Personal Development Plan by Lexi Finch https://padlet.com/lexifinchx/6q01dvv1uqk2o34u en-us 2024-05-13 08:34:12 UTC 2024-06-04 15:46:13 UTC hello@padlet.com Strengths lexifinchx https://padlet.com/lexifinchx/6q01dvv1uqk2o34u/wish/2990414445 1. Technical Skill

I have developed a solid foundation of locking techniques and steps, including a number of variations. I have retained a good understanding of the break down of these steps and can identify correct technique. Don Campbell was the driving force behind Locking dance ‘His “Lock” move was a playful arm/body freeze that was timed to emphasize striking moments in the music. In order to fill the space throughout the song, he started experimenting with other movements, like the Hambone, Wrist Rolls, and Points.’ (Roberts, 2024)

2. Quick Learner and Retention

i have the potential to pick up new material and adapt movement to my individual style. I have the natural ability to watch and be able to embody a specific feeling within locking. 
]]> 2024-05-13 08:37:19 UTC https://padlet.com/lexifinchx/6q01dvv1uqk2o34u/wish/2990414445 Areas for Development lexifinchx https://padlet.com/lexifinchx/6q01dvv1uqk2o34u/wish/2990414597 Throughout this term, I have been focussing in on my technical skills within my locking freestyle and identifying areas that need development. I have been able to set goals, whilst taking into consideration my personal reflections, as well as feedback from my teachers and peers.

1. Creativity and Risk Taking

Sometimes, I find myself relying on familiar patterns of movement, limiting the full expression of my creativity. Find more creative options in my rounds and explore more engaging ways to create highlights and explosions throughout.

2. Fluidity and Combining Steps

I often encounter challenges in seamlessly combining locking steps into cohesive sequences, due to a lack of body awareness in this style specifically, it is difficult to transition between steps and to create patterns. I want to focus on making the transitions between steps seamless, whilst practicing shifting my weight and gaining more body control and awareness. By doing this i will be able to take more risks in my movement as I will be able to combine steps in creative and dynamic ways, whilst introducing new timings and pathways. ]]> 2024-05-13 08:37:25 UTC https://padlet.com/lexifinchx/6q01dvv1uqk2o34u/wish/2990414597 SWOT Analysis lexifinchx https://padlet.com/lexifinchx/6q01dvv1uqk2o34u/wish/2990416816 Strengths

1. Technical Skill

2. Quick Learner and Retention

Weaknesses

1. Creativity and Risk Taking

2. Fluidity and Combining Steps

3. Confidence and Composure

Opportunities

• Learn Locking Choreography to see how moves can be combined and transitioned into one another. 

• Watching Locking dancers will introduce more inspiration to my practice and help me develop my own individual style, as well as seeing how others take risks in their rounds.

Threats

• Time Constraints and making time to train locking outside of timetable classes could hinder growth. 

• Impatience and frustration from initial setbacks could deter my progress. Becoming too overwhelmed by different opportunities for growth may lead to less focus in my practice.

By utilising my strengths, challenging weaknesses, seizing opportunities, and overcoming threats, I can elevate my locking freestyle and continue developing my confidence and technique within the style.]]> 2024-05-13 08:39:08 UTC https://padlet.com/lexifinchx/6q01dvv1uqk2o34u/wish/2990416816 SMART Analysis lexifinchx https://padlet.com/lexifinchx/6q01dvv1uqk2o34u/wish/2990418077 Specific

Use my strengths to create new combinations and sequences that can be used throughout my rounds and build my body awareness, focussing in on separated body parts including, arms, head, upper body, hips, legs and feet.

Measurable

Record myself during training sessions twice a week and identify elements in my freestyle that I liked and elements I need to work on.

Achievable

Spend half of my training session revisiting combinations or sequences that I liked from watching back videos, practice these and add variations. Spend the other half free styling whilst implementing these elements.

Relevant

This will enhance my creativity, help build vocabulary and add more confidence and fluidity throughout my rounds, making my rounds more seamless and dynamic. 

Time Bound

Consistently implement these methods over the next 3 terms.]]> 2024-05-13 08:40:07 UTC https://padlet.com/lexifinchx/6q01dvv1uqk2o34u/wish/2990418077 Strengths lexifinchx https://padlet.com/lexifinchx/6q01dvv1uqk2o34u/wish/2990419711 1. Technical Skills 

Similarly to last term, my technical abilities within Locking remain as one of my main strengths. Practicing and breaking down the steps within moves and drilling these has helped me acquire even more body awareness when performing them. There is less hesitation when doing these moves and my execution of them is cleaner and sharper.

2. Grooves

Learning new grooves over the last term has led to me finding another strength within my practice. I have found that my body moves in a very fluid and naturally groovy way, meaning that it is easy to add my own flare to different grooves and in between locking moves.

]]> 2024-05-13 08:41:21 UTC https://padlet.com/lexifinchx/6q01dvv1uqk2o34u/wish/2990419711 Areas that I have Progressed and Developed lexifinchx https://padlet.com/lexifinchx/6q01dvv1uqk2o34u/wish/2990420323 1. Creativity and Fluidity

Over this term, finding the flow within my round has been my main focus, finding new ways to ensure that there are no gaps in between combinations and that all stops/ pauses are intentional. In order to progress in these areas, I focused on my existing strengths and built off them to find new creative ways to put them into my rounds. By visiting grooves, I have found this to be one of my main strengths and an easy way to add fluidity throughout my round, especially in between the technical steps. I have cut down on the amount of locking steps in my freestyle and just used a few, focusing on variations them and adding grooves in and around these steps, by doing this I feel that I am on a good path to being more comfortable within my freestyle and am finding new ways to be creative, whether it be through using more footwork, adding different grooves or focusing on variations of Locking steps.]]> 2024-05-13 08:41:46 UTC https://padlet.com/lexifinchx/6q01dvv1uqk2o34u/wish/2990420323 Impact on my Practice lexifinchx https://padlet.com/lexifinchx/6q01dvv1uqk2o34u/wish/2990420672 As mentioned earlier, focusing on my strengths within my practice has allowed me to develop my weaknesses. I have found a way of practicing and training that suits me and that I find my creativity within. Focusing on my strengths and adding my weaknesses into them have added more flow and confidence in my rounds. My main take away from this term has been to get out of my head and stop thinking so much, with the tools that I have recently acquired, moving forward I know that overthinking limits my creativity and confidence and highlighting this has been a huge turning point in my practice. I am excited to move forward with the new things I have learnt and the new mindset I have.]]> 2024-05-13 08:42:06 UTC https://padlet.com/lexifinchx/6q01dvv1uqk2o34u/wish/2990420672 Areas for Development and Targets Moving Forward lexifinchx https://padlet.com/lexifinchx/6q01dvv1uqk2o34u/wish/2990421441 1. Confidence and Composure

Although I am finding more confidence as I acquire new skills, this is still one of my weaker points within my freestyle. As mentioned, I find that I get in my head and overthink a lot during my freestyle, I find it difficult not to be over critical of myself and the material that I am producing. It is difficult to know how to develop confidence and composure, but I know that as my skills progress and I create new sequences and combinations, I will be able to think less and feel more. 

2. Develop Sequences and Combinations

Previous to this course, one of my main strengths has been learning and performing choreography, so if I take time to learn or create locking choreography, this could develop my understanding of combining steps. Developing sequences that I can visit during my rounds will give me more confidence and these combinations can be varied to develop the movement and my own style even more. These can also help with adding explosions throughout my rounds, floor work combinations and jumps can be pre-set before performing, meaning I can use them whenever it feels right.

]]> 2024-05-13 08:42:48 UTC https://padlet.com/lexifinchx/6q01dvv1uqk2o34u/wish/2990421441 Strengths lexifinchx https://padlet.com/lexifinchx/6q01dvv1uqk2o34u/wish/2990421774 1. Technical Skill
2. Grooves
3. Retention
4. Embodying the style 
5. Developed my own practice methods]]> 2024-05-13 08:43:07 UTC https://padlet.com/lexifinchx/6q01dvv1uqk2o34u/wish/2990421774 Areas that I have Progressed and Developed lexifinchx https://padlet.com/lexifinchx/6q01dvv1uqk2o34u/wish/2990422318 1. Technical Skill (arms)

Through practicing different combinations of arm movements, I have strengthened my understanding of arm placements when working with specific body parts. This has introduced the ability to execute fast paced switches throughout my round, overall adding more texture, dynamics and timing changes. The article "Improvisational Artistry in Live Dance Performance as Embodied and Extended Agency" (Bresnahan, 2014) into how dancers use their bodies as expressive tools, ‘navigating between structured techniques and improvisational creativity to convey emotions and narratives’ 

2. Embody Stylistic Qualities of the Style

I have identified and practiced the positioning and shifting of my body. Opposition between the shoulders, chest and hips, as well as arching of the lower back creates the distinctive locking groove. studies indicate that beat perception and synchronization are not merely auditory but involve significant motor system engagement, which aligns with the principles of locking's rhythmic and oppositional movement (Grahn & Brett, 2007; Chen et al., 2009). Practicing this has added more essence to my execution of the style and helped me add identity and an individual approach to locking.

3. Confidence, Composure and Creativity

I have developed more confidence and composure in my freestyle. Previously I got into my head about the material that I was producing and did not have as much body awareness. The Improvement in my technical skills and understanding of specific stylistic qualities has allowed me to move more freely and to take more risks in my freestyle.]]> 2024-05-13 08:43:38 UTC https://padlet.com/lexifinchx/6q01dvv1uqk2o34u/wish/2990422318 Impact on my Practice lexifinchx https://padlet.com/lexifinchx/6q01dvv1uqk2o34u/wish/2990422958 The areas that I have been working on have positively impacted my practice on a massive scale. Being more comfortable in my technical skills, as well as speed of my movement has allowed more room for creativity, as well as making my dance more dynamic. I have developed a base of technique, in my own style, that I am confident and comfortable with, which I can return to throughout my rounds. Through developing a better understanding of my body placements, I no longer feel the need to overthink throughout my round, as incorporating this with my arm technique allows my movement and thoughts to flow.

My practice will now consist of continuing to work on these areas that I have been developing, as there is still a lot of room for improvement and the more I develop in these areas, the more confident and composed I will be.]]> 2024-05-13 08:44:04 UTC https://padlet.com/lexifinchx/6q01dvv1uqk2o34u/wish/2990422958 Aims Moving Forward lexifinchx https://padlet.com/lexifinchx/6q01dvv1uqk2o34u/wish/2990423478 1. Pauses and Freezes

Incorporate more Pauses and Freezes into my movement, creating tension and release for effects and funk essence. 

2. Embody Stylistic Qualities of the Style

Continue to explore the positioning and shifting of my body, in order to embody the essence of the dance style locking. Opposition between the shoulders, chest and hips, as well as arching the lower back creates the distinctive locking grooves.

3. Incorporate Left Side 

After Reflection, it is very clear the my Right Arm is my stronger and utilised more that my Left. Although it is okay and natural to use one side more dominantly that the other, learning to incorporate this in my freestyle will create more opposition and projection during my rounds, as well strengthening my placements and fluidity on my Left.
]]> 2024-05-13 08:44:28 UTC https://padlet.com/lexifinchx/6q01dvv1uqk2o34u/wish/2990423478