• compare, contrast and reflect critically on the different methods used in two of the collaborative projects/ creative practices you have engaged with.

Description

During our choreography project, my group was tasked in a collaborative setting. With this came along intricate decisions and discussions resulting with no fixed leader and adopting more of a fellowship approach instead. Our main goals were to maintain positive communication and develop a healthy atmosphere. while Management of time effectively was an element, we also had prioritised due to a deadline of only 6 hours of lesson time, meaning we had to quickly move on with exploring creative solutions through trial and error managing our lesson time wisely. Relating back to positive communication another key discussion was made to set boundaries and respect each other’s honesty about their buckets that day. We had open discussions to begin the sessions about how full everyone’s buckets were these included, social, emotional, cognitive, creative, spiritual, physical and mental.

feelings

At first, I felt excited but uncertain. Without a designated leader, I worried we may lack direction. However, I also made sure to appreciate and acknowledge the shared sense of ownership and equality that evolved throughout. I felt challenged when exposed emotionally during disagreements due to the diverse range of styles and embodiments in the space. I am a very passive person meaning that I would prefer to observe disagreements and conclude in a way that would suit everyone rather than stating my opinions and adding tension which would happen a lot due to my groups individual characters. Reflecting back, I suffered with many interpersonal barriers to collaborate creatively this included, low confidence due to a fear of judgement that meant I couldn’t express myself in an assertive way. This meant I was not being as honest as I hoped with my group especially after those key honest discussions we had before.

Evaluation

There were many positive aspects to our approach as working with these boundaries helped maintain a level of mutual respect especially when some days you may feel very vulnerable and exposed for example, I had to learn a peer’s hip-hop phrase which they choreographed. I am not a comfortable hip hopper so having to learn it and digest all the information in a short period of time meant patience was a key responsibility for all of us. however, this did also challenge me creatively, pushing those extremities to overcome. Emotional transparency helped resolve conflicts quickly and build trust however finding that level of respect was important. Reflecting off our conversations, they were communicated in a clear system encouraging everyone to always contribute. Leading back to leadership and not dictatorship.

• yellow is how to read the Padlet, introduction and visual picture or Gibbs Reflective model

• blue is links to my video evidence

• green is audio reflections, audio transcript

• purple is my link to Essay

• red is reference list and bibliography

• compare, contrast and reflect critically on the different methods used in two of the collaborative projects and/or creative practices you have engaged with during the unit.

  I chose this because I felt this linked in nicely to my reflections but also because I wanted to discuss my research and opinions on authority and hierarchy in dance comparing both design and choreography.

Analysis

The absence of one leader stimulated a collective responsibility, aligning with the idea of leadership over dictatorship. Although we had to explore this effectively to find an in-between line it highlighted that it was a team cohesion and can be a shared dynamic for all. The use of positive communication and boundaries meant everyone felt respected and prevented conflict from escalating. My experience conveyed that pushing limits is beneficial when we remained flexible in roles and styles indulging everyone to have their own individuality throughout.

Conclusion

I learned that constructive teamwork doesn’t always require a traditional leader but instead allocates shared mutual respect, which is a general judgement I feel is missing when paired up with my peers in a creative group task. In relation to this, efficiency is about working smart, and experimentation performs best when the resources are managed strategically which I felt our group did well.

Action plan

After further reflection I know for the future, I will promote mutual leadership by encouraging myself and others to take initiative, becoming more assertive and honest to generate less conflict. This comes along with practicing emotional honesty however also prioritising remaining professional for the future.

391 words- 3 mins 10 secs

Description

During my collaboration with design, I had the opportunity to cooperate closely with the costume and lighting department experimenting with particular resources and knowledge to create a collaboration. We worked together as a cohort to present a shared vison. We had a 6-week timeline to explore and create. In this time, I would discover how to sew and prep alongside how to structure lighting and initiate a que sheet which is used for the stage management purposes.

Feelings

After the explorations took place, we then had to decide what we wanted to proceed with and achieve out of this collaboration. I felt frustrated by the lack of access to materials due to the fact that I wanted to progress with the use of lighting however all they could offer me was a reduced number of lamps and a defective stage light that almost set alight, this was given to me by the costume department and not lighting so whilst my peers were working on costumes with the resources they need I was undergoing this experience individually all by myself. This made me feel frustrated as my self-confidence was decreasing and I felt creatively defeated. According to psychology creativity requires divergent thinking, which explores multiple possibilities and generates creative ideas, whereas convergent thinking focuses solely on finding a single best solution. This made me provoke a challenging experience by leading my own journey and making my own accessories, for this I used wooden figurines to explore shadows.

Evaluation

The collaboration was effective due to it embellishing a creative challenge and encouraging problem solving leading to a deeper communication with the design team. Although the lack of assets was a key factor, I positively defined my process leading me to be inspired by the process rather than focusing on the outcome itself. Although I had nothing to show in the exhibition, I still made sure to reflect on my growth mindset I had been adapting throughout allowing me to become exploratory and curious reflecting on what was holding me back. Acknowledging the curiosity of extrinsic motivation, which is engaging in activity on behalf of external rewards, in this instance it’s the final exhibition and intrinsic motivation is the desire to engage in the venture driving from internal factors like enjoyment, for me it was discovering the enjoyment and satisfaction to remain positive.

Analysis

Something that I felt stood out was that there so was no leadership role between me as the student and the teachers. I feel purely that this was a very effective collaboration, each artist bought their own expertise and ideas, for me it is my idea and explorations for them it was more of a dominant role model but not taking advantage over a more leading role.

Conclusion

I learned that for this project to be successful it had to depend less on authority and more on cooperation. I Was working with limited materials that meant adapting fast and holding space for creativity leading to multiple creative outcomes and even though I was limited, my quick-thinking skills glided me to satisfaction and new findings.

Action Plan

After this experience I will be taking away a new lesson in quick thinking, adaptation, use materials that are present and creative challenge making striving me to an outcome Aswell as the process. I was assertive in my communication and cooperation was present so this is something I will now consider any upcoming future projects that I will participate in.