After a very productive skype call on Sunday 27/9 I've come to realize that filming myself dance-teach, but also filming my students class practices and dance performances has many more positive outcomes than I originally thought.
While in the past it was so hard to capture this art form, nowadays technology has progressed so much and it allows us to capture-see-"judge" (and I don't know if this is the right word to use)-improve and change ourselves and our students in a way so we are able to see the results we seek in ours and theirs techniques and dance behavior in general. Digging in it further I read an article by Ava Madison: RECORD YOURSELF! The Importance of Recording Yourself and Body Memory", (https://www.avamadison.dance/record-yourself/ )that mentions how important it is to watch yourself dance in a video because "this way we take a more active role in our personal progression as movement artisans and define our craft into art".
Speaking for myself as a dance teacher I can say that after watching my students dance performances on video, I experience a big range of emotions running through my mind and body- with of course excitement being the first one of those- alongside always thinking were they stand now (especially of I had them as students from a very young age) and how they progressed as dancers and individual people.
Aboard those, thoughts like "I shouldn't used that step" or "I should have changed that routine" or "do an alternative ending" come running through, not only at that moments but as I am reflecting on it in the days to follow....So my question that originates from this conversation and brain storming is: Does our perception of ourselves as choreographers or creators of this form of art change when we see the final results of our work? Do we re-evaluate the work we do? Or do we value it enough in the first place so that we realize that what we do actually has an impact on our students lives?
Would love to read your opinions on these!
Maria
Sunday, September 27, 2020
Filming Dance-Evaluating Self
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Hi Maria - I work primarily as a site-specific artist and as such I rarely really think a piece is finished, it grows and changes as the community it is happening in changes. This doesn't mean I don't value every incarnation of it, as long as it is still relevant to the people involved in it. Sometimes its relevance is precisely because it doesn't work, which leads to new questions which leads to new creativity. I love using film because it allows us to see what our eyes can sometimes be ignoring, when we experience our own work we are tied up in the processes of the event (which is sometimes distracting) film lets us notice the unnoticed.
ReplyDeleteThe photographer Cartier-Bresson used to photograph himself everyday so he could tell what he was feeling. Often, he would realise he was stressed or even ill, which he hadn't been aware of without the photo - I'm not really sure way I added that bit but it seemed relevant!
Hi Maria,
ReplyDeleteAs an older teacher working with young dancers I often find myself being very critical of what I have produced and assessing what I could do better. I notice that my students are so much more aware of how they can use film as a positive resource in their development. This is an important skill that we all need to learn. You are so right when you comment that as teachers we need to remember how much we form and influence our students and think about the positives in the work we are doing.
Hello Maria,
ReplyDeleteI think that there is a limit to the use of video in development. Yes it does help, but to what point? I know from my personal experience, I had no body issues until I started working in a studio with mirrors. It was seeing myself all the time that I became extremely judgmental of how I looked to the point that it hindered development as you're so focused on the aesthetic. Feeling is what brings some of the greatest dancers to life. No one wants to see a robot on stage! Now when I'm in a studio, I do use the mirrors and video, but I also know to be aware of my body and feel what is right.
Hey Maria, I think recording has his pros and cons. I also get students who are excited to see themselves recorded, and some others who are not happy and struggle a bot with self-confidence.
ReplyDeleteOf course after watching students dance, we feel excited and proud. As Jacob said, we should not forget to teach body awareness and sensations as well. Nice to speak to you all :)
I feel that video has its place within dance training as it can help a student understand the feedback or corrections that you are giving them. I personally enjoy using the Slo-Mo option on my phone as I can record a step or a combination and show them on an individual basis exactly what I want them to focus on. It can be hard at times to verbalise your corrections in a manner that they can embody.
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