10/13 - Mid-Semester Reflection
We just completed our second technical assessment and Christie has asked us to reflect on the amount of material we’ve been learning in class by considering the following questions:
1) What’s working? What’s not working?
In terms of learning and reviewing material, one thing that’s been working for me is watching the video recordings of the new warm-ups. Every day before class, I will watch the video recordings of the warm-ups once or twice depending on how well I know them. Then, I will play them again with my eyes closed to see if I can remember each sequence, and whenever I encounter a spot I’m unsure of, I open my eyes to see what it is and then start over until I make it all the way through without any “question marks”. I personally find that reviewing the night before or the morning of is a really good practice. Two things that don’t work are relying on other people and marking through the material (too much). I find that relying on other people to do an exercise does not help me learn it; in fact, it prevents me from learning it. And marking through the material makes it hard for me to recall important details when I have to perform it “full out”. So I plan to avoid doing those two things in the coming weeks.
2) How can we allow time to be a part of our practice?
In order to be successful, we have to take time outside of class to practice and review material. That is the only way we can learn efficiently. The more time we take outside of class to review material, the more time we can take in class to refine that material and better ourselves as dancers.
3) How does time away from your practice affect your technique, execution, performance, etc.?
While it is important to consistently engage with class material in and outside of class, time away from your practice can also be valuable. Sometimes, when I encounter a difficult combination, I get frustrated and need to step away from it. In this case, taking time away from the material allows me to clear my mind of all obstructions and return to class with a fresh perspective. However, in other cases, taking time away from your practice can negatively impact your overall performance in class. When you take too much time away from your practice, you inhibit your ability to recall material, and when you have to focus on remembering material, it’s hard to focus on anything else.
4) When you trust yourself over your peers, what happens to your overall performance?
I perform with more energy and confidence. I don’t worry about what anyone else in the room is doing, and if I mess up, I can find solace in the fact that I performed with integrity.
