This
evening I was part of yet another discussion group with my classmates and
programme leader Helen Kindred from Middlesex University Dance. This Masters has truly been a gift in my
life: the rich discussions, the books in the programme and those recommended by
classmates and programme leaders...and perhaps the most important part for me has
been the becoming part of the university dance community. The exchange of ideas, the understanding how
others have found their academic dance voice, and the connecting of knowledge and experiences is a unique privilege that
I now enjoy. I truly appreciate the
support and ideas I have received as I work on my Areas of Learning and
Reflective Essay.
Today we
spoke about communication. I am in a
moment of transitioning with the preparation of my final essays as my Module
One is reaching an end of term. My work
so far has been about an exploration and finding my artist´s voice through my life
and artistic experiences. I have
organised my memories in reflective journal entries, creative writing tasks, mind
maps, notebook notes and blogging. Now,
with a timeline set and the important things highlighted placing everything in context, I am stepping into a new phase
passing from my anecdotal voice to finding my academic dance voice. This is very new to me. I find it easy to write papers with strict
research rules: a literary review and voilà writing in the third person about
academic topics becomes easier after years through academia. However, to speak in an academic voice about
personal experience is a new writing process.
To take from the experiential into the academic and connect with the enormous
amount of dance literature as it resounds and shades one´s own perception is a
very different type of writing. It is a
vulnerable and reflexive place, and yet one wishes to expand beyond the
personal and trusting these
experiences and instincts: find the universality of the area of learning as
experienced and lived and as analysed and reflected upon through study and
literature in agreement with or in opposition to what has been previously
exposed by the academic dance community.
I am working on finding a balance
between my life experience and my academic understanding. It is the marriage between the embodiment of
dance and the capturing of this knowledge and learning to a broader and
collective understanding.
Today´s group
discussion was all about making connections.
About our search through dance literature and personal reflection. I am again grateful for the literature
recommendations made, I can hardly wait to get back to mulling, reading and
again to writing.
