So Far...

Qualitative Data

Interviews

The people I chose for this process are from a cross section of the dance profession. Interview one is with a successful dancer who is currently working. Two, an older successful dancer with an injury. An ex-professional dancer turned teacher and trained Pilates instructor and the fourth with the course co-ordinator at the college. I chose these participants as I feel they collectively give an all round perspective of the training dancer and a career in_­ dance. The dancers careers have involved many varied different dance contracts including; Land, on Cruise Ships, Television/Music Video's, Concert Tours and the West End.

First Set of Student Survey/Test results

I was surprised that the student’s knowledge of basic anatomy and physical fitness was so poor. This is what triggered the idea for the intervention. How can I improve the student’s knowledge and understanding in a way that would supplement their Body conditioning training?

What could I do...?

I decided to set them tasks during their spring term to help them learn about the importance of body conditioning. How with better knowledge of anatomy and physical fitness a dancer/ training dancer can maintain a body at peak physical condition. Thus improving injury prevention and help injury management.

How could I tell if it worked?

Second Set of Student Surveys and Contextual Test Results

To be completed after intervention to test its effectiveness.

Review of Literature

I based the intervention on many teachings from the literature (literature blog to follow). 

Quantitative Data: 

Survey Monkey Results

• 77.8% have a fitness regime now and either swim, run, work out, visit the gym 2-5 days a week, or take part in more than 40 minutes of exercise every day. These can be ideas outlined within my professional artefact.

This one point shows the need to promote physical fitness within the students BC classes. It is well known that it is important for dance professionals to maintain peak physical condition to prevent or manage injury.

Observations and Register Results

I have recorded injuries and level of effort throughout the term so I can compare these with the observation results taken from the ballet assessments. To hopefully show if the extra academic training as well as concentrated stylised training had any effect on performance and injuries during the term. Furthermore, did working hard in BC facilitate other dance classes? E.g. stretching and strengthening in BC help Grande Battement in Ballet. Observation of Ballet assessments to right up and comparisons with register data to follow. Is there a correlation?

Intervention Process then Review/Assessment

Intervention is still underway. 

So Far...

From my findings the inquiry will involve an intervention. This will consist of the teaching of a range of training styles to improve the dancer’s fitness. Circuit training, pilates/yoga, personal training style partner work and aerobic style classes. Furthermore, contextual study style homework provided by myself designed to improve the student’s knowledge of anatomy, fitness and injury prevention/management.  

My inquiry is to see if any of the above will improve the students understanding of their training as well as preparing them appropriately for their other classes and self motivated training. The artefact as a BC guide then is something to keep, helping inform their practise and injury management as many injuries re-occur throughout a career.

Quantitative data from observations in relation to register recordings of injuries and performance during class will be evidence of the above. Along with a fitness review at the end of the ten week intervention, a second survey will hopefully show the effectiveness of the intervention. Further qualitative data will include a second interview with the course coordinator that will confirm whether I have been successful in my inquiry. Her opinion and thoughts are imperative for the event of its release. The desired outcome would be the allowance of my guide to become a part of the curriculum material.

After a conversation with Paula the idea to add a report form for the recording of injuries within the artefact formulated. We discussed allowing students to record injuries, information about injury prevention/management, advice/exercises given from the physio and myself. To avoid negative attitudes towards the subject it would be important to accompany this with an explanation that injuries happen and it’s all a part of a dancers training and career. This artefact will inform a dancer how to deal with the event of an injury and alleviate any anxiety due to the fear of the unknown. As well as giving BC guidance to compliment their course at the college.

Phone Conversation with Paula

Today after a phone conversation I am really happy with the way my Inquiry has taken form. I feel Im really getting to grips with the purpose of this module and will be updating you with my findings very soon!

Paula informed me today that on Libguides you can access journels through another channel. I found this very useful and you might too!

First of all go to Libguides:
http://libguides.mdx.ac.uk/homepage

• Here you can find a subject that may specifically follow your chosen theme. For example I clicked on Dance. This took me to:

http://libguides.mdx.ac.uk/dance

• From here I clicked on the journals link and this brought up literature directly linked to dance. Incredibly useful because everything I might need within the library that is directly linked to my Inquiry is right there listed for you. I have been really struggling with Athens and accessing literature to review and finding the right key words, however this is a God send:

 http://libguides.mdx.ac.uk/content.php?pid=67146&sid=495986

• You can log into Athens or copy and paste the title into the eJourals search from your 'My Study' page in your UniHub account. FAB!

Teaching the foundations

A converstation with a collegue and a guest teacher currently working in London and teaching around England proved interesting this week. During observations at the college, the purpose of my inquiry led to the discussion that arose concerns of the poor technical attainment within certain dancers. This being due to the lack of technical attainment within Ballet. We agreed that the importance of Ballet within the course is the same of that for Body Conditioning as it supports the body for every dance style. We as dancers learn from a very young age how imperative a solid foundation, like that given though ballet lessons is for the success of technical attainment throughout a dancers career. This foundation can be critical for securing employment successfully, injury management and the correct alignment that ensures injury provention.

Not only experience tells me this, teachers and professionals from all over the globe would second the above statement. We hold a good foundation and continued practise to be of upmost importance within a dancers journey. Right through from vocational exams, training for a career in dance performance, and/or becoming a teacher, professor, an expert in their field. Laying down the foundations with correct body alignment can without a doubt make not break a dancers prospects and working longetivity.