This last week has been half term for the high school and primary school I work at which has been ideal for me as I've been allowed a whole week to get up to speed, make a plan and get myself organised.
As my first draft of the critical review is due in 14th November, I have exactly 2 weeks today to get to grips with what needs doing in that time.
I am conducting the first of my interviews on wednesday which I am keen to get started on.
Also, I found that whilst I was travelling on the trains over the weekend, I met a woman who specialised as a Nutritionist. We began discussing what I did for a living and once I explained about my ongoing injury, she asked if I had ever been given advice from my doctors on how my nutrition intake could contribute towards the healing process of my foot. This was something that had never been suggested before to me by any of the doctors I had seen, however I was interested to hear what she had to say.
She said that by changing what I eat could provide stronger cells in my body, therefore could rapidly increase the time it will take for the injured ligament in my foot to be repaired.
She then went into detail about what I should be eating and doing and then offered me her buisness card which included contact details and a website if I needed any further advice.
I found it interesting to hear a different perspective on the matter as this is what my whole Inquiry is about, finding different opinions and ideas on the subject.
I'm now at a stage where I am thinking about my Inquiry in my everyday routine, whether it be work or social activites. I feel I am really making a connection with the subject in hand and I am truly passionate about how it can develop my knowledge further.
Monday, 31 October 2011
Monday, 24 October 2011
Second literature Review, Dance UK announces £30,000 Donation from Harlequin plc towards the creation of the National Institute of Dance Medicine and Science
Upon reading this article, I went through a series of different opinions. The article title itself automatically shows a positive doing in the world, that was the writer’s intention.
The writer has also highlighted the fact that even those outside of the dance industry have shown interest in the project and have even contributed towards making it possible. The writer points out that an ex-football player now working as a manager expressed interest in the project. Although he trained as a footballer whom is completely different to a dancer, the reason why his football career ended was due to the fact he suffered from an injury which prevented him from continuing to play. However, this shows that on his own wave length, he is able to relate to how a dancer must feel if they are unable to continue with their chosen profession due to an injury.
He stated: “Dancers, like footballers, are elite athletes who train intensively from a young age to work in a fiercely competitive arena, and their careers can be ended at any time by injury. I was shocked to discover the lack of health facilities in place to look after dancers, compared with that available to sportsmen and women. What Dance UK and their partners are trying to achieve in setting up a National Institute for Dance Medicine and Science will make a huge difference to dancers across the country.”
The article also goes on to state that a discussion was held between a group of professionals, these were Dr Emma Redding (dancer and Head of Dance Science, Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance), Rambert Dance Company dancer, Angela Towler, Kate Prince, Artistic Director of ZooNation and Camilla Dallerup, TV presenter and 2008 Strictly Come Dancing champion.
I fully support the idea of forming a discussion on the topic, especially one that includes such a variety of different roles within the industry. It is a good way to voice your own opinion, listen to others and to create solutions to problems. In the previous module of this course we were recommended to create a discussion group on our chosen topic. Personally this helped me to develop my enquiry and helped me to develop my knowledge of my chosen subject even further. I believe there is still much to learn from this industry and talking to people is one way of acquiring that knowledge. I commend Dr Emma Redding for holding a discussion group as it reflects what I and the rest of the students have done on this course so far.
It is important for an article such as this to establish what the foundations intentions are with the money, or they called it, “their vision”. However, it was at this point that my opinion changed. It was not the writer’s intention to do this; however I let my own views and experiences cloud my judgment; however I feel others in my situation would reciprocate this feeling.
The article stated: “The vision for the National Institute of Dance Medicine and Science is that all top level dancers will have access to the high quality, comprehensive, dance specific healthcare and dance science support services they need, on a par with those enjoyed by elite athletes and dancers in the largest ballet companies.”
Although this was written with a positive outlook in mind for those who read it, it did not have that effect on me. Only top level dancers are to benefit from this cause, is this fair? What about the dancers who are at the highest quality but have not yet been recognized? What about those who have just graduated from their vocational schools? And what about those who have made a career out of dance but are not in the top companies? In the last module this was something which I investigated as part of me enquiry, I wanted to know how many support groups/ charities were out there for injured dancers. However, although this is a good cause, it only helps a minority of those who are suffering in the industry.
Although this article continually states how the organisation can do a lot to help the “top dancers”, and have found evidence that their strategies and ideas will work, I cannot help but think of those that they are not helping. Although one organisation alone can only do so much, are there organisations out there specifically helping dancers with no financial aid?
This is something I am passionate about as I feel everyone should have the same rights. If a dancer has done their sufficient training and is making a career out of dance alone then they should have the option of knowing that they will have support/ the right medical treatment if they should become injured.
Friday, 14 October 2011
First Literature Review
First Literature Review:
Dancer says “Four injured contractors is not it strange,” Recovery “Spider-Man,” by Jennifer S. Altman for The New York Times
AND
Arts Beat, The Culture at Large
“Injured Performer Heading Back to Spiderman Early” by Patrick Healy (April 21st, 2011)
I first came across this story whilst I was searching on the internet. This story immediately caught my attention, mainly because it had received so much media attention.
The first article I found which was written by “Jennifer S. Altman” was one of the earlier articles released on this subject, which included an interview with the person directly involved. The article was about a man named Christopher Tierney who was a stuntman in the Broadway musical, “Spiderman”. When a stunt went wrong during a performance, the actor fell 30ft from a ramp when the harness rope snapped. He suffered extreme injuries including broken rips and three fractured vertebrae.
This article focuses more on the stage of his current stage of injuries, his overall look on the incident and his aim for the future.
This second article was written to inform the public of the recent major event of the theatre world; however, it will appeal more to lovers of the arts. The article was published in America and received heavy media attention over there.
It is clear after studying the style of text that the writers intentions were to reassure the public of their doubts regarding the show, management, procedures and of course to reassure the readers of the injured performer’s stage of recovery.
The section of the article regarding this man’s progress is what caught my intention when I first read this article. Mr Tierney was an experienced Professional performer facing a traumatic injury which prevented him from continuing with his job, but did it stop him from continuing with his profession?
The first article stated that Doctors were unsure as to whether it would take months or years for the actor to recover from his injuries, however, just weeks after the incident, Mr Tierney appeared on “Good morning America” promoting the show. To me, that shows determination and the fact he was promoting the show that led to his accident shows how determined he was to get back into it. It also stated in the article that it was his first injury in his 20 years’ experience of dance, he simply stated and I quote “all this good karma cannot last forever” and “You have a lot of time to think, when you are in the course of physical therapy, and all I can think about is my body, where it was, and returning to the show.”
In the second article it shows the difference to what was originally stated about his future to how he has progressed: “Mr Tierney, who managed to be up and walking two weeks after sustaining four broken ribs and three fractured vertebrae, had the pins taken out two weeks ago and is healthy enough to return to rehearsals for “Spider-Man” on Monday, his father, Tim, said in an interview on Thursday.“The doctors originally thought he’d have the pins in for another three months, but his physical comeback has gone well and they gave him the O.K. early this week to go back into the cast,”
From the way Mr Tierney was talking in the first article, it shows he was planning to achieve this right from the start. Not only did he work hard physically to get his body back into shape but he worked hard mentally too to stay positive and achieve his goal. This man did not let this injury stop him from continuing with his profession, mainly because of his incredible passion and strictness to staying in a forward thinking state of mind. However, the Broadway show has a history of accidents/ injuries, so is returning to the show an option for everyone?
In the second article, it states “A third cast member, Natalie Mendoza, suffered a concussion at the show’s first performance on Nov. 28 when she was struck by a rope backstage; Ms Mendoza, who had played the spider villainess Arachne, quit the show weeks later.” Upon reading this I became intrigued in knowing the exact reason for why she left the show. I researched this and found her first comments after the incident, as she refused interviews at first. She stated “It has been a difficult decision to make, but I regret that I am unable to continue on 'Spider-Man' as I recover from my injury." I found it interesting that one person was able to return to the stage whilst another could not.
However, this makes me wonder, was this purely because she was not well enough to return to work, or did her mentality towards the situation affect this outcome. I also found out she was left rather traumatized not only after her accident but after Mr. Tierney’s too. Could the shock and distress of the situations cause her to have a negative outlook on the situation? Her accident alone was traumatic, but to of witnessed yet another accident could of put up a barrier in her mind, that this was not the path for her. Plus, her head injury left her suffering with headaches and other symptoms, could this of triggered her final decision?
In the previous module whilst planning my Inquiry, I investigated the possibility that by having a positive outlook on the subject of an injury, this could increase the recovery process. In this situation, Mr. Tierney’s positive outlook derived from the fact he was determined to get back to work and to continue working in this show. However, Miss Mendoza did not show any sign of seeking treatment in order to recover for the show, she was given a number of weeks of rest but from that, still decided not to return to the show. If she had had a positive outlook and a set goal/ recovery plan in mind, could she of returned to the show? Was she given the support needed? These two people had very different injuries, 1 more extreme than the other, yet it was the individual who suffered the more traumatic injuries that returned to their job. In the article, Mr Tierney was pictured with his father “Tim” outside the theatre, his father also gave an interview regarding his sons progress. This shows he has support around him at this difficult time, he was strong enough to begin walking after 2 weeks to appear on a television show and to go and see the show itself. He faced his fears head on and because of this positive mentality, was able to conquer his injuries too.
Although there were different outcomes to the situations, only 1 out of the several who suffered injuries from the show did not return to the production. In conclusion to this review, I feel that it is good that the media focused so much attention on the recovery of Mr Tierney and his return to the show as it is important for readers, particularly those involved in theatre, to be reminded that anything is possible. The articles only focused a small amount of attention on Miss Mendoza’s situation; I believe this was done intentionally as it immediately draws negative attention to the show and the theatre industry. The writers intention was to not only promote the show, but to promote the fact that Performers can continue with their profession, no matter what may come their way and that Mr Tierney is an inspiration to performers everywhere.
http://elec-doll.info/four-injured-contractors-is-not-it-strange-recovery-spider-man-dancer-says/
http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/04/21/injured-spider-man-performer-heading-back-to-the-show-early/
Wednesday, 5 October 2011
Tackling Module 3 WBS 3760
At first when I recieved all the new information for the new module of this course, I reacted the usual way which was by panicking. After working abroad for the entire summer, returning to what seemed like "the impossible" was very daunting.
However, what this course has taught me to do is to stay calm, sit back, rationalise the situation and then proceed a bit at a time and by making a set plan/ timescale for the completion of my work.
After reviewing my feedback from the previous module I became more at ease with the module in hand and was able to look back over my work and familiarise myself with what I need to focus on the most. Once I had read through Reader 7, I was able to get a better understanding of what I hoped to gain from this literature review. In the last module I came across many artciles, publishings of work, journals etc, which all related to the topic of my Inquiry. What I have to ask myself now is should I use one of those pieces of literature which I am already familiar with? Should I use a new source of literature altogether? Or shall I use the names of the Authors/ Publishers I have already found to research more articles or their own?
At present I am currently discussing dates with the guest speaker for my "Discussion Workshop". This is something that will require organisation and consideration for both mine and their own daily schedule.
I am looking forward to carrying out my workshop, talking to more people and by expanding my networking unit both professionally and socially throughout this module.
However, what this course has taught me to do is to stay calm, sit back, rationalise the situation and then proceed a bit at a time and by making a set plan/ timescale for the completion of my work.
After reviewing my feedback from the previous module I became more at ease with the module in hand and was able to look back over my work and familiarise myself with what I need to focus on the most. Once I had read through Reader 7, I was able to get a better understanding of what I hoped to gain from this literature review. In the last module I came across many artciles, publishings of work, journals etc, which all related to the topic of my Inquiry. What I have to ask myself now is should I use one of those pieces of literature which I am already familiar with? Should I use a new source of literature altogether? Or shall I use the names of the Authors/ Publishers I have already found to research more articles or their own?
At present I am currently discussing dates with the guest speaker for my "Discussion Workshop". This is something that will require organisation and consideration for both mine and their own daily schedule.
I am looking forward to carrying out my workshop, talking to more people and by expanding my networking unit both professionally and socially throughout this module.
Monday, 2 May 2011
Digital Online Portfolio
Task 4a, Developing Lines of Professional Enquiry
I found this task very fulfilling, particularly writing about my own experiences in relation to my practise. The questions I created were very close to my heart. I was able to take what I had learnt into my teaching, as I felt that by doing this task I had become more compassionate and aware of all the situations I might not have known that my students might have been going through.
Task 4b, Special Interest Group
I discovered from this task that teachers need to be aware that students may want to talk about their experiences/ issues with others who have gone through similar situations. I let my students know, if there is anything related to their work that they are unsure of, unsettled about, my door is always open for those who wish to talk. If adolescents know there is someone who is willing to listen and happy to help, that will allow them to feel more comfortable, safe and sure of themselves if they know help is available to them.
Task 4c, Developing Questions
I felt though I could relate to each person I interviewed in some way. The first was a student I trained with in college, the second was my employer and the third was a student of mine. In conclusion, we can all relate to each other on some level in this profession which is what makes us so open to talking about our experiences.
Task 4d, Award Title
I have struggled with this task, as at first I was being too specific, then my second attempt was too varied. The task for me was being able to find the balance between the two.
Task 5a, Regulations and Codes of Practise
Writing my chosen ethics down reminded me of what each one means to me personally in my line of work. I realised that what makes me a successful teacher is that my personal and professional ethics compliment each other. I have strong morals and principles, which are what make my professional decisions so grounded and respected by others.
Task 5b, Codes of Practise
It was this task that helped me realise that if I were to write a list of regulations to be published professionally for my classes, I would need to concentrate on my wording and grammar. Sometimes I know what I want to say, but putting it into words can sometimes be challenging. From this, I found that approaching others for assistance on this topic is something I should be more open minded to.
Task 5c, Professional Ethics
During this task I came across a case study in my reading about a dance class. After reading about the way in which this class was taught, although I did not agree with it, it inspired me. Whenever I come across a situation like this, it only inspires me to never become like that, and therefore gives me that drive to always be better at my job.
Task 6a, Pilot Survey
LINK: Pilot Survey http://jessicalouisehunt.blogspot.com/2011/04/pilot-survey.html
The results I received from my pilot survey helped me gain a better understanding to the insights of others on my chosen topic, rather than judging them on my own experiences. After viewing the responses I felt I had progressed personally, I was really listening to what these people had to say, and I was able to put my own thoughts aside.
Task 6b, Critical Reflections
LINK: Thoughts on my Pilot Survey http://jessicalouisehunt.blogspot.com/2011/04/thoughts-on-my-pilot-survey.html
Thoughts on my Focus Group http://jessicalouisehunt.blogspot.com/2011/04/thoughts-on-my-focus-group.html
From the start of this course we have been encouraged to write on other peoples blogs, I believe this particular module encouraged everyone to pursue with this idea. Just as I needed others to complete my Survey and assist me with my Focus Group, I need to reciprocate with others. I felt I had more opportunity to do that this module by completing surveys and commenting on peoples SIG Groups.
Task 6c, Reviews of Literature
Reviewing these articles took me out of my own bubble in a sense. I am interviewing and conducting a workshop with chosen people. After discovering these articles, I had suddenly become more aware that there are so many extraordinary people all over the world in this industry, who each have something to offer.
Task 6d, Delicious Page
I believe organisation is one of the most important tools in my profession. I use a diary to keep track of my schedule, a filing system for all my work, but I had never used an online tool besides my blog to organise my web pages. Although I have all my important web pages saved to “Favourites”, it takes time to find any specifics. By creating my “Delicious” page, I have now discovered a new tool for my organisational skills.
Monday, 25 April 2011
Reviews of my Three Chosen Articles
1. The first article I discovered was by a woman named Francine Russo titled “Dance: Hot Wheels: Classical Ballet in New Position”.
The reason why I chose this article was because after I read the first section of it, it was the founder of the dance company that interested me the most. Infinity dance Theatre is a “mixed ability troupe” which was founded by a woman called Lunn. This extraordinary woman was formally a principal dancer with the Washington Ballet Company until she suffered from an accident which left her legs paralysed. Seven years later she decided to create this dance company. The article does not state how long this company took for her to create so we cannot be certain how much of this seven years was spent in despair, determination to carry on, experimenting with physical therapy, etc. This woman was still able to carry on, make a success of herself by devising her own company and to add to that, she was even able to continue in her chosen profession. Although she went a different way about it, technically she is still dancing, and still performing. A quote from the article which I thought was so unusual yet refreshing to hear which was in relation to a dancer and their wheelchair was “It's her partner. She supports it, and it supports her."
From reading the article, it seems the company like to shock their audience. The following quotes from the article back this notion up:
· "She'll be barefoot in the snow with a wheelchair," Pucci says. "It goes against what people expect."
· Not all Infinity's pieces are for wheelchair dancers. "That's not what we're about," Lunn insists. Yet she enjoys upsetting stereotypes about the disabled
· The Last Night of the World, a love duet between Lunn and a standing male dancer, is a "lusty, sexual dance," she says with a laugh. "At the end, you know these people are gonna go off to do it."
Just by reading this article, it is clear to me that Lunn looks upon her company and dancers with admiration and pride, she states “"Each stands out in his or her own way, which gives the company texture and richness." For example, their newest member of the company is a lifetime wheelchair user who is now a weight lifter. His strength is used to lift the seven able-bodied dancers. Everyone in the company is considered a principle and is shown off to their best ability. The fact that everyone in this company is treated as an equal in this company I believe symbolizes the idea that we can all live together in the same world and be treated as equals within it, no matter what our stature. This had made me question something. Would this company have had the same morals, principles and ethics if it had been created by an able bodied dancer? Would they have chosen to show all dancers as equals? Or would they have had the main focus on one and not the other?
This article has broadened my knowledge of morals and ethics of this company, therefore, improving my knowledge of the topic of my enquiry. I believe that this is the first example I have found of someone (who is injured/ disabled) being able to continue with their chosen profession. However, there are still many restrictions for a disabled dancer, so there may not be many who agree with this statement.
2. The second is from an article in the “Candis club and magazine”, titled “Dance UK to open new clinic for injured dancers thanks to Candis Big Gifts Funds”. What drew me to this article is that it immediately relates to my own enquiry. I have questioned whether having a positive mental attitude can improve the recovery process of an injury, however, where does this attitude come from? From there I questioned if anyone was aware of any support programs for dancers? The majority of those who answered this question on my survey were not aware of any. This article however, is a perfect example of the type of support programs I was referring to; however, not everyone knows they exist.
It's little wonder why many performers spiral into depression when injury forces them to stop working.
The charity Dance UK aims to improve the conditions in which dance is created, in order to prevent injuries and provide better treatment for performers.
The charity Dance UK aims to improve the conditions in which dance is created, in order to prevent injuries and provide better treatment for performers.Their aim is to open a new NHS based dance medicine clinic in London. The clinic will carry out research and aim to improve access to specialist care for all dancers across the country.
Helen Laws, Healthier Dancer Programme Manager, says: "Dancers are elite artistic athletes who place demands on their bodies similar to our Olympic athletes and premiership footballers. They need similar levels of support to keep working, which most don't currently have. Like sport, dance can be extremely beneficial to our health and we need to make sure that people participating at all levels are able to do so, knowing they're doing everything to maximise health benefits and minimise risk of injury.”
This charity understands that there are dancers who have become injured and feel they cannot continue, they are trying to stop this from happening and at the same time are trying to support those who are out of work because of physical disruptions to their work. If more people were aware of this, not only could it help them personally, but in doing so, with the help of others, more facilities can be built in other places around the country. Having one medical based centre for dancers in London is a starting point. Not everyone who needs these facilities may be able to access them. What if their injury prevents them from travelling? What if they don’t have the ability to get there financially due to being out of work? More facilities like this need to based across the UK to reach out to all dancers.
3. The third article is by Imogen Walker, titled “BodyMind: Beating the blues. My enquiry questions the idea if a positive attitude can contribute to the recovery process, however, what exactly does that entail?
This article pin points all the different things you can do and the stages you will go through. The accuracy of the article suggests to me that this woman has at some point been injured herself, although she does not confirm this in the article, from the way in which she writes, it suggests that this may be true. For example “If you've ever been sidelined by injury, then you know how difficult it can be to watch from the wings while your dance 
friends bask in the spotlight.”
friends bask in the spotlight.”She states in her article that by acknowledging the emotional side of an injury helps you control your reactions, handle rehab and dealing with any setbacks that might occur during the healing process. From her writing it is clear she is a very positive and determined person, e.g. “Remember, most 
injuries aren't career threatening, and professional dancers return from serious injuries all the time.”
injuries aren't career threatening, and professional dancers return from serious injuries all the time.”In her article she states different methods and explains in details how to go about these. These methods are as follows:
· Set Goals
· Practise Positive Self-talk
· Relax
· Stay involved
· Seek support
· Take control
The details that she includes in each of these methods has been well researched and well written. Personally, I found the article very inspiring, it spoke out to me, I felt I could relate to it. Also, what the article continually states is that it has to come from you. In order to recover from an injury, you must motivate yourself and you must power on every single day. For example, “It's important to fill your life with activities that will help keep everything in perspective. While it's OK to be sad, realize that worrying and wallowing in self-pity is a choice. Allow a few weeks to feel sorry for yourself, then move on.” This article is not just stating facts, it is reaching out to those who read it, it speaks directly to them, telling them they can get through this. It is firm, yet fair and helpful. From experience, injured people don’t want pity and people feeling sorry for them, it only makes them frustrated and then they end up feeling sorry for themselves. This article gets straight to the point, there is no pity, but there is understanding. I believe this article is completely beneficial for anyone who is suffering from an injury and would strongly recommend people to read it. I highly doubt someone would be able to write this unless they have experienced an injury for themselves, which again questions the idea “Can you only have a true understanding of an injury if you have experienced it yourself?”
This is very favorite article of the three, I’ll admit that I am letting my own personal ethics base my decision on this, but personal ethics is one of the strongest form of ethics, but I believe mine compliment my professional ethics.
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