Leanne's OZ and NZ Fellowship

Dance in NZ Education

2009-12-10T02:28:00.000-08:00

Very brief overview:

Tertiary - several University's and Performing Arts Colleges established. TDENNZA meets to discuss tertiary dance education
Secondary/Primary - LEOTC Learning Experiences Outside of the Classroom provide workshops and additional dance expereinces to school students. A subject assosciation has been formed alongsode 5 dance education networks which promote models of good practice.

Curriculum wise

"Learning in all 4 areas (of the Arts) is essential for a comprehensive education in the Arts"

Yr1 - 8 will look at all 4 disciplines throughout their Primary Education providing a more rounded Arts Education and creative learning of other subjects through the Arts.

Yr 9 - 10 should continue all 4 but as a minimum must study two Art forms.

Yr 11 - 13 specialist teaching and learning progression.

Over the past few days these points got fleshed out and discussed with Liz Melchior, Danz and Footnote Dance Company.

Back in Sydney - Sydney Dance Company and Ausdance

2009-11-28T17:36:00.003-08:00

Well I have to admit that I have actually arrived in NZ but am trying to catch up on Australian news - so apologies.

Whilst back in Sydney I met with Tamarra Wheeler from Sydney Dance Company. She explained that although SDC did not have an education programme as such, they did cater for young people in the summer holidays offering workshops. Also through the Department of Education Yr12 students can come for a day dance excursion. The Dept of Education run their own dance camp and make use of SDC facilities and teachers.

I then met with Cathy Murdoch of Ausdance NSW. With New South Wales as the only state where Dance is mandatory, Cathy expressed that this does not alwyas mean that it is being delivered to a high standard and so professional development for generalist teachers is necessary. Back in 1998 there was a Dance Education component based in the Ausdance offices but the familiar story of a shift of State government priorities meant this approach/resource was canned. Cathy expressed a gap in Community Dance and a hope for it to progress especially as new government funding opportunities are now available.
As always money issues arise, for example with a project called 'Connect Ed' which sits within the State Office and is a pool of money primarily for Dance Education activities. However it provides funding for one off 'band-aid' projects where the long term outcomes are not fullly considered or sustainable once the funding is taken away.

FIRE by Bangarra Dance Company

2009-11-28T17:18:00.000-08:00

Melbourne Arts Centre - Friday 13th November

20th Anniversary dance work of Indigenous Dance Comapny Bangarra

Here is a company that know exactly how to engage an audience through telling what they know and have experienced. An honest portrayal of civilisations effect on a culture that is thousands of years old.

A glimpse at their past and their future, you feel honoured to share in their stories and rituals. Of course the company approaches its traditions in a contemporary style making even the simplest of gestures develop into whole motifs.

Wild and instinctive, you understand just how much dance means to each of the dancers and their culture. You almost feel left out - that you don't have that past and connection with the earth, the world and each other.

This was one of the best dance pieces I have ever seen. The passion and technique of the dancers fills you full of emotion and their is a feeling of overwhelming.

Great Ocean Road Tour

2009-11-19T23:08:00.000-08:00

From hiking in the Grampians to walking the shoreline in the Bay of Martyrs - this was a jam packed, jaw dropping 3 days. I currently don't have the energy to go into too much detail at the moment (I will at some stage).

But most mornings started at 5.30 for breakfast and then preparing for a walk or hike. The mountian ranges are vast - you are reminded of how small you really are in teh grand scheme of things. The Great Ocean Road is sculpted like nothing else you will ever see - its grandeur and setting take your breath away. One minute you want to live in the mountains the next minute you are 'oooh' ing at an amazing shoreline or gorge and stating you have to live by the sea.

Again the sheer magnitude of this country was emphasised and the urge to see more of Australia and the rest of the worlds beauty was ignited!

(I am using slowest internet in the world - will upload photos ASAP, especially the one of the koala that was sleeping in the tree beside us when we stopped for lunch! Yes 9M3! but no he cannot be our class mascot - I left him there)

Adelaide - Scotch College

2009-11-18T23:23:00.000-08:00

After a great weekend visiting Willunga Village market, a few different beaches and having a proper Aussie BBQ or two, and spending hours discussioning the trials and tribulations of being a dance teacher with another dance teacher! Monday morning had arrived and so had my last day in Adelaide.

I spent Monday 9th November at Scotch College. A private school with a small number of students, quite a lot international and some boarding. Set in beautiful grounds it, like Hinchingbrooke school, make use of the large estate buildings that have been there long before the school. Set in beautiful grounds the main building used to be owned by a copper mining family who had two daughters who loved performing. So of course their father built them a small theatre as an extension to the building. The Barr Theatre has been restored with a Victorian influence and is used to house small performances by the students, as well as parents evenings and lectures.

The school had a great feel about it and a clear Caledonian influence from the images and sounds of the pipe band playing. The school day is long for dance students as you select the courses you want, each with their own demands! For example a 3 hour theory and choreography class every wednesday afternoon from 6 - 9pm. Some classes are also during the school day but will go on after school A strict requirement on attendance ensures that only those relaly passionate about the subject commit to it.

I attended a Perfoming Arts dept meeting where it was highlighted to me that although a smaller student number the school fully supported the Arts and provided numerous high quality opportunities and performances.

Before I left I watched a mixed ability ballet class take place in a very hot gym and was glad to hear that next lesson if its this hot (35C) they will dance in the outside covered swimming pool!

Pic is of Scotch Colleges cricket oval

Adelaide - AC Arts and Ausdance

2009-11-15T01:58:00.000-08:00

Wednesday 4th Nov (I know I am so behind! I've been busy) - I met with Phil Callaghan from Ausdance at AC Arts (fantastic perfroming arts space/theatre/studios - reminded me a little of Laban). I spoke with him and his third year degree students about career pathways and courses. The vast size of Australian kept coming up - as a barrier in some ways, to collaboration of the sharing of skills/performances. The sheer size of this country puts constraints on how professional companies tour, highlighting how lucky we are in the UK to have each other and Europe on our doorstep really.

I met up with Phil again the next day at the Ausdance offices where the discussion centred on the 2012 Dance Plan coming into action here and the future of dance in Australia. Some ideas are aspirational but then they need to be in order to inspire a nation. Phil spoke about the cultural barriers, especially as Australia is a big sporting nation, and the how the nature of dance progression will depend often on the technological advancements and the country's next steps in health issues (obesity), mind set and funding pools.

On Thursday I also dropped in to see the third year students rehearse at AC Arts. They were being taught by Peter Sheedy, a well known dance figure and choreographer who has performed with the Australian Dance Theatre. nearing the end of their course the material was more free but still very technically difficult. The students have great agility, projection and extension, commanding presence in the space they were extremely engaging as they danced beautifully challenging material that works in multiple directions. A treat! These students are already being selected by outside companies to dance with them and some were already missing due to being on tour. The course is perfomance based with a strong focus on technique and some choreographic modules.

(Pic is of Festival Centre in Adelaide)

Adelaide - Charles Campbell School

2009-11-14T17:23:00.000-08:00

I'm a little behind in blogging! apologies!

Pic is of Victoria Square, Adelaide City Centre

So Adelaide.... busy week of visiting schools, arts centre's and Ausdance. Also of making some friends and enjoying a little bit of the Aussie way of life. Spent some time with teachers from England who have moved over here to live and work - the benefits they are experiencing and their satiafaction with the decision they have made was very persuasive!

Needless to say the 9hour train journey from Melbourne to Adelaide was a little uncomfortable but highlighted just how expansive this country is - which has been a recurring comment this week regarding progression in dance here.
Sunday was spent establishing my bearings - walk of surroundings, buying some food, spreading out all my stuff in the hostel room! That evening I met with a friend of a friend who has moved out here form the UK. Steph is a primary school teacher and currently supply teaching and loving it. She welcomed me to Adelaide and drove me down to Glenelg for a walk along the beach! Steph had invited to me to a BBQ with a British couple, also recently moved here and also both teachers! This was my first Oz BBQ and it was great chatting to those who have moved here about the opportuities and advantages.

Monday and Tuesday - I spent at Charles Campbell Secodary School in an area known as Paradise. Yes! I got on the bus which said 'City to Paradise'. Ironic eh?
Charles Campbell Secondary School (CCSS) is a school of around 1000 students with a specialism in Performing Arts amongst other areas. I was there during a very busy period which every dance teacher recognises as assessments and performance nights!

I had a fantastic two days at Charles Campbell Secondary School - specialising in Performing Arts it was fantastic to walk into a department of 8 - and thats just drama and dance! Students showed real commitment in their lessons and a passion for whatever artform they were studying. There was clear evidence of support for the Arts wherever you looked (and a sizable budget to prove it too!), this produced on the main very high achieving Perfroming Arts students. My second day with CCSS involved the teching of their dance show and its performance that night. A very relaxed atmosphere as students and staff were accustomed to the routine and agenda of teching and preparing for the perfromance. The show highlighted the high levels of ability, mainly due to the schools selective entry system - where students must audition and show commitment/focus if they want to pursue an certain art form for a year.

Dance is not compulsory in SACCS, you only have to provide at least one art form. Charles Campbell provides 5! Which all students expereince in their first year, then they can select to be more focused in one/two areas but will still learn in all of them! Students in the general classes are assessed in technique (they have to do a technique class!), composition, perfromance, a journal and a research assignment. And that's in Yr8! I just loved it - the discipline and the all round learning being out into place so early.

With abundant resources from apple mac's (every teacher), variety of dance books/DVD/CD the students are given every opportunity to effectively complete assignments and produce work of a high standard.

A massive thanks to Mary-Lou, Kerry, Judi, Kim and all the Perfroming Arts staff for making me feel so welcome!

Melbourne

2009-11-01T23:18:00.000-08:00

So to Melbourne I went for a very short stay, really only Tuesday 27th - Friday 30th. I had my ups and downs in this city but thankfully their were 'ups' and they included:

A meeting with Dr Katrina Rank - Education and Training manager for Ausdance Victoria.

This great 3 hour meeting about Dance! Yes! Started with Howard Gardner and how his Theory of Multiple Intelligences instigated a reform in Education in Australia and finished with Katrina talking about her own vision for Dance in Education in Australia in the future. Ausdance Victoria (not sure about other offices) are instigating a new programme called 'Skills Set' whereby as a Registered training Organisation (RTO) they can lead a course that will provide relevant training and developing of skills for dance artists, graduates and practitioners who wish to go into schools and teach. I guess a little similar to 'Dance Links' in the UK whereby the discussion and facilitation of connecting dance artists to schools and organisations is being established.

By 2011 Dance will hopefully have become part of the curriculum in NSW and so this training and the idea of some sort of registration will no doubt become inevitable as demand for different skilled dance teachers increases. Again like the UK the discussions of who says what is acceptable? and how does the training be maintained or monitored? are questions coming up here too.

Discussion moved to the facilitation of professional dance company input to schools and their dance education. This is something every dance teacher wants to offer to their students more - the outside influence, professional company aura and development of students and teachers skills is invaluable but again it comes at a costs (both in money and time and staffing).

Something which Ausdance Victoria do is facilitate Industry Days for schools and students studying Dance for their VCE (Victorian Certificate of Education) and VET (Vocational Education Training). An example are Industry days with Dance company Chunky Moves.

Chunky Moves Industry Days, facilitated by Ausdance for Secondary VET and VCE Dance students are repertoire workshops developed to enable students to work with leading industry professionals, immerse students in a day to day company giving them a taste of the repertoire work and the development of compositional skills. Invaluable but students are charged a small contributing fee.

A visit to Chunky Moves - discussion and intermediate contemporary class

A quick discussion with the staff of Chunky Moves on how they contribute to Dance Education highlighted that they act more as a reaction service to schools and organisations like Ausdance. They don't provide an education programme as such but will eagerly support on demand. Also when on tour they provide workshops if wanted for Universities and schools. Industry Days, like those for Katrina are based on Ausdance specifications - the company will respond to the needs of the students/course etc.

The Chunky Moves studios are like honeycomb pods set in an area of strong Arts activity and interest. Whilst there I attended a class run by one of the companies male dancers. It was a great, high energy, floor based class with a challenging finishing routine to dub beats. It was fantastic class - I have the bruises to prove I was going for it but they may be evidence that I just need more practice too!

Finally Les Ballet Trocadero de Monte Carlo

On the walk home from the fantastic class with Chunky Moves on Thursday night I went past the Arts Centre or should I say centre's - so many different theatre's and productions taking place. I noticed that The Trocks were performing and only until Saturday. Having heard many great things about them I thought I would try to get a ticket for my final night in Melbourne.

Thankfully I was in luck and I was not disappointed - it truly is a very entertaining performance of humour and cleverly choreographed dance. 'The Dying Swan' brought tears of laughter to my eyes and the Merce Cunningham 'Points in Space' reconstruction was an unexpected response more to the composer John Cage than to Merce Cunningham's movement material. It is a company I recommend all to see, which I am sure many of you have. I am so grateful for the opportunities this trip has already allowed me - to meet like minded people in a different country, have the time to attend classes and see professional works!

From Melbourne I headed to Adelaide on a 9hour train journey - emphasising just how expansive this country is! Beautifully vast!

Sydney

2009-10-26T03:39:00.000-07:00

What a great way to work off your jetlag - walking through the Botanical gardens in the glorious sunshine only to turn a corner and in one whole view see the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge.

The first few days in Australia have been fantastic - lots of sightseeing and getting settled. Climbed Sydney Harbour Bridge (slightly through the pressure from others!) which was a great way to see the city.

I also went to the Opera House's open day where I had the oppportunity to see inside the Opera Theatre and Concert Hall for free. Beautiful spaces and I can't wait to be back there in 3 weeks to see 'Concord' - Australian Ballet piece.

Once the jetlag wore off a little I attended some classes at Sydney Dance Company - inspiring space down on the wharf under Harbour Bridge. I took a contemporary class, a popping class (stifle all laughs please) and a hip-hop class. It was refreshing and so much fun to take a class for myself instead of teaching it for a change. I love teaching but I also love dancing for myself too.

It threw up all sorts of questions again about the arts in teaching and if teachers would ideally need to be constantly involved and inspired in their artform to provide the best experience for their students. This is a very difficult balance for teachers to uphold.

Sydney was energising! I look forward to coming back to it before leaving Australia.

2009-09-21T03:05:00.000-07:00

It begins. A month from today I will be waiting to board the plane to see the wizard! I am very excited about visiting OZ and NZ. Plans are being finalised and dates of meetings are being sorted - so much to do and see when I am there. I hope it will all go to plan, and if not to plan then at least be exciting!

This is the first blog of many I am sure, and so it is more a test to see if I can use this correctly!

Here goes.... save!

and publish!