Tuesday, 15 October 2019
Monday, 14 October 2019
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?
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?
Friday, 11 October 2019
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.
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.
Wednesday, 25 September 2019
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...
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...
Tuesday, 24 September 2019
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
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.
Thursday, 19 September 2019
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
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
Tuesday, 17 September 2019
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.
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'.
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!
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