Skype Recap
My Skype meeting with Astrid and Brooke was very interesting and thought provoking. We touched on many points of interest and discussed our place as teachers. There are two key points I would like to recap from our meeting. The first being finding voice as dancers. As movement artists we use a lot of embodied practice. How do we translate movement based ideologies into effective communication? That is something I personally would like to work on during this first term. There are a lot of ways to communicate dance and as educators it is helpful to find tools which reflect our true style of teaching and thinking. By using terminology we use as teachers we can mend social ideas and concepts to embodied dance language.
The second key point is a topic that touched all three of us in a unique way. We discussed how to invoke joy in university level ballet classes. We also discussed how holding space and respecting each spirit's journey is important in sharing our knowledge respectfully. By understanding where our students are and allowing them the space to shape their future they can grow in their own means. Not every student who comes to a university level class may be looking to become a great technical dancer. Therefore it is up to the educator to allow for space, patience, and respect as each student of dance is looking for something unique. By assessing our students and then allowing them to communicate either in physical or verbal means their goals for the class the teacher can receive a great deal of knowledge about their student. Enough at least to guide them gently and informatively through a semester of learning no matter what their skill level may be.
Thank you for reading looking forward to speaking more with you all!
Julianna
The second key point is a topic that touched all three of us in a unique way. We discussed how to invoke joy in university level ballet classes. We also discussed how holding space and respecting each spirit's journey is important in sharing our knowledge respectfully. By understanding where our students are and allowing them the space to shape their future they can grow in their own means. Not every student who comes to a university level class may be looking to become a great technical dancer. Therefore it is up to the educator to allow for space, patience, and respect as each student of dance is looking for something unique. By assessing our students and then allowing them to communicate either in physical or verbal means their goals for the class the teacher can receive a great deal of knowledge about their student. Enough at least to guide them gently and informatively through a semester of learning no matter what their skill level may be.
Thank you for reading looking forward to speaking more with you all!
Julianna
Thank you Julianna - I love this line of your: " Therefore it is up to the educator to allow for space, patience, and respect as each student of dance is looking for something unique."
ReplyDeleteEspecially at the university level - to help individual students find value in your class so that its meaningful and engaging. This will create knowledge and a desire for further learning I think.
Thank you Astrid. I loved your points on finding that individual voice as well
DeleteThank you Julianna, I could not attend this Skype so this was very informative and helpful.
ReplyDeleteI have the same question as you on 'How do we translate movement based ideologies into effective communication?' . I believe there are many ways to try to communicate dance and each of us has developed different tools to do so depending on our students, because each children has different and unique skills and character.
Yes I believe that question is vast in its ability to find an answer. Loved your note about adapting to students.
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