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Independent research on chosen pioneering practitioner [1000 words]

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"ACPE Blog". ACPE Blog. N.p., 2017. Web. 4 May 2017.
"Freestyle - International Dance Teachers' Association". International Dance Teachers' Association. N.p., 2017. Web. 4 May 2017.
"Keeping Dancers Dancing – Conditioning". 4dancers.org. N.p., 2017. Web. 8 May 2017.
"OFF JAZZ - LUIGI (Eugene Louis FACCIUTO)". Offjazz.com. N.p., 2017. Web. 5 May 2017.
"Pirouette - Ballet Term Definition - Ballethub". BalletHub. N.p., 2017. Web. 4 May 2017.
"The Dancer Diet.". contemporary-dance.org. N.p., 2017. Web. 5 May 2017.

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This video is a snippet from a performance in London with Shockout, where I had to audition to get into. This was a great opportunity and boosted my confidence massively. I am on the right of the trio section. During this section, I executed leaps, kicks, and tricks showing extension and controlled technique.

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This is an exercise showing a variety of different leaps, using Luigi arm lines. "Luigi is sometimes referred to as "father jazz" since he is credited with creating the first formal jazz technique." [OFF JAZZ DANCE CENTER, 2017] This exercise needs to show great alignment, height, and extension.

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This video shows off my flexibility whilst doing a movement called a tilt. I have practiced this in my own time as one of my 'tricks' to do at an audition.
"being flexible means the ability to move through a Range of Movement (ROM) without restriction.  Each joint has an “end range” – i.e, as far as it will go structurally." [Keeping Dancers Dancing - Conditioning, 2017]

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Importance of progression and commitment in dance.

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Importance of progression and commitment in dance.

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During first year I was a lot less confident than I am now within myself, I believe this is because I was not comfortable being around people I don’t know. I have progressed a lot with my performance and focusing on myself more. Commitment was a task for me at first as I did not think that this was the right career path for me, but since I have improved and teachers have finally started to notice all the hard work that I am putting in. To be a professional dancer, one of the main needs is commitment, not only the way you actually dance because you cannot turn up to a job only when you feel like it as you will get sacked. Being hungry for something makes you improve not only inside the studio but outside too. Changing my mindset has enhanced the way I now perform, and will continue to do so within my next academic year. I would like to progress with my retention/pick-up rate skills, focusing more and more on myself, but also knowing how to work in a team ethic. I am going to set up my own training programme including what days I will train at the gym building up my strength, and getting more of a toned body, healthy eating, "It is not a rule, but trying to be so slim implies a high risk of acquiring feeding disorders. That is a real threat for the health of anyone, so it is very important that dancers understand that a deliberate diet should aim to give them health and efficiency over aesthetic goals." [The Dancer Diet, 2017] and extra classes in the evening after university that will help me improve all technical skills.

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Strengths and weaknesses within the module:

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Strengths and weaknesses within the module:

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An outstanding strength within my training is definitely jazz, as this genre shows off what I can do best. Before I began training at Shockout Arts, I had previously been dancing from a very young age doing a variety of styles such as: ballet, tap, jazz, commercial, contemporary, and disco freestyle dancing. Even though I had trained in many different genres, the style I did the most was disco freestyle dance. People tend to believe that disco freestylers do not have great technique, but I was lucky to have done that getting more flexible within that hardcore training, but also having technique training alongside. "Freestyle is a popular form of dance in the UK today. It involves runs, spins, kicks and leaps, as well as many other diverse steps and movements with lots of arm and hand actions. The music can be fast and rhythmic or slow and sensuous, allowing dancers of all ages to use freedom of expression to enhance their style." [International Dance Teachers' Association, 2017]

In my jazz class on this module, I feel the exercises that show my strongest abilities are grand battement’s, and jumps, which define my extension at its best. These are the exercises I feel most comfortable performing, unlike when doing pirouettes.
To me, having a great amount of flexibility, energy, and performance is what makes you stand out in a jazz class, which is what I try to interpret in every lesson. I have lately been working extremely hard on my flexibility, core strength and tricks as I know that is what I will need in order for me get through an audition. To help with my facility, I have been pushing myself further by doing more overstretching in my own time, as my body does not feel pain when in the splits etc which means I need to push further appropriately without getting an injury.

When developing my core strength, not only have I been pushing through workouts at Shockout, but I have also been going to the gym outside as I was not happy with the definition of my body, and the strength of my core as having a strong core is the main essential to have being a dancer. I am going to continue putting in the extra hard work, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, and staying determined to be better because I am seeing changes to my body, and the way I now present myself when performing. "As a dancer you should do some core body exercises several times a week, and also maintain a healthy diet. Various nutrients are involved in bodily metabolic functions, and a diet with adequate mineral intake is particularly important to maintain bone and muscle strength." [ACPE Blog, 2017]
Pirouettes are my biggest task to tackle as one day I can smash out 3 perfect turns, and then the day after I go off balance trying to get around once. Since first year, I have improved immensely pirouetting as I used to struggle trying to get around once. I have not fully accomplished my goal of being confident when turning, but I have grown throughout my second year. When I turn, I used to not spot, have a stiff upper body, and I would drop my leg from a high retire which is why I lost stability, and why my tutor would correct me. I still need to loosen up on my upper body when turning in ballet and jazz as I focus on spotting, and my retire, but forget about my shoulders as they tense and lift which is the incorrect position. I find pirouettes in jazz easier than classical ballet turns as jazz your leg has to be turned in, and in classical ballet it needs to be lifted in your max turn out position. "A pirouette can be done either en dedans, turning in towards the supporting leg that the dancer is turning on, or en dehors, which is turning away from the supporting leg." [BalletHub LLC, 2017] Also another problem with my turns are the positioning of my arms, I get critiqued on how wide my arms are in first position in ballet, therefore I just need to remember every bit of criticism and put it altogether to get that well technique pirouette. Classical ballet pirouettes is what I want to improve on in my further training at Shockout.

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Core Techniques 2 - Ballet and Jazz Technique

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Core Techniques 2 - Ballet and Jazz Technique