who grade themselves as low imagers as
there may be work that can be done to improve this and therefore enhance their
training. I am also looking forward to
hearing what teachers have to say as perhaps I underestimate their engagement
with imagery, based on what I have seen.
Another thing that I have noticed is that
although I am perceived as a very organised, methodical person I am finding
that within Module 3 I am jumping around like a grasshopper; 10 minutes ago I
was working on my Critical Review, although my original attention was to
approach my Professional Artefact, and now I am writing in my Reflective Journal and Blogging having also worked on my Literature Review in the meantime.
I think one idea sparks another and I want to
ensure that I do not focus too much on one area of assessment work and find I
have neglected another. I’m not
perturbed by this way of working, and theorise that it is because there are 3
end products to produce and not 1 and they are all equally important. Also, something written in 1 document may
well contribute to another – my presentation is informing my artefact in some
ways, although the end products will certainly be very different.
So I am changing. In lots of ways, I am changing.
As a happy postscript: It was interesting to
hear what a student had to say yesterday. When taking students upstairs to get
sheet music I asked them to use the student photocopier on the floor below my
office to copy their songs as I could not be in my office and the library at
the same time. One of the students I was
with said ‘You need a Janet army!’ to which I replied (tongue in cheek) ‘Can you
imagine!!!!’ She said something to the
tune of ‘There would be pictures of dancers and the anatomy everywhere,
inspiring everyone!’ Well that is good enough
for me – if I can inspire and educate then I am a happy woman. Interesting to hear how someone perceives you;
this student is a great singer but struggles with pointe work which I teach her
– so if she can see what I am trying to do in the face of her pointe work adversity
I can only be relieved and pleased as I do worry that 1½ hours of pointe work can
be tough for students who find it really challenging. This little interaction has given me hope and
positivity and I am very thankful.
