2nd Beginning

Module 2 has begun...

This first week has mainly been consisted of getting back into the swing of my study.

We began last weekend with the introductory Skype sessions. This was very similar to process to the beginning of module one, outlining the basics of the course, the resources and utilities we have at our disposal. I found both helpful and reassuring, it was a good way of getting back into the swing of the course. Although I have already completed module one, I still found out some new things about Unihub. Another thing I found useful was at the end of the session was everyone took turns in saying hello and a little on what they do and what they were hoping to get out of the course. I enjoyed getting to know these little nuggets of info on my fellow students as even though we have contact through blog comments and in Skype sessions, it can still feel little isolated doing distance learning. 

The remainder of my week has been given to mostly reading. Of course starting with the handbook as a whole and annotating key bits of info and sections I don’t understand and need to pay particular attention to. I found this super helpful last time, often adding to and referring back to these annotations. I have also been looking at some blog posts, to get an idea of what others have been getting up to and what they’ve said and done in their early weeks of the module.

I have also been thinking upon my practice as it is a time of flux at the moment. I work seasonally with my ballet company and am currently coming to the last few weeks of my off season. This means my daily practice of touring productions is not there. After some holiday time with my family, I have been going to the gym daily, practicing yoga and stretching to maintain my body and fitness. As the beginning of the season approaches I have come back to London and will begin to take classes and continue with my gym work in order that I am ready to get straight back into it when the season starts. Although I am not being paid for my dancing in the off season I still consider the things I have been doing my current professional practice as it is preparing for my job and takes a level professional dedication to keep up this work. As I say I consider my practice in a state of flux, this I think is the perpetual truth of freelance or seasonal dancers, our practice will change with our current situations.

Looking to next week I will be re-going over the handbook and more in to wider reading into different areas of my practice. In terms of my practice I will start taking some open classes and getting ready to get back into work.