MA Dance Pedagogy

Hi all, hope you had good Christmases and New Years and some well deserved time off thinking. I've had a rather bizarre start of not really feeling I want to continue with the MA. I'm not entirely sure where it came from, I had a difficult time at a college I taught at up until Christmas and I think its really made me question what I want in my future. After lots of talking it through with various people I decided I wasn't going to do it. At the moment my work is mainly related to health, exercise and well being so it just wasn't sitting right with me to talk entirely about teaching. I spoke to Helen about it and she recommended I move across to the Dance specialism MA, where I could focus in on those things and interlink them with dance. I've made the move and I'm much more excited about the research prospects than I was previously. However I still don't think I'm entirely out the water here. Reading through the module 2 handbook has made me rea...

Whilst analysing my data I found it very enlightening to look at the context of my professional samples' work and then look at their corresponding answers. There were key links I interpreted as to how someone answered a question and the relation of that answer to their work. Katie was also a really important part of the inquiry as she is currently building her confidence and developing her teaching skills and is attending lots of classes during the week before she takes on her own classes. I felt this gave her answers a lot of weight as she could look at the situation from an almost 'insider-researcher' position. For example she mentions that "being praised and hearing you have progressed is always a nice thing to hear" (Katie, 2017) and I believe this is such an important statement as she is looking at that from how she feels in class, so has noted the importance of her feeling good after being praised and being told she has progressed. Roger also made...

Hello! So it's been a while, I'll be honest I've found it really hard to get back into blogging as I've had so much going on. I did have a chat with Paula about deferring for a term but I'm going to hold off deciding yet. I'm really excited about what's going on right now in my life so I thought I'd share! So far this year... I completed my Level 2 Exercise to Music and Group Exercise Instructor course - it's given me invaluable knowledge about teaching I was offered a full time job at Frame Studios in London as an instructor - I did turn this job down as I just have so much going on and it didn't feel like the right option for me at this time - but I was absolutely thrilled they offered it to me as they do some brilliant work at their studios - would highly recommend! I started my Ante and Post Natal Instructor course - this is so I can teach exercise to pregnant ladies and ladies wanting to get back into exercise after having a baby. I...

Just a little one whilst I'm trying to work on my Portfolio.... Professional Networks. I've interpreted them to anyone who can help me continue my development as a professional dance and fitness teacher. Who have you all considered to be in your professional networks and communities of practice? I did a quick mind map of who came to mind straight away when I first thought of them. So on this list I've got the usual friends and teachers from college but I've also added a friend who runs her own business as she helps me indefinitely with the real business side of things and helps me choose a target market to aim for. I also added my Yoga instructor. Might seem an odd choice but not only does she promote my classes during her class, she has helped me work out all sorts of aches and pains that all dancers get some time or another. I think me taking the time to care for my body will mean I'll be able to dance for longer hopefully. So in this sense would you agree...

My Ballet Fitness class on Monday had 6 people in attendance. On reflection my advertising scheme has been to offer a trial class for free and over the past few months I have probably lost over £100 due to people who just come for one class. I think although I enjoy people being able to trial the class I do need to try and make a profit. This does come into my ethical considerations as I believe people should be able to try classes for free to encourage them to exercise. But I have to be professional and remember if I don't make any money I won't be able to provide any classes at all. And my classes are always to a professional standard and I believe they are worth the money every time. This week I did a track list based loosely on Halloween. I always try and change the class music and exercises each week to keep things interesting. Before the class a girl did mention she didn't buy into Halloween and I was slightly worried she wouldn't enjoy the class but she did lat...