Blog 26: Reflection

1. Positive Statement: I tried my best to make my 2 hour engaging with the audience. I have seen many 2 hour presentations where people fall asleep and I didn't want to look at my audience and see that. Also, a dance should not be boring so I tried to impress my audience as much as possible. I think I did a good job at getting involved and I am very proud in my work. Especially because i changed my activities a billion times.

2a. My own assessment: P/AP+ Even though I did a really good job on my two hour, I have put a lot of effort into my senior project and it was never enough to get a P. Not to sound depressing but I am starting to accept that my work is just not "P" worthy so I understand me getting an AP. Why I think I deserve a P is because, not comparing myself to others, from my usual work I improved a lot. So comparing myself to previous work this has been by far the best. I really am proud of 2 hour. Obviously there were things I could have done better so I understand the AP.

2b. AP+ because throughout the whole year I never stopped thing about my senior project. I never stopped changing it because I would always be learning and finding research. My first answer wording changed from my iSearch to my 2 hour presentation. Because I was constantly thinking about it I never got settled with one specific thing. Yet again I understand that my work versus that of others is not comparable.

3. My Independent Components. Choosing my own project was the best because I chose things that would challenge me and take time. I definitely did not settle. Doing the quinceanera waltz took so much time, I did not even count the hours that it took for me to make the routine. My second independent component was to help a new girl into dance team catch up with out dances. I am so proud to see that out of the 5 routines we have learned she is in 4 of them. As if they were such successful projects, I learned so much in each. I gained  a lot of experience that research could not have given me.

4. I would do better on research. I would do my research but once I started learning in my mentorship and getting that hands on knowledge, doing research was tedious. I just wanted to dance. I do appreciate my research and it helped me a great ton but I slipped once and never really got back on the horse.

5. My senior project has allowed me to find the way I can best express myself. I have such difficulty with words and for the longest I thought quotes and books were the only things that understood. But after my senior project, I found that one thing that allows me to express myself. When I'm feeling a strong emotion I blast music and dance it off. I cannot wait for college because I know I can always just dance when things get tricky.

Blog 25: Mentorship Log

Literal:
Log: 60 Hours

Miss. Mary at Adage Dance Studio (909) 392-4440

From my First Independent Component I did a total of 70 hours. So subtracting the required 30 Hours, I did 40 hours over.
For my Mentorship I did a total of 100 hours

Interpretive: The most important thing I gained from my mentorship was the experience in a competitive studio. I also learned so much about being a teacher and getting the students to open up and express themselves. Through my mentorship I found out things about myself. I found a love for lyrical dance. I don't express my emotions that much, only with a select few and dancing lyrical and expression allowed me  figure out what helped me relief stress.

Applied:
Everything in my mentorship supported or led to my answers. Observing and taking notes was very helpful because sometimes I would look back to my notes and see something I would  want to research more. It drove my senior project.

Update: My 2 hour answers and activities

I have my answers and activities but I am not so sure what to do for my third activity.

How can a choreographer best prepare a dancer for successful dance performances?

• Answer 1: By improving on the dancer’s technique.
• Skills to be taught: Methods of improvement. Good performance details like facial and body expression. Proper stretching, musicality, timing, stage fright.
• Activity Materials: Music, open space, speakers
• Steps of activity: Separating everyone into pairs (by choice; having everyone simply listen to the cut from the music they will dance to; Teaching the first count of 8; Repeating the routine with counts till able to repeat with music; Do the same for the next counts of 8
• Answer 2: Maintaining an open communication between choreographer and dancer
• Skills to be taught: The importance of the communication aspect, the fall if the communication is not there, and methods.
• Activity Materials: Index cards
• Steps of Activity: First group in same pairs; younger member will play choreographer role, all students will receive their index card with problem. They will look at the problem and analyze it. Each member is assigned a way of behaving and reacting to the situation. Some will make it through and others will fail. In the end I want to know how they would have solved the issue.
• Answer 3: Choreographer have innovative teaching techniques.
• Skills to be taught: The importance of it, examples, how to get inspired.
• Activity Materials:
• Steps of the activity:

Blog 22: Final 3-Column Chart

Logic Chart

Blog 24:Exit Interview Questions

1. My essential question is How can a choreographer best prepare a dancer for successful dance performances? My best answer is keeping an open communication. The communication is the foundation of a relationship. Nothing can be build on top of it if it is not stable. How can a dancer improve their technique if they don't even trust their choreographer. 

2. This answer was in everything I did for my senior project I just didn't notice it until my mentor pointed it out. For example in my independent component I developed too much of a friendship with the dancers and their was no respect. I soon understood that I had to act like an adult to get the respect of one. 

3. I had a difficulty finding a good mentor. My first two mentors had me observing everyday and while I learned a lot I didn't feel like I was gaining experience. Eventually I found a mentor that had me do a lot of work, she took me to rehearsals, she took me to recitals. My favorite job was to actually help with choosing costumes and formations.

4. My first independent component and the book, A Time to Teach, A Time to Dance by Margaret Freman. 
The independent component gave me experience I could have not gained from anywhere else. And the book gave me a professionals point of view.

5. My product is becoming a quinceanera waltz instructor. 

Blog 23: 2014 interview

1. Lara McConnaughey, North
2. Linguistics, international relations. She is inspired by her father and wants study in her future.
3. UCLA Linguistics, Claremont High School Teacher, German Embassy.
4. To have fun, to be an expert on her topic.
5. She asked about senior project being its own unit and since I didn't know the answer I said I'd get back to her.

Independent Component 2

Literal:
(a) I student affirm that I completed my independent component which represents 30 hours of work.

(b) Anais Bolden, iPoly sophomore.

(c) Log

(d) Anais just joined dance team and she wanted help with catching up and being at the level of everyone else, so I basically helped her complete that task. I worked on her technique, showed her the basics of both tahiti and flags.

Interpretive:

Tahiti dancing is not something achieved overnight, it takes work and the right work. I will update this blog post with pictures.



Applied:

The I.C. helped me understand my second answer, Keeping an open communication between dancer and choreographer, I had to understand her limits and push her but not over work her. I also had to gain her trust and comfort before being able to criticize her movements. It also supported my third answer, Choreographer keep innovative teaching techniques, because sometimes she didn't always understand what I wanted from her or how to do the movement.

IFest Performance

I am doing a lyrical performance with Brandon Salinas. We are doing 1 minute and half from Just Give Me A Reason - P!nk

Blog 20: 3 Column Chart

Column chart

Blog 19: Senior Project and ESLRs

1. I have excelled most at effective learner.
2. I think I have excelled the most here because it stopped being about just explaining simple things to people but to actually teaching and getting through to them in a way they understand. To be able to do so I had see to pay attention to the way I learn best.  It's no longer regular communication, it's trying to teach how to do a routine at the same beat as everyone else and still have you're own style to it.

3. I'm not sure how I can take a photo of this. But for example I was helping a girl with a routine and the routine called for a broken hearted girl. So before we started I said, close your eyes and think of that boy that caught your attention from the second you saw him. Remember how giggly you felt. Think of all the hours you spent talking. Now think about how he never called back and played you like a toy. Remember how much he hurt you. Ok that transition of emotions is what the routine needs. You need to start in love and transition to mad heart broken girl.

Blog 18: 2 Hour Meeting Answer #3

1. How can a choreographer best support a dancer for successful dance performances?

2. A choreographer can best support a dancer for a successful dance performance by being innovative with the teaching techniques.

3. -Not everyone learns the same so being able to get through your dancer is important.
    -Example: For my independent component I taught a quince waltz that was part cha cha. The boys could not cha cha to save their life, so I started the practice with the cha cha slide.
    -Example: Also in my independent component I used chalk to help with the steps.

4. What sparked this answer was actually a research article. It reminded me of independent component. Once I got enough interest in this I asked my mentor about it and she told me how important it is.

5. I plan on studying the effectiveness of some teaching styles versus others. 

Blog 17: Fourth Interview Questions

1. How can a choreographer best support a dancer for dance performances?
2. What can a choreographer do to make dancer feel comfortable?
3. How involved in the decision making should the dancer be?
4. Why a good communication between dancer and choreographer important?
5. How many dance genres should a choreographer be expertise at?
6. What qualities does a strong choreographer have?
7. Which trait is most important to be a good choreographer?
8. Why do you think many choreographers treat the music like a background?
9. What is the best way to approach the music?
10. How can a choreographer best teach students to let go of stage fright?
11. Why is it important for a choreographer to be innovative with their teaching style?
12. How much experience should a choreographer have with performing?
13. Why is it important that a dancer trust the choreographer?
14. Why do you or don't you think that choreographer should push the limits on their students?
15. How important is the environment the dancer is in when learning a new routine?
16. How long do you think is an appropriate stretch time?
17. Why is it important that the choreographer be back stage with the dancer before a performance? 
18. Whats your technique to get your dancers out of their shell?
19. I've read some articles about how dancers dance better when they know the story/ inspiration behind the routine, how can this be effective? 
20. What's the best way to teach fake emotions while performing?

Blog 16: 2-Hour Meeting Answer #2

1. How can a choreographer best support a dancer for successful dance performances?

2. A good choreographer will be make every decision with the opinion of the dancer. Anything that has to do with the routine, the dancer and choreographer will be on the same page.

3. (a) If a dancer does not know about a change in the performance, dancer will be unprepared and most likely uncomfortable.
    (b) Both should compromise on things like costumes. While the routine is the choreographers vision, it is the dancer performing.
    (c) When both are satisfied it is most likely going to be a successful performance.

4. My mentor mentioned this.

5. I plan to continue my answer 2 by researching how often this is a problem and by watching all the choreographers at my mentorship and paying close attention on how they listen to their dancers.

Blog 15: Independent Component 2 Plan Approval

1. My plan is to help a new dancer to the i-poly dance team catch up with all the techniques for our dances. For example, tahiti, we need to practice how to stay on a level 2 and how to extend your hips.

2. We will work about 15 hours on tahiti practice and 15 on flags.  We plan on meeting twice a week and practicing 2 hours each time.

3. A good choreographer knows how to teach technique while teaching a routine.

Blog 14: Independent Component 1

• LITERAL
  (a) Statement saying: “I, Valerie Nuno, affirm that I completed my independent component which represents 30 hours of work.”
  (b) Hilda Flores (626) 827-5919
  (c) Independent Component Log(d) I taught a 4:30 waltz/cha cha routine to a group of 12 teenagers. 
• INTERPRETIVE 
  Teaching a routine to dancers is easy. But this is a group of kids who have no previous experience in dancing. I had to learn differents way to approach a dance move for them to remember it and fufill it. For example I used a lot of chalk on the floor to guide them. I over all did about 50-60 hours of work.  
  
• 
• APPLIED
  This project opened my eyes to a whole new perspective. As a choreographer you have to teach dancers and prepare them to the best of your ability because if they mess up, all fingers point you. You also have to learn how to deal with not falling behind because a couple of students are absent. Everything that involves with the dance involves the choreographer. For example the costumes was a major issue in this component and I had to give my input because it would ultimately affect the dance routine.

Video of me talking to them. Quinceanera Practice

Blog 13: 30 Minute Lesson Plan

Lesson Plan

Independent Component Update

So dresses are here and so far we are having trouble with the Quinceanera's dress because it is to big for the cha cha part. We are most likely going to purchase a second dress. Dama's dresses are perfect and shoes are not a problem.

By the way, half the song is Cha Cha and none of the boys can actually move their hips right so I always begin practice with 4 rounds of "Cha Cha Slide".


Cha Cha Slide Song - Warm Up

Blog 12: Third Interview Questions

1. What causes a choreographed performance to be overwhelming to the audience?

2. How can a dancer best prepare for a performance?

3. What is most important when performing with a group?

4. What is most important when performing alone?

5. How does a dancer achieve musicality?

6. How important are facial expressions?

7. What is the best way to practice to prepare for a routine?

8. Is there a difference between performing just to perform or performing for a competition? What is it?

9. What is done to get ready for a performance? (including choosing song, choosing costume, routine process)

10. From the previous question, which are the most important? Why?

Blog 11: Mentorship 10 Hours Check

1. I was doing my mentorship at Dance Terrific but I am changing location to Adage Dance Center.

2. My old contact was Ms. Karen (909) 476-5757

3.  20 hours.

4. I go in everyday and help stretch and then return to observe on how the teacher teaches and prepares students for performances while taking notes.