Being vulnerable in your research process...

Being in the midst of your research can be daunting, but don't step away from it. Try to embrace the vulnerability of the process. Your research is yours, based in your own professional practice. You are present throughout it. Try to communicate this when you share through your written submissions and artefacts. Accept that you don't know all the answers...GREAT, accept that the journey is more interesting and allow yourself to be in that in-between space between knowing and not knowing. This is the beauty of study, of research, pushing yourself beyond what you know and being ok with the vulnerability of not-knowing.

Last night's skype talked about connections and how we are in relationship with our research, how we feel and sense our experiences through this process. In module one you are situating yourself within your professional practice, in module two developing areas of wonder to travel into through designing a research inquiry that has relevance to you and your professional development, in module three you are the practitioner-researcher, you are at the heart of your inquiry. Try not to overlook the significance in that as you begin to communicate your inquiry process through your essay, presentation and artefact.

Those who were a part of the discussion please comment here with your blog addresses:

Synthesis of information ..Module One focus skype

Last night we talked with a module one focus about relationships between practice and theory, between creating an essay and a diagram, we discussed constellations of stars, trees, plant roots as possible visual ways of mapping practice and talked about process - that all learning is a process, and moving between mapping a diagram, writing an essay and producing a diagram or artefact is all part of the process of developing the establishment of your professional practice in module one. The essay and diagram are ways of communicating this.

Those on this call please do comment below with your blogs that reflect on your experience of the discussion and allow us to carry on the conversations...

Kortext Books

I've been getting messages from some of you regarding accessing your Kortext book.

Please note the Kortext books for ACI3611 (module one) and ACI3633 (module three) are not available as e-books online. We have the hard copies of these on campus in London. If you are able to drop in we can meet you and give you your copy, alternatively simply email us with your mailing address and we can have the book sent to you.

For ACI3622 (module two) your kortext book is available online.

Trust and Flow

I've been thinking about respect, about trust and about flow.
I've  been thinking about how these words are meaningful in my life, through my practice, in all that I do. I'm not sure I can see these three things separately from one another, so I am going to explore a little of what I see as their relationship with each other.

Respect and trust for me, are earned through our encounters with others and through the flow was are a part of in our environment. When we meet others in contact improvisation for example, we greet each encounter as a possibility. We offer and we respond, we give and receive information through a non-verbal dialogue with a shared understanding of their being respect for each others offering-gesture through movement. We trust in the environment we are in, co-creating it in the moment of our movement together. We trust in our own bodies, our relationship with gravity, with the earth and with each other. We do not know what is going to happen in an improvisation; that is the very beauty of it!! The word improvise from the Latin 'improvisre' means quite literally not being able to see ahead of time. We enter the space and in doing so we enter into the flow of possibilities; of change, encounter, interruption. We are in a continous flow of communication. Flow becomes an energy which supports us. It is not a thing as such, it is not related directly to time(space), but aware of the presence of flow within each of us and so within the environment we are able to be responsive to it, responsive to its energies, and responsive to change. With a respect for each person and our environment having something meaningful to offer, we can trust ourselves to enter the flow of the moment, to be open to the possibilities of the now. 

These processes are not exclusive at all to improvisation, or to dance, but this is how I have been thinking about them this week. Respect, trust and flow are a part of who we are as people, communities, societies, the environment, how was approach and are a part of the world around us. It is important to to respect the encounters we have in life, through study maybe this is with other artist-scholars work through literature, or direct engagement through practice. We should respect that this is their lifetime's work, something they are passionate about, have invested time, energy, effort, life into to explore how it is meaningful and are generous enough to share that with you through their writing and/or through their practice. While we don't have to agree with everyone's ideas (in contact improvisation, we don't have to respond to every offering), we should be open to explore why we don't agree (why our response did not meet the offering of another). We do this through researching further, finding out more, questioning, considering our practice further in relationship to others, asking questions (verbally and through our practice) and trusting ourselves to be ok with being challenged by the possibility of something other than us, an idea (a theory) outside of our immediate or current frame of reference (framework). If we allow ourselves to be in the flow of our own lives, of our learning, to be in conversation with each other, with our environment, we are able to at least notice and acknowledge change as possibility and make choices in our responses in relation to that trust in ourselves.

What are your thoughts in relation to your own learning?

Queering the Somatic symposium

We are excited to let you all know that BOOKING is NOW OPEN for our next somatic-inquiring symposium!!

Queering the Somatic: Interrupting the Narrative Symposium
Nov 1st - 2nd 2019 (Friday 1st, 1-5pm, Sat 2nd, 10am-6pm)
at Middlesex University London

We really would love as many of you as possible to join us for this and we have FREE places for Mdx students to attend.

Please comment if you intend to join us!

We are excited to have a key note presentation from Dr Thomas F. DeFrantz, Duke University and a number of International and UK-based artists and scholars ...we will post the full schedule soon.

Spet 25th PM discussion

A good supportive discussion this evening, mainly between those on Module One and those on Module three of the programme... no Module Two voices this time...

It was good to get going with some questioning that opened up the field of the discussion and the possibility for many voices and perspectives rather than the question (seeking answer) approach we tended to begin with. 

With areas of Creativity, Diversity, Culture, Gender and Ethics all raised as areas of peoples current practice-research-wonder in the space of a one-hour discussion we acknowledged the enormity of these areas and looked at routes into, processeses of considerations, making connections that are pivotal for all areas of research. 

There were some great techniques and strategies shared through the discussion which was great in developing a supportive community through these calls. 

Sophie suggested some preparatory focus on mindful-ness in order to have space to see, think, feel where you are and Amy spoke about trust. Trust in your practice and trusting that you are in a process of learning (in practice and study) is vital. Andrew suggested ways of coming back to where you began, looking back over notes, past blogs, reminding yourself of the journey you've taken so far on the BAPP being helpful to situate where you are right now...this is very much the process of the mapping in the first module also. 

Thoughts were shared around approaches to mapping, translating ideas from literature, from others, and across discipline and acknowledging the lenses we use to relate things around us. 

It will be great to read more and continue these conversations through your blogs, draw things visually too if that's helpful to you in visually mapping thoughts... Do comment here with your blog post in relation to theis discussion group for others...

Re:generations conference

We are really excited to be able to offer a few funded places for BAPP students to be able to attend the Re:generations conference hosted by One Dance UK in partnership with Mdx in November. The funding covers three days of entry to the conference plus your accommodation. The conference is held at The Lowry, Salford, in the UK. 

Re:generations is a biennial academic and artistic conference which aims to share current practice and research in the field of dance of the African Diaspora (DAD); explore and stimulate further research, documentation and new approaches to education and training in the field; and encourage new perspectives on the future of African Peoples Dance (APD). The conference invites scholars, artists and dance practitioners from the Caribbean, Africa, the United States, Canada and the UK to share their research with other artists, practitioners, dance teachers, students and the general public.

The Re:generations Conference* is the UK’s ONLY international platform dedicated to connecting academic and artistic voices within African influenced dance styles; such as Hip Hop, Jazz, Afro Caribbean, traditional and contemporary African and Caribbean, Afro-Latin, and African American Dance.

This will be a great opportunity to be a part of a vibrant conference, network with other artist-scholar practitioners, and get inspired in your own professional development. The funding requires you to blog each day about the sessions, papers, workshops and performances you attend to share with the rest of the BAPP community.

To express your interest please comment here. We will then email you directly. We will announce which students have places on October 10th 2019. 

*Re:generations – dance and the digital space

7-9 November 2019
The Lowry, Salford

An international forum exploring how technology drives innovation in dance of the African Diaspora.

Hosted in partnership by One Dance UK, IRIE! dance theatre, Middlesex University, Dance Immersion and The Lowry, the theme for Re:generations 2019 is dance and the digital space. We will explore the ways digital technologies can be used for artistic innovation and creative practise, unite global communities through online platforms whilst increasing the visibility of diverse work to mainstream audiences.

Across the three days there will be panel discussions, lecture demonstrations, masterclasses, workshops, academic paper presentations, performances, networking events and more!

The conference will provide CPD for dance teachers, healthcare practitioners and other dance professionals, in addition to bespoke programming for producers, new media practitioners and executive artistic leaders. A key event will be the launch of the report for One Dance UK’s ‘Dance of the African Diaspora Mapping Research’; presenting the current state and needs of the DAD workforce with a scope for future growth and development.

Catch Up Skype!!

Hope you're all having a great first week of study!

I'm running a Catch-Up skype for anyone who was unable to make the Welcome skypes last week. 

This will be FRIDAY Sept 20th at 5pm (UK time)

Please comment here if you would like to attend and make sure you have connected with me on Skype ahead of this - helen.kindred2

Getting Started

Great to meet so many of you during the Welcome skypes over the weekend. 

As we all get settled into the first week of term; finding your space for study is really important. Figuring out when and where the BA is part of your life to that your practice and your study becoming intertwined.This is essential in a programme which is about your Professional Practice. As you move through the first couple of weeks, reading through module handbooks, beginning to dig into something from the reading list and becoming more conscious perhaps of your own practice as a 'thing', it is important to remind yourself to take the time to listen to your own rhythms, observe your own patterns and be aware of your own learning processes. 

Whilst this week's date marks the 'term start date' on our calendars it is important to recognise that starting something isn't usually as quick as a calendar date suggests.  

Starting out for the first time, or starting back to re-join something after a break can mean a re-balance of patterns, schedules, spaces and places...finding how study is integrated / (re) integrated into your work/life patterns.  We think it is important that you begin to find some kind of 'home' for your study, this might be clearing a physical space in your house to work in, finding a coffee shop that has a good vibe to you to be able to work there, checking out libraries or other spaces that may feel good to you.  

 

Looking at your schedules...it may be that you are able to block out one day per week that you ring as your 'BA day', it may not...You may prefer to set aside an hour each morning / an hour each evening and decide that you'll dedicate that to your studies.  You may see already that you have a particularly busy period next month and so no you will not be able to dedicate time to your studies then, but can free-up some time either side of that period. Whatever the pattern, whatever works is individual to you, and important for you to recognise and commit to, completing your Study Plan helps with this.  Adesola and I are pretty flexible with our work/life patterns too and so we can work with you in terms of appointments for one-to-one Skype calls, responding to emails etc, BUT... this is where the blogs are a great way of communicating...you can blog whenever you feel like it...2am, 6am... and others will engage with this when they feel like it, quite possibly in a different time-zone altogether! The blogs are a great week 1 activity to get you connected with those on this BAPP journey with you...get to know your support network right now!

So take this week to observe your patterns, re-jig a little space where needed, feel comfortable in your study environment, locate yourself within the university systems (UniHub / My learning / handbooks).

I'd like to leave you 'starting' with a note on beginning from Musician/philosopher Gary Peters;

'The beginning is not the start of the work but the choice of a way into that which has certainly already started'.

 The study is your professional practice...start finding your way in!

New term...

Welcome to those joining us and beginning their BAPP journey this term and Welcome back to all our returning students. 

We have Induction/Welcome back skype sessions scheduled for the following times next week:

Friday Sept 13th - 6pm  
OR
Saturday Sept 14th - 3pm

Please make sure you sign-up for one of the sessions by commenting on Adesola's blog:

http://adesolamapp.blogspot.com/

Those new to BAPP please send both us a skype contact request before the calls so that we can make sure you're able to be a part of them!

Helen's Skype - helen.kindred2
Adesola's Skype - aonthephone

Looking forward to talking with you all then and to the term ahead...

Helen

Drafts...Feedback...Thinking...

A note on Drafts...

Great to receive yor drafts of work this week...As your supervisors work through them a note for your consideration moving forwards from this point and looking at the value of drafts and feedback in furthering your thinking...


Drafts are intended to initiate a feedback dialogue (in person, skype, via email) with your supervisor, they are not usefully used to ask if things are 'right' or sent with an expectation of receiving corrections, by way of a pre-marking opportunity.

Please do receive feedback as an extended discussion of your work. 

Often feedback contains prompts for further reading, suggested texts/practitioners to look at, comments regarding the level of critical thinking/analysis in your writing over overly descriptive personal narrative approaches etc.. Feedback comments are not telling you to 'correct' something and re-submit, but more trying to help you to move your thinking and writing on as we see the process of your work developmentally.

With this in mind, when you have received feedback on a draft of work, please take time to read and consider comments made, come back to your supervisor asking to extend the conversation, arrange a skype is you have further thoughts and questions as a result of the feedback, but please try not to send a 2nd draft asking if the work is now 'correct'.

You are all working as professional people within your industry and as such we see our role as supervisors as guding you, being a critical friend, promting, pushing your thoughts, challenging you in order for you to develop your thinking further. We are not testing you getting things 'right' we are interested in your engagement and curiosity about your own work. This is pivotal to your development and to the BAPP Programme.

Late night coffee house discussion group...

Last night we covered a lot of different areas mainly looking at the 'things' that are supportive of, integral to, make up the portfolio of work to be submitted for Module Two and Three. 

We talked a lot about 'things'...the professional artefact, the gantt chart, MORE forms and critical reflection.  I asked those who were a part of the discussion to blog what they felt the conversations we had were really about, if they removed the 'thing' itself as something needing to be done and instead looked at the value and relevance of what the 'tings' are and why they form part of the portfolios you are asked to work towards for the modules.

Some suggestions were to look at the process of creating a professional artefact, as a means of communciating the inquiry process within your field of professional practice.

To consider how a gantt chart may offer you a structure in the form of a time frame to help the progression of your inquiry within the context of the term of study of module three. 

The importance of the ethics of your research being integral to your professional practice not just a form to complete. Looking at how you might use the MORE process as a way of helping you to ask the questions you need to address as you plan your inquiry so that the MORE form and your proposal are working in relationship with each other.

We came to the point of the Critical Reflection at the end of the call, considering how this is a useful way to look back on your learning through the module you're on, and as you move onwards through Module Two and Three, recognising and making the connections between the modules in terms of how your understanding of process and practice has developed.  It is important not to see things in isolation as you move through each module, and the programme as a whole, but to look at the relationships between the 'things' presented, be that in the tasks or components of the module submission, the literature, the data you gather...
 

Beverley, Harry, Charles, Andrew, Sophie, Jess and Lee do comment below with your blog posts and further thoughts on the discussions...

Twilight open discussion group

Some great conversations last night at our open discussion skype.

We had people from each module and conversations moved around reading and learning, finding and recognising pathways, making choices to inviting others to share their experiences through interviews and organising information. Whatever module you are in these ideas are relevant and will emerge in some way during the process of your study/learning.

Others that were on the call please comment here with the link to your blog post so that we can continue the conversations.

A reminder to others, that these open discussion groups are a really valuable way to talk to each other, share learning across the modules and speak to others who have perhaps been through the process you're going through now, learn from the reflections on learning from others in the same module as you, or just be open to an alternative perspective.  

Open Discussion Group...

We had some great conversations with people across modules two and three last night.
As everyone transitions into the next module there were naturally some thoughts around what the module asks for, what you will submit at the end of this 12 week term. While it is important to know these things of course, we talked though about the value in being able to be in the present also, so that you are not rushing through to a destination and missing the journey in the process!

Coming into module two allow yourself time to wonder, to reflect on last term's learning and to observe and absorb what is around you in your practice as you begin to realise your interests for an inquiry. Remeber that there is no such thing as a perfect inquiry question, and there's little value in undertaking an inquiry to confirm something you already know and do. Hover on the edge of the cliff a little longer to see where the edges really are for you. As you look at literature, read with curiosity around your subject area, rather than to answer your questions...be open to the process of learning and developing...

Those entering module three had queries around 'what next...?' Remember Module Two was your proposal for a practice-based inquiry. It was setting out a framework for what you intend to do now. So this term you are doing it!! Your reading continues, goes deeper with some key texts, and you begin to gather other data from your field. For now that's it. Don't try to analyse the data as you're gathering it. Let yourself be in each phase without trying to 'steer' or predict the next part too tightly.

Those that were a part of these discussions please do add your blog addresses in the comments here so that we can continue the conversations with you..

New term...New beginnings

Welcome to the start of the new term this week.

Hopefully you are all settling in to the module you are undertaking for the next 12 weeks. All module handbooks are on unihub for you under your BAPP ACI programme page and please do download your calendar of events from this page also. The schedule for all the skype discussion groups, module focus groups, dates for sending in drafts of work and your final submission of work is all listed here, so it's really important you have this working in/alongside your regular diary.

Starting a term can be a little strange on a distance education programme as you don't physically go anywhere, to campus or a studio to begin your 'learning'. What is important though is that you take time at the start of the term now to consider or perhpas re-consider how the study on the BAPP forms a part of your life. When and where will you study, how will you integrate this with other commitments. Chatting to some of you new to the programme this week about the course, study, work balance, I would suggest for returning students also, going back to your Study Plans if you haven't yet and really reminding yourself or re-thinking from the experience of last term how BAPP is a part of your practice rather than a 'task' to 'fit in'.

You might like to find a space to work, pick up a text from the reading list for your module and begin there, simply letting others ideas and your thoughts begin a relationship. While it is important to note what it is you will submit at the end of the term for your module, it is important to recognise learning as a process, and one on this programme, which is integral to your professional practice, so don't be in a hurry to get to the end and tick off an assignment. Take your time, dive-in - YES, swim around, gather thoughts, ideas, questions at this stage...