Review feedback from my inquiry plan. Updating our adviser Paula Nottingham on my tasks and objectives accomplished or delayed within my time line.
In my feed back for module two, Paula highlighted a significant point my title that I hadn’t even thought about and made remarks about how the reader would perceive this. As we discussed what I wanted to achieve from this inquiry and started to break down the title I soon realised that I was giving the impression of merging or combining the two dance styles of Middle Eastern and Salsa in fusion, but this was NOT my intention. My intention was to discover /explore ;
- What other dance styles were being fused with Middle Eastern Dance
- What other dance styles were being fused with Salsa Dance
I could show some comparisons between the two dance styles but I will keep them to a minimum as this is not the main goal of the inquiry.
What has totally surprised and stunned me about Middle Eastern Dance was how much I was drawn into the Politics of Egypt with the recent state of political change we’ve been hearing in the news. Unfortunately with this country religion seems to be go hand in hand with the politics. In my research I have evidence reporting that Islamic fundamentalists intend to stop belly dancing. They are saying Egyptian dancers should stop performing because dancing has always deemed to be ‘sinful’. This is having serious repercussions with European, UK and USA dancers making a living from belly dancing in Cairo. Egyptian men and women are included in the assaults and attacks. This subject is very current and very relevant to my inquiry and I’m a little out of my depth reporting about the religious and political views on belly dancing. I shall tread very cautiously and get advice along the way from our adviser Paula Nottingham
We are very fortunate in the UK, to be able to express our creativity and practice this Egyptian Art of Dance and other Dance styles without prejudice to a greater extent.
I’ve felt rather brave and joined in the conversations in chat forums about what I had discovered and read in my research. I felt I had good reasoning and could justify my opinions.
I was anxious about receiving nasty comments back to me. I was aware of my ethical behavior and was glad we had explored Ethics in module two.
Surveys
I am on target with my survey questions and the distribution. I am awaiting a couple more surveys to be returned to start the analysis process. I have given myself time for analysing because it is a qualitative survey. Unfortunately I will not be able to collect data from my focus group in which I was a member of an Egyptian Dance Troupe. We will not be rehearsing because there are issues with long distance travel, financial issues and performance bookings were down to insignificant numbers.
I’ve been busy recording interviews this summer and captured the data required.
I’ve read three books this summer, two where about Carlos Acosta the Cuban male ballet dancer. I read both his biography and autobiography hoping it would give some reference to his experience with Cuban Salsa. Unfortunately an insignificant amount was written but read about his remarkable and disruptive childhood and his relationships.
There are so many other interesting facets about this inquiry and I’m learning so much about both cultures and the bigger picture of it and we are all connected through dance.
To read literature on analysing video recorded interviews
Continue reading literature on Middle Eastern and Salsa Dance
Re read Reader 7
Re read Module Handbook (keeping it handy)
Analyse findings
Hi Corinda,
ReplyDeleteWelcome back. I found it interesting that the very title of your survey is to be as heavily considered. It really pointed out that the title itself plays a role in the reaction to the people reading the survey, thus effecting the results of the inquiry. I'm understanding that it's not just a list of questions, even the tone and the way you ask the questions is a huge factor to a successful survey.
Best Wishes
Hi Ahmet, welcome back. Yes, you have understood correctly.. It's a case of re arranging words within the title, unpacking or unpicking the title so that we are clear of what we want from this inquiry. Yes, the other important point whilst conducting an interview and recording the data was my technique. I wanted the interviewees personal opinions and experiences and I sometimes had to re word my question because I realised they hadn't grasped the fundamental point of the question. But that is to do with the individual and not the question itself. I couldn't put words into their mouths, I had to keep to the same line of questions but may be change my tone and accentuate some of the other words.
DeleteGood wishes.
Dear Corinda!
ReplyDeleteWelcome back and all the best for the final push!!
It is always an inspiration to read your blog and I really appreciate having a fellow mature student on board. When I read, all you have been up to and what you are thinking about I feel it gives me that shove in the bottom I sometimes need to get going, as you are really well structured in your thoughts and how you write about them.
I think your subject is very ambitious and I hope you find enough time to satisfy your needs...I really do look forward to reading about your progress and about your final piece of work.
Take care...and keep blogging ((O;
.fione
Hi Fione, welcoming back to you too. It's hard to get back into the swing of writing again after the summer break. I'm glad I have helped you restart your inquiry and given you a shove in that area.. I've been reading and researching during the holidays and yes you are right about this project being ambitious, I never thought it would lead to this amount of work, I wasn't sure when to stop because I'd gathered so much riveting data. I look forward to hearing about your inquiry, it will be fascinating to read about our fellow students inquiry. I'm looking forward to it.
DeleteAll good wishes and hope we eventually meet up.
Corinda
I just spent the last hour watching someone in my household complete the assigned reading for tomorrow's class talking about reality tv and it precedents in the US. Candid camera was mentioned as was the infamous Milgrin experiment. I remembered Art Linkletter's show - a gentler version of reality tv. Here is a clip that Bill Cosby introduces on YouTube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCHIM-bGiTI . This threading of ideas had a 'punch' as I had not really made that connection - so I was experiencing reality tv in the 60's 70's! In other words, the big brother show had grandparents that informed the next generation of audience participation concept shows.
ReplyDeleteIn a similar way, making these connections in the small scale inquiry that we do creates an opportunity to develop insight and understanding. Corinda's approach is trying to capture some of these trains of thought that come from her experiences of these dance forms and her new findings about the social and cultural variables that might be affecting these dance forms when considering the effects of 'fusion'. Quite complex - quite riveting. Corinda continue looking for sources that will help you analyse your inquiry as it sounds like you might be bringing out some important concerns and issues that relate to your topic.
*Milgram
ReplyDeleteDear Corinda,
ReplyDeleteThank you for your ideas and support on my Blog, it is great to hear all your evolving ideas- it's remarkable how as the inquiry process goes on we must continuously adapt to new information or events. For example, the Political situation in Egypt is extremely current and could effect how you carry out your research. In my case, I am being personally effected by a diminishing number of jobs in the UK and am one of many dancers who are working in Europe where there are a greater number of companies.
I have read the book by Carlos Acosta, more leisurely than you I expect.. I do know that the Cuban Ballet training is very virtuosic and their ballet school in Havana has turned out some big stars, Carlos was the first of a long line of young dancers who left the country after him following in his footsteps. He created a Cuban based production and I remember it touring the UK, possibly Europe, maybe this is relevant to your study, I think it was a fusion of many dance styles and techniques. It's called 'Tocororo.'
I am currently looking at Literature and still finalising my interviewees...
I got my contract here renewed so I will be here until end of December, I'm happy as I will be in one place to continue studying. Moving around takes a lot of time and energy!
Hello Alicia
DeleteI appreciated your comment and feed back because I completely forgot about 'Tocororo' I read that Carlos was working on it at the time of reading his biography so I shall have a look at this ballet. Thank you very much for that reminder.
Hi Corinda,
ReplyDeleteFrom reading your Blog, I am beginning to understand the complexity and intensity of the inquiry project! Having only just embarked upon Module Two, I find myself continuously questioning myself and reflecting back to my own practice. I understand that the introduction of our SIGs will help to open up our research process by gaining, offering and exchanging knowledge and information from professionals in addition to fellow BAPP students. Reading literature is a bit chore for me, but from reading this Blog and those of the tutors in preparation for choosing the subject of my inquiry, I am hoping that by using a process of deeper questioning and outward research, I will have "fire in my belly" to drive me forwards with passion and interest like yourself.
I find it fascinating that Politics, Religion and beliefs can have such (potential) negative impact upon the Art of Dance. This baffles me and makes me appreciate the freedom we experience in the U.K with regards to arts and culture. I understand your reasoning to be cautious in your approach as this will obviously be a very delicate and sensitive matter for all concerned. A testing time for all (yourself included).
I will be interested to hear about your findings from the forums. I imagine that you could receive and read honest opinions and facts to research further and to understand the potential impact on the Middle Eastern Dance industry worldwide.
Re. Surveys. Your focus group - Is there not another method you could use to collect data for analysis? It seems such a shame if you have got a group of people with a common interest unable to physically meet up.
I only ask this because I have just experienced the use of You Tube in a positive way. I recorded a rough version of my warm up for a new teacher on the laptop and emailed it to her. I was quite overwhelmed by this experience! 1. It worked! 2. It enabled my teacher to prepare her class without having to physically meet up. Dependant on what type of data you were hoping to receive, would they not complete surveys or chat on-line etc.? (I hope you don't mind me questioning this - I know that I shall have similar situations occur myself & I enjoy a bit of a troubleshooting!)
I understand your rationale for wanting to rework and reword your project title. The word "fusion" being in the same sentence as both styles of dance, could be interpreted as exactly that, a fusion of the two dance styles. The most difficult aspect for me, will be to hone a certain aspect and narrow it down enough to have a substantial, relevant project that focusses in on a single theme within a subject.
Best Wishes,
Jo.x
Hi Jo
DeleteAfter our conversation today via Skype, I'm really pleased you decided to blog your comment because you have picked up on important points that you will find a link with your current module (2) and I can see you are thinking ahead for when you start your module 3..
Firstly, I'm really interested in your current thoughts about your inquiry, tap dancing in the UK vs USA..I'm sure that your current Tap Dance forum on LinkedIn will be such a help as I've found the US members to be very informative and helpful when suggesting literature for your inquiry from the US side and of course you will find literature on Tap Dancing with the ISTD in London too.
As you quite rightly said in our discussion, the subject must be relevant to your current business and you must ask how will it help you, your business and your students.
Regarding my inquiry and the political and religious side of this I tread with caution. After completing module 2 in particular the section on ethics, this heightened my intuition and helped me understand how to approach and talk about cultural issues. Belly Dancing goes back thousands of years, predating Islam. But with Islamic fundamentalists making a stand in Egypt today, it is a very sensitive subject that has rippled to the UK and is being discussed on forums and face to face conversations amongst professional dancers and friends. I was confided in recently about some negative feedback from a belly dancing event held in London only this summer...I’m not sure at this stage how to give written evidence with anonymity to justify my findings and data, so more research on this is needed from my side.
I think you will find that your inquiry plan does shift a little and you may need to reword your title or rethink what it is you want to gain from your inquiry. It may be a continual work in progress as mine is and I am focusing on a ‘snapshot view of time’ as Paula put it to me in a conversation with her recently.
I’m not too worried that I didn’t get a chance to video my focus group, to be quite honest, I have collected plenty of data via my recorded interviews plus my qualitative surveys, plus my linkedIn forum groups and conversations on Face Book etc. I could use Skype to discuss but decided not to collect further data as you can appreciate I have an ‘ambitious’ subject to tackle, analyse and report.
I’ve frequently travelled to Cuba, Dominican Republic and New York for Salsa and have been to Egypt and Morocco numerous times for holidays, workshops and field work. Fusing Salsa and Belly Dance, now there’s an idea I need to explore!!
Thank you Jo. Speak again soon.
Hi Corinda,
ReplyDeleteI completely relate to what you said at the end of this blog - the hardest thing is trying to stay focussed on what you actually want to gain from the inquiry. As Alicia says, it is ever evolving and it is all too easy to digress - something that I realise I have been doing recently. Imagine if the course was a three year one! So much would change along the way,we would never know where to focus!I look forward to following you on the last leg of the course,
Sarah