I had to have a bit of time to elaborate this task. I didn't
feel really comfortable with some of the methods and had to take time to write them.
But it was interesting to do this task in a week that I had so many challenges
and deep reflections. I believe each one of the methods helped me to understand
what is going on with me and around me.
Description
I believe this is the method that I use less at my diaries.
I usually don’t describe my day, instead I usually write down my reflections
from a specific event or from an overview of my life at the moment. I have the
feeling that if I am writing to myself, I don’t need to describe what I did as
I know it. So I had to pretend that I was writing to someone else. For example:
“Today we had class at ten and all of us were feeling tired from the dress
rehearsal in the night before. The class was an hour fifteen and after, we had
corrections from last night. One of the boys got injured and someone else had
to jump in to his place and we needed to go through all spacing. We finished at two; I stretched a lot as I am
feeling really sore, took a good shower and went home, to rest for the next
dress rehearsal which will be at night at seven o’clock”
Although, I have to
recognize that description is good to analyse routines, methods of work, diets,
work out planning’s etc. I have already done that and helped me to find the
best way to organize my routine.
Initial Reflection
For this one, I wrote like a question and answer test. I
really enjoyed doing this type and I kept doing it for the other days. As I
wrote before, I like to reflect about specific events and those questions
helped me to understand them better and even realize about news feelings.
Premiere Show:
What did you fell about it?
Satisfied, relieved and happy. And all those feelings
came across especially at the bow in the end of the show.
What were you thinking?
That more than everything I wanted to dance well for me,
to make me happy. More than to please someone, to my reputation or to prove
something to someone. If any of those things happen, are consequences of my
work. I wanted to enjoy myself after so much hard work and dedication.
Did anything unexpected happen?
No, and I was quite happy about it. Didn't want surprises
or adventures at a Premiere!
What was your mood?
I was really tired and overwhelmed after two weeks of
full rehearsals in the mornings and nights and no free days. But lights, costumes,
make up and stage have a magic that brings you so much energy and happiness and
you forget all the sore muscles. And always grateful to be here.
List
I love making lists. I make lists for everything: shopping,
tasks, priorities, corrections… But I never wrote them like a diary though.
This method helped me during my writing, to organize things that came through
my mind but I don’t find useful for a more deep reflection. Maybe, is a good way
to conclude a whole thought, after reflecting and writing about it. For example,
a list of conclusions that you took from an experience, your next steps, your
next goals etc.
Evaluation
For this one, once more like the “Initial Reflection”, I did
like a little answer and question test for myself. This method I found really
useful to reflect and criticize about my own work. To realize what I did well, what
I need to improve, what I learnt. This is how I did when I wrote:
First Dress Rehearsal Monday
What did you think went well?
I got less disorientated with the lights than I expected.
The steps went well and the costumes didn't affect me as well.
What worked?
Especially the beginning of the first act and the third act,
the choreography worked well with the lighting and the size of the stage. Some
things that I tried for my acting also worked.
Did you learn anything, discover anything, and notice
things to avoid?
I learned that you shouldn't be addicted to the
musicality from the CD. Once you are with an orchestra, they can go faster or
slower and you need to keep the ears alert and follow their musicality.
I discover that the size and type of floor of the stage
made me much more tired. The lights made me sweat a lot and my make-up was
going off. I should always have lots of water, a towel and make up with me.
What if?
This one was hard to me as well. And I think it can be a bit
dangerous, because can make you create expectations that will disappoint you
after. I think is better to reflect to what actually happened. Although it can
also make you realize and give a value to your current situation and maybe,
make you think like “if I wanted this to happen what should I have done?” I did
this to myself and I felt constructive. I felt I recognized what I could have
done to make a certain situation better and also see how well something
happened. For example I would hate if on this week I have got a serious injury,
illness or simple have not done a good job in the show.
Another view
This one made me remember a book that my parents gave to me
and my sister. The book was about fairy tales described from different perspectives,
from different characters. For example, the story of the “Red Riding Hood” from
the point of view of the bad wolf. He could think “who is the mother that let a
small kid walk alone through a dangerous forest?” The book was really nice made
me want to see it again when I am back home. I think my parents wanted to show
me that sometimes we need to see our situation from outside to recognize better
if we are wrong , what could we do to make it better , what is the situation
really about.
So, I tried to write about my day from the perspective from
the pianist of the company. I thought it was a good idea, as he see everything
that is happening but is not totally part of it. He watches our classes, rehearsals,
discussions etc. It was hard because I can’t read his mind and be sure if what
I am writing is right, but it felt I was writing about a person looking at a
painting at an exposition. Like I said, I have to imagine what the other one is
thinking so is not realistic, but made me realize that we can be a bit selfish
with our conclusions if we see them just from our perspective.
Graphs , Charts and
Diagrams
Like the “List” method,
I never used a graph, or a chart or a diagram at a diary. I used to use one of
those tools for studies for my academic subjects. To be able to do this task, I
used the idea from the Module 1 Handbook, I compared my last year dress
rehearsals (for my dance school) to the ones that I had this week, at a
professional company.
Here is the link to access the document...I hope it works !
