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Alys trained at Millennium Performing Arts graduating in professional musical theatre with the merit and journal awards Alys has performed in many shows since she started performing at the age of 3. Venues for these have included Disneyland Paris and The Royal Albert Hall. As well as theatre Alys has appeared in a number of TV programmes, such as Emmerdale and also done voice over work for various Radio commercials. Alys also teaches dance, drama and singing to children at various schools in Leeds and Dubai. Below is a link to my spotlight page, containing my cv http://www.spotlight.com/3874-6759-2207

Wednesday, 24 March 2010

Pilot Survey

I have created a short survey for my research. I would really love it if you would take part, it will only take two minutes!

I found the website from Danielle Stacey - so thank you Danielle!

If you can give me any feedback about it that would be great, do not feel obliged to though I am happy if you just take part in the survey!

Just click post title or URL to find it.
Thank You!

Sunday, 21 March 2010

learning blog entry 4

After much deliberation I decided I was going to research my third idea; how drama can develop a dancer. I had decided to look at the physical benefits of dance but after an email from my tutor I re-assessed my choice. Below is the section that made me question my topic choice.

Paula Nottingham
In option 1. health and dance - sounds up in the air now- this has had research done before - it might be something you reference RATHER than research yourself.
2. teaching and performing - yes, we discussed this - you have to be prepared to do both - other professionals as well - how do you manage it? Think up some Research Questions that might focus this topic.
3. yes interesting - how would you find out about that with your data sources? do you work with people who have had one or the other? how does this impact on your work?


I posted my three topic ideas on the blog and received comments about how interesting idea 3 would be. This made me consider this idea more, as I realised it was of interest to a wider community.

Idea 3 – how drama can affect the level of a dancer, is the topic I found most interesting and thought would be most beneficial for what I want to achieve. Paula’s comments about referencing rather than researching made me suddenly realise the difference between these two things. Before I thought that I could not do a topic if it had no other direct research I could use, however I realised I ‘need’ to do the research and other studies can just help me enforce my findings therefore they do not need to be perfectly linked.

I realised the importance of discussion with others, and how people can help to guide you towards a decision you are finding difficult. I discovered that someone does not need to tell you what to do, but by gaining their view can help me realise what my opinion is.

Thursday, 4 March 2010

Learning Blog Entry 3

In order to completely understand what is being asked of me I have gone through the handbook and written each activity on a separate post-it, with the page number on it for quick referencing, and stuck them all on a large piece of paper. This has enabled me to produce an action plan because I can now clearly see everything that needs to be completed.

I did activity 3 – I found answering set questions was very helpful. This is because you cannot brush over a point just because it might not suit the current idea. It brought up some interesting points. I also made brainstorms with ideas and found this really got my brain thinking critically about what research topics may work.

I am currently working in Dubai as a teacher mainly however when we actually have to do the proposed project I will be working as a performer in Greece, a country in which I currently have no teaching connections. This change in careers mid-project has made the whole ‘topic’ decision a lot tougher, because I have had to really question my resources and role as a worker-researcher.

Here is a list of the research ideas I have come up with - I have found it very hard to really get myself thinking as a researcher and to come up with ideas that I will be able to do whilst in Greece, but that still hold an element of education (because education is why I wanted to do the degree.)
Here in Dubai I do not really have anyone I can discuss ideas with (This is another reason I have found the topic choosing so difficult.)
I have brainstormed and asked myself the appropriate 'research' questions about all of them.

1. What are the Physical/Health repercussions of a dance education? - I originally thought to focus this on 5-8year olds but being in Greece I thought it would be best to focus on adults because I could then study the dancers and non-dancers on the resort. I thought this may be too researched already though? Should I stick to the child idea as it is more researched?

2. How can teaching and performing benefit one another? - the title for this is not so clear yet, because if I choose it I don' know whether to focus it more from a teaching or performing benefactor point of view? I would be the centre of this as I am a teacher and performer and thought I could look at people who do both compared to just perform/teach.

3. Do those who study drama and dance become more skilled dancers than those just studying dance? - I am interested in this topic and feel it will benefit my work most of all, however I think it may be hard to do whilst in Greece (but if I get ground work in place now it may be ok?!) and I don't think there is much research on this topic already.

These ideas have all mainly come out of the question 'benefits for children doing performing arts.' I realised this topic was too vague and extremely researched already.

A question I keep asking myself is: If I do these topics, will all of them allow me the right to put education (or something of that nature) in my degree title? I want education in my degree title because I am doing this degree to enhance my teaching career.