Dance Day

The annual RAD exams for my studio are coming, whether I am prepared or not. The exams themselves aren't scary it is the build up and anticipation for them that kill you. You prepare for these exams for a whole year and that is all you can do. So in order to help me prepare for my exams I attended a Dance Day... a day where you meet at a studio with several other dancers, so you know and others you don't and all you do is run through the set exercises that are assigned to your grade. So how does this help prepare me for my exams anymore than just taking a regular class at my studio? Well it helps you in many ways. The first being that not only is your teacher there to observe their students, but you have all the other dance teachers observing you as well. This gets a new set of eyes on you that may be able to correct a mistake that your teacher may have not noticed. The next benefit is dancing with dancers that you've never met before. This allows you to view other dancers and see how they perform a certain exercise, and get tips off of their performance and add it on to yours. So overall I found that Dance Day did help me get that much closer to being prepared for my exams. 

Blog 13: Lesson 2 Reflection

1.What are you most proud of in your Lesson 2 Presentation and why?

I’m most proud that I was able to convey all the information that I needed to in a timely matter and that my presentation went so smooth.

2. a. What assessment would you give yourself on your Lesson 2 Presentation (self-assessment)?

I would give myself a P.

b. Explain why you deserve that grade using evidence from the Lesson 2 component contract.

I met all the requirements, but I feel that my activity could be improved.

3. What worked for you in your Lesson 2?

The layout of my powerpoint allowed my presentation to go really smoothly.

4. What didn't work? If you had a time machine, what would you have done differently to improve your Lesson 2?

I would’ve talked slower, although I made time I feel that I was explaining a lot of new information to my audience too quickly.

5. What do you think your answer #2 is going to be?

My second answer will be that dancers should train in multiple genres of dance.

Blog 12: Mentorship 10 Hours Check

1.   Where are you doing your mentorship?

Perfect Pointe School of Dance, located in Covina

2.   Who is your contact?

Belle Maturo, Studio Director

3.   How many total hours have you done (total hours should be reflected in your mentorship log located on the right hand side of your blog like your WB)?

172 Hours and 50 Minutes.

4.   Summarize the 10 hours of service you did.

I have taken several styles of dance, like ballet, jazz, modern and character, and also have taught several classes.

Blog 11: Holiday Project Update

1.  It is important to consistently work on your senior project, whether it is break or we are in school.  What did you do over the break with your senior project?

I watched several documentary films relating to dance. The films were about various genres of dance and different methods of teaching and learning a certain style of dance.

2.  What was the most important thing you learned from what you did, and why?  What was the source of what you learned?

That there are various styles of dance in just one genre alone and if a particular style doesn’t suit you, it doesn’t mean you’re a bad dancer, it means that the particular style isn’t for you, so you shouldn’t give up. I learned this in both a documentary entitled “Ballerina” about Russian ballerinas and a article in Pointe magazine.

3.  If you were going to do a 10 question interview on questions related to answers for your EQ, who would you talk to and why?

I would either talk to an official RAD examiner, because they know what to look for in a dancer and what makes a dancer pass or fail an exam, or I would talk to my Friday ballet teacher because he was in a company and knows ways to add style to your dancing without going over the top and ruining your technique.