Future Development
Task one: Progress
One skill I have definitely made progress in is the
physical skill, flexibility. Because of dancing outside of college, I had a
good amount of flexibility however this course has defiantly pushed me to
further develop this physical skill within an array of dance genres. After
lockdown, my flexibility definitely decreased which motivated me even more to
improve this skill. I realized that I had lost my front and middle split
and some movements within dance were more difficult to execute properly because
of this. I decided to find stretches online and start using them every other
day, also taking stretches we had learnt in workshops and with various teachers
that worked for me. I focused on leg and hip flexibility to make me a more well-rounded
performer. After a while, my kicks became a lot higher, and I gained my middle
and front split back. I also started to find dancing and executing movements a
lot easier and found that my performances started looking better because of
this skill. I have noticed this when rehearsing a performance for a mock called
‘Arrival of the birds’ where I felt that this skill made my performance more
accomplished as my flexibility was much stronger.
Another skill I have made progress is definitely my
performance skills and expressions. When I first started the performing arts
course, my performance skills were very weak which made my performances less
accomplished and uninteresting to the audience. I noticed this weakness in
early videos of performances we had done such as our performance of ‘Seize the Day’
from Newsies, it was then I knew this was a skill I needed to develop to make
me a more well-rounded performer. During our process of SIX the musical I can
say that these skills definitely grew. I made sure to focus more on my
expressions and performance skills as the show needed lot of over the top and
fun expressive qualities in order to fully communicate the nature of the musical
as a whole. I can say with confidence that my expressive skills have grown a
lot when dancing as this had aided me in becoming a stronger performer, I know
this skill has improved as I have gotten positive feedback from peers and
teachers surrounding this skill and my overall performance quality when dancing.
Another skill I think I have improved on during
this course would be my use of dynamics. At the beginning of this course, I
felt my movements where very static and didn’t have a lot of control. I felt
that after watching early videos of myself dancing, I didn’t fully grasp the
importance of using dynamics to add more texture to the dance and its style. I
decided to focus on this skill as I knew it would improve my dance quality. I made
sure that every time I danced, I looked into this skill, finding moments where
I could add dynamics to make the piece more visually appealing. I researched
the different types of dynamics such as fast/slow, sudden/gradual etc.. I made
sure to incorporate this skill into my dancing. An example of this can be seen
in our performance of SIX the musical specifically ‘Heart of stone’. In this lyrical
number I made sure to really focus on my dynamics in this piece so that I could
portray the emotions of this dance clearly to the audience. Developing this
skill has bettered my overall movement quality and musicality as it allows
myself and the audience to see the music clearly in a very visual manner.
A style I definitely think I have improved on
during this course is contemporary dance. Prior to the course, I knew that I
had little contemporary dance knowledge, having experience in a more
ballet/lyrical style. I felt that my dance skills did not fit the contemporary
dance style, not being fluid and expressive enough. Whilst being on this course
I was further introduced to the contemporary dance style and wanted to expand
and improve my techniques within this style. I began to develop a better grasp
of this style after studying the techniques of Matthew Borne and Martha Graham,
knowing that it is an expressive form that mixes ballet, lyrical, and jazz
skills to create distinctive and modern works of dance. I was able to perform a
solo dance to the song "Lovely" as well as a duet with a peer.
Looking back on these two videos, I can see my overall growth in this approach.
I have just performed a mock solo called 'Arrival of the Birds,' and after
rehearsing and performing this piece in front of the class, I can tell that my
contemporary technique and skill set has improved and expanded.
Another skill I have developed in is my directional
focus. I found in early videos of myself dancing, I was often looking down and
not to the front. This didn’t allow me to fully communicate and project my
movements and made my performances look underwhelming. I knew I wanted to
improve this skill to really complete my performances, especially for Bollywood
dance. After learning about the techniques of Kathak dance in Unit 13, I found
using directional focus when following my hand movements difficult was given
feedback that I needed to work on this performance skill. To improve this, every
time I learnt/created choreography, I made sure I was fully confident with the timing
and intricate movements and arm placements. I then would go through the choreography
I find places in the dance where I needed to use directional focus to elevate
the performance further. I made sure to have a central point or center of
attention in the movement space; this assisted me with concentration,
attention, or specific energy directed towards movement in space. I saw an improvement
in this skill during our performance of SIX
the musical, specifically in ‘No way’. I made sure that I was consistently using
my focus to attract energy into specific movements and moments in the choreography.
This skill has also helped me to perform our Bollywood piece in a more
accomplished way, being able to follow my hand gestures to extenuate each movement.
Task two: areas for development
One skill I need to develop is the physical skill,
balance. After being in dance classes and performing solos/duets in a variety
of dance styles, I have begun to notice how I struggle to maintain balance.
After watching back my contemporary dance piece ‘Lovely’ I noticed that when
holding positions, coming out of turns and landing leaps/jumps, I would lose my
balance. I also feel in general when dancing that I do often lose my balance
which makes my performances look messy and unaccomplished. I have found it difficult
to distribute my weight in a way that helps me remain stable within transitions
and held positions. I know that this is a skill I need to improve as it holds
me back from properly executing fast paced choreography as I find myself
wobbling and missing steps because of this weakness. I plan on using core strengthening
exercises to improve this skill as I know that a strong core is essential for
finding stability while balancing. Yoga and Pilates, as well as exercises like
the plank, side plank, and bicycle crunches, are excellent core strength
training activities that I can incorporate into my everyday routine to improve
this physical skill. I will also focus on strengthening my ankles so that I can
gradually find a solid base, after research I found that standing facing a wall,
placing my hands on the wall, stepping one foot back keeping both legs parallel
then leaning my weight into the wall until I feel a stretch in my calf is a
simple way of strengthening my ankles and therefore my balance.
Stamina is definitely another skill I have think I
need to improve on, specifically during the dance elements. I feel that I often
find it difficult to dance and complete the choreography with the same high level
of stamina consistently throughout. I often find myself out of breath and when
participating in activities, I struggle to tolerate both muscular and
cardio-respiratory strain. I noticed this weakness in stamina when performing
SIX the musical, I was finding each show difficult as I began with a high level
of energy but by the third number of the show, I felt worn out which made my
movements look unfinished and lazy. I
realise this is going to affect my dancing and keep me from reaching my full
potential, so I have decided I need to work on this skill. I notice that after
dancing, I begin to feel my movements becoming sloppy and unfinished because of
my weak stamina, this also means that I am unable to perform dance after dance
without feeling weak and tired. I plan on becoming a more active person to
improve this skill, making sure I am walking and keeping active every day. I
also plan on dancing more often outside of college so that I can get my stamina
up to a healthy and consistent point where I can perform for a while and not
feel as exhausted. I will also start taking part in cardio exercises from home
and in the gym and gradually improve my stamina and energy levels so that I can
increase in skill.
Improvisation has always been an area and skill
that I wanted to improve. When creating material and being told to play around
with movements and improvise, I found myself overthinking the process and creating
basic and static movements that don’t show off my skill set. An example of this
can be see in SIX the musical, in ‘No way’ there was a small section of the
choreography where we had to improvise, and this was daunting to me. I found
myself thinking of what movements to make beforehand instead of flowing with
the music and creating anything on the spot. This skill will be important for
my future career in the arts as a lot of auditions will ask to see some form of
improvisation so it is a skill I would like to improve on. This might not be a
skill I can use exercises to improve however, after research I have found that
finding dance pieces I know well and feel comfortable with then adjusting them slightly
each time I go over the movements is a good way to introduce myself to improvisation.
I need to concentrate on calming my mind and becoming more at ease with my
movements so that they can flow. I need to become more creative and think
outside the box, realizing that there is no such thing as bad when improvising.
I intend to practice improvisation at home, enabling myself to totally immerse
myself in the music and dance with originality. Overall, I know that practicing
this skill will be the best way to improve it and move forward.
Another ability I need to improve is my dance
strength. Throughout this course, I've realised that my strength is also my
greatest limitation, preventing me from reaching my full potential. This was
evident during warmups and dance performances, as my lack of strength caused my
core to shake and my body to wobble. I realized that when I needed to put
weight in my arms during my performance of 'Lovely,' I would break and be
unable to hold the position in a strong manner. I want my moves to be
explosive and energetic in performances, not tired and lifeless. Even with
much dancing practise, my muscles lack the strength required to
assist me in performing at my best. I can combat lethargy and boost
physical endurance by incorporating strength training into my weekly
regimen. Working out and practising my dance routines is especially vital
if I ever have a long or demanding performance ahead of me. Strength
training can also aid me with overall lifts and balance, allowing
myself to perform my techniques more effectively. Also, before stretching
the hamstrings, alternating pointing and flexing my feet and bending and
straightening my knees. Active or dynamic stretching, as opposed to static
stretching holds, can help myself enhance range of motion and flexibility
through movement.
My final area of development is my use of posture.
I naturally do have fairly poor posture and feel these feeds into my dance.
During SIX the musical I noticed that during ‘Don’t lose your head’ I would
begin the dance with a strong posture but then my posture would gradually
decrease and make my movements look sloppy and unfinished. I know I need to improve
this skill to develop my overall dance skills. I feel that poor posture contributes
to weak stability and balance, so I need to improve this physical skill. I
firstly need to start with the basics, visualising proper posture to myself. I
need to begin by inspecting myself in a full-length mirror. From the ground up,
my feet should be shoulder width apart, my knees slightly bent, and
my pelvis should be over my legs. The torso, which includes the shoulders,
should be higher than the pelvis. With maintaining eyes front, keeping
my head level and above my torso. I can then consider a string tied
to the top of my head and being pulled up to the ceiling. Feeling
my spine lengthening and standing tall and confident. With good
posture, I can achieve peak performance, lower my risk of injury, and
enhance my overall function. I must remember that practice makes perfect.
A solid posture takes time to establish however, I know the advantages of
good posture will last a lifetime.
Task three: Future development plan
My future development plan begins with completing my current course
Level 3 Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma in Performing Arts with a grade
D*D*D. I will continue to attend weekly ballet, lyrical and modern dance
classes with Louise Kate Dance to enhance my technique and overall performance
skills. I will also continue to attend and audition for my local amateur
dramatic theatre company ‘The Company of Four’ to perform in
musicals/pantomimes to develop my skills across all three disciplines. To
further my performance skills, I will continue to attend my weekly private
singing lessons. To extend the range of my skills I will continue to work
voluntarily as a teacher of primary age children at Louise Kate Dance.
I am then planning on attending Urdang Academy
London for a 3-year BA Honours in professional dance and musical theatre. This
course appeals to me as they have strong links with practicing professionals, choreographers,
and directors, stating that this degree prepares you for a range of
performance-related careers. This course will give me the opportunity to
explore my strengths and passions in greater detail to become an accomplished
triple threat performer. An Alumni, Mukeni Nel said “I chose Urdang because of
phenomenal faculty, and the amazing connections they had to the industry”
Bibliography
Clark, D. (2022,
June 28). Average annual salary of graduates and non-graduates in England
2007-2021. Retrieved from Statista :
https://www.statista.com/statistics/1191970/annual-salary-of-graduates-in-england/#:~:text=University%20graduates%20in%20England%20had%20an%20average%20annual,when%20compared%20with%20those%20with%20only%20undergraduate%20degrees.
Nel, M. (2019). Our
alumni. Retrieved from Urdang City Academy London:
https://urdang.city.ac.uk/people/our-alumni/
Excellent Future Development plan - clearly shows your progression and next steps.
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