Tuesday 4 October 2016

Hi Everybody! After our conversation yesterday, I would like to reflect about dance pupils and their focus on learning dances/performing in relationship to learning technique and having technique classes. I firstly, teach classical ballet which we know has a strong focus on technique. As a pupil, learning dances in classes were only in connection with an exam or performance, so learning a routine weekly was never the norm.  Society has changed, and I wonder if children today do not want to work on the “boring” stuff.  I see my pupils changing from ballet to other forms, could it be that ballet´s progression is too slow or that it is too repetitive? Do pupils today expect results quicker maybe? Have genres such as hip-hop and street, where there is less focus on technique, and certainly more “freedom” and individuality, contributed to pupils´ expectations of a dance class?
Has society today created a generation of “quick fixers”? Pupils today certainly do a lot more activities and swap from one to the other. Could this contribute to the lack of patience to hold out and learn technique? I wonder too, if programmes like “So You Think You Can Dance” also contribute to the focus on performing and not class work.

I know the respect I have for the dance as an art form, but maybe my ideology needs to be more up-dated. I´m wondering if it´s me who needs a shake-up and change my teaching to today´s society and youth….. a lot to think about! Would love to hear some views!

8 comments:

  1. Technology and the ability to have access to information by touching an app on a smart phone or tablet have made a huge impact on today's society. Everyone wants everything now. While "So You Think You Can Dance", "BRitain's Got Talent", "America's Got Talent", "American Idol", "Dance Moms", "Strictly Come Dance", or "Dancing with the Stars" shed light on bits of the dance world these reality shows do not enlighten audience members of non-dancers to reality of hard work and preparation required to truly excel in dance. Do not stress about what can motivate students but do your best to be the best teacher you are and can be. As a studio owner this is difficult to say because I realize enrollment determines the ability to keep the doors open. I have found that society is in a constant state of flux and as in most things dance returns to more structured norms eventually. The challenge is maintaining standards so we are not perceived to be jumping on the latest bandwagon or fashion trend. Many so-called traditionalists in America are finally voicing concerns over the lack of proper dance wear available and costumes that bare far too much skin on students who are far too young to be wearing such inappropriate outfits. Age appropriateness is one way I combat the challenges of what is hip or new. When backed into a corner I mention child predators and teaching children how to be responsible in choosing attire to and from the studio and that actions executed in the studio or on stage may not be appropriate to do on a street corner. Even adults of club going age should remember that different actions are appropriate in different settings. I am an old fashioned human being. You and I can continue to face the challenge together. Perhaps some day, parents will again realize they bring their children to us because we are the authorities who can teach dance and its culture to them and their children.

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  2. There has been a huge shift in the attitudes of young children and also for some a lack of commitment and support from families. I am keen to explain and emphasise that classical technique is their foundation and strong technique will allow them to diversify at a later stage. I show my children clips from ballet and Contemporary dance companies to highlight the importance of their foundations. I find empowering them and their dedication to classical dance helps a lot. I like to use images and video footage to help to keep the inspiration alive in a class setting.

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  3. Yes Sam I feel exactly the same way! I teach ballet, tap, modern and theatre craft and usually have full classes but as soon as hip hop and street classes open in the village there's a rush to try them. Those who struggle to understand the importance of technique or soon switch off when breaking down exercises are the first to try the new classes and it does make you wonder how to get the technique across in a way that doesn't push away the fringes of the class. I certainly do less technique now and have to decide when to tackle it in the lesson....usually on a rewards basis of 'we'll work on the dance when we've earned it' . Small bursts work better for me and I also introduce an array of music to work to as there are so many cd's now with piano/ballet versions of pop songs that it keeps them guessing what we'll work to next! There's no substitute as we all know and the older children get it but keeping the younger age group focussed can be a stretch. It's finding a way to keep the level of authority needed, the respect and discipline we all expect and keep attention in a modern and changing world! We don't have the easiest job and often convincing the parents of the need to go slowly and methodically is the hardest battle .... how many times do we get told "my friends daughter is the same age and she's en pointe so what isn't my daughter' !

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  4. I think the Ballet have to be faithful to the classical style. I know it could be hard, because the whole culture is desperate. I mean fast food, quick solution, intermediate effects everywhere.
    This effect reach the children as well.
    I don't have kids and I am at the other side, because I teach Belly dancing, which means I see the results of this individuality and freedom.
    I teach any type and age of woman and it is always pleasure to see if someone learn ballet, it is easy to recognise. After 20 or 40 years is it not disappear. Ballet provide stronge fundation esspecially at the young age generations. They will be grateful when they grow up. I know, not everyone born to be a balerina but I believe It could change the way of thinking and provide skills.
    I keep pushing my students to learn Ballet, never late to learn.

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  5. I teach classical kathak dance in Pakistan and even in a country like Pakistan where the focus has been more on folk and classical forms in the past, the present day student feels it is too tedious and are looking to just learn dance that is easy and requires less time and has a quicker level of completion.
    The students find Classical kathak like Classical ballet a long haul too much details and to much focus and effort with slow results a comment i hear from not only students but from the parents who bring their children to my dance center.
    The increase in demand for hip-hop, and popular dance forms in my experience is more about having fun and letting and not about going in deep to absorb the nuances any dance form could give you...i feel this approach to learning is also because of the digital world devices and fast food collective conditioning is impacting the youth of today.
    But to end on a positive note the ones who really want to go in and connect i have experienced may be a few in numbers, but are consistent and gain a deeper understanding of self and self reflection too and to me that is an important contribution to bring awareness and change and gives me a sense of contribution

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  6. I teach classical kathak dance in Pakistan and even in a country like Pakistan where the focus has been more on folk and classical forms in the past, the present day student feels it is too tedious and are looking to just learn dance that is easy and requires less time and has a quicker level of completion.
    The students find Classical kathak like Classical ballet a long haul too much details and to much focus and effort with slow results a comment i hear from not only students but from the parents who bring their children to my dance center.
    The increase in demand for hip-hop, and popular dance forms in my experience is more about having fun and letting and not about going in deep to absorb the nuances any dance form could give you...i feel this approach to learning is also because of the digital world devices and fast food collective conditioning is impacting the youth of today.
    But to end on a positive note the ones who really want to go in and connect i have experienced may be a few in numbers, but are consistent and gain a deeper understanding of self and self reflection too and to me that is an important contribution to bring awareness and change and gives me a sense of contribution

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  7. I think we should 100% keep up with modern dance trends and what children and adults want to learn. Hip hop and street dance classes help people to find themselves and express themselves. I think we should also respect classical dance and the insight it gives us into understanding our body as well as technique.
    I try to combat this by helping them understand why they need to know this and how it will help them in other styles of dance. When they are in my hip hop classes I point it out and tell them you can't do this combination because you didn't focus on the spotting and turning exercise we went through in ballet. When they see how it all interlinks and classical dance actually helps them in the other styles they want to do they apply themselves better.
    I think it's all about relevance. We do live in a very fast paced society where everything is accessible at the touch of a button. However if something is meaningful to us and we understand why we tend to persevere.

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  8. Great comments all...Alice I agree with the notion you propose of relevance. How does dance training remain relevant in our ever changing global societies? What principles, ethics, knowledge underlies the dance 'techniques' we are teaching? Is it the understanding and application of these that is perhaps underlying the relevance of the techniques? How do techniques speak to each other? Rather than a hierarchical approach it may be interesting to look at the relationship between them. Melanie Bales and Rebecca Netti-fiol take up this discussion with reference to western dance training in their book 'The Body Eclectic'.

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