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1. Final Performance Evaluation
I performed two pieces for our final assessment; where I aimed to show my
developed skills and improved performance abilities, the first being a
contemporary style routine called ‘Charge’ choregraphed by Andrew Winghart.
The routine appeared to represent a battel or uprising both internally and
externally. The dancers in this piece moved with military like precision, often in
tight formations, before the sequence would explode outward in unison. This
choreography was shown to display themes of resistance, emotional tension
and transformation. The other piece was a contrasting piece called Mad Hatters
Tea Party (MHTP); this production delves into mental health awareness through
the fantasy world of Wonderland. In summary it is choregraphed by Kate Prince
who is known for her narrative style performances and fusion of contemporary
and hip-hop. The piece explores themes of acceptance and the celebration of
individual differences. In our performance I played the character the White
Rabbit who suffers with OCD, panic attacks, and anxiety.
My initial research process was incredibly helpful in aiding my understanding of
different practitioners and allowed me to delve into the works of some
practitioners and disciplines I was uncomfortable with. The research I did also
helped my approach largely in certain aspects of rehearsals allowing me to
already have some information and knowledge that I could apply to workshops
and rehearsals. With the research I obtained I felt I could approach new styles,
such as hip hop, that I was unaware of and had never attempted before. So
after having researched a lot more into a style of movement characterised by
rocks and bounces, I felt combatable to perform with audiences watching. I am
generally happy with the way I approached the research section of the
preparation for these performances; however, I think to improve further I
should have done more research into the dance practitioners who
choregraphed the numbers we danced to. Especially Kate Prince as this was my
weakest discipline and it would have helped me more to have known a well-
rounded knowledge of dance styles and their applications. As she is known for
fusing dance styles, taking part in further hip-hop sessions in my own time
would have benefitted me in future performances and so I will continue to
research these practitioners to apply knowledge for future dances.

2. Through the process of learning new choreography and repertoire I have
largely developed new skills and techniques. My role in the creative process of
these dances can be seen in sections such as Hatters House with the intricate
footwork, as I worked closely with my peers to help them feel more confident
with this section. Due to pervious workshops and practice I felt more positive in
the choreography and in return ensured other who were struggling felt more
comfortable in performing it. I also took on the responsibility of leading
warmups and cool downs during rehearsals overall helping me to understand
the importance of when the body needed to be prepared for intense exercise.
Regarding costume for the piece Charge we collectively decided to all wear
black and have our hair in slick back ponytails, however in the piece MHTP I had
the responsibility of picking my own costume. I believe costumes are very
important in the aspect of performance, and therefore choosing the right one
which were not only suitable for the performance but were also comfortable to
perform in was a priority before the dress rehearsals. I decided that I was going
to follow the similar style of the original White Rabbits costume however
deciding on a skirt instead of trousers. This decision was made after a dress
rehearsal as I was unable to perform a movement due to the friction of the
trousers, this obstacle was then removed.
The preparation and rehearsal process led to all rehearsal sessions being used
effectively. In the beginning we used sessions to learn and develop our skills
and techniques to enable us to choregraph new repertoire in the style of the
practitioners. We then began polishing and refining movements. For the piece
Charge this included feedback on formations and slight technical issues,
including feet being shoulder width apart and arms fully stretched. For the
dance MHTP the feedback I received from my teacher was to spend more time
on characterisation and work on my musicality for this piece. I processed all the
feedback I received over this period and made sure to set these goals on my
SMART targets. The application of SMART targets meant I could easily plan out
what I needed to get done as well as why it was important, when I needed to
achieve it and how likely I was to develop them. By applying these targets to my
development process, I had a goal to work towards. I think by doing this like my
skills audits lead to me managing the performance more effectively, as these
planning stages meant I had constant motivation to become a better
performer. I also found it helpful to have something to keep on track of my
performance within rehearsals and workshops. I believe the target setting for

3. both me and for the group was a positive orderly way to develop personal and
group skills, as this allowed for us to perform to the best of our ability.
The skills audit we did over the course of the rehearsal processes were
incredibly helpful in managing skills and techniques to improve. It was helpful
to begin the process with an initial skills audit as it meant we could focus on
foundational problems first before then completing the detailed skills audit
which specialised more in overall dance techniques, then contemporary
techniques to focus on building skills for the routine Charge and then Hip Hop
dance techniques for the performance MHTP. It was interesting to see how well
I have developed over the course of learning these performances, this not only
included my dance skills but my use of terminology now I have a further
understanding of dance styles. One of the main skills I can see I needed to
develop in MHTP was rhythm and timing including elements of syncopation,
accents, cross phrasing and polyrhythms. By having a document to store my
development I could physically see areas that needed work this being one of
them. I initially found it difficult to understand and develop this but through the
skills audits I know I have effectively developed this skill and can visually see it
in the final performance video. By the end of the course, I can see that my
confidence in adapting to new dance styles has improved thanks to workshops
and other exploration of styles. One thing I think would have made these skills
audits better for me to develop is to have sections focused more on the specific
dances within MHTP as each dance uses different techniques and styles, this
change would have improved me as a performer even more.
The workshops that we partook in I feel where incredibly helpful in the process
of learning MHTP, as they focused heavily on specific choreography and dances,
therefore helping us to develop the overall quality of the performance. For
instance, the workshop with Meshach Shadare (professional dancer and dance
company owner) allowed us to understand the fundamental skills of hip hop,
which lead to us having a better understanding going into rehearsals on how to
achieve these movements. For the dance Funk It Up, the use of arm movement
was a struggle for all of us to complete accurately and dynamically. This meant
the workshop was helpful in refining this skill and working on achieving the
correct move to elevate the performance of this specific dance. We also took
part in a workshop run by ZooNation lead by professional dancer Lindon, where
we developed our skills even more and even learnt the choreography for the
dance Wonderland. This was extremely helpful as this specific choreography is

4. complex and technical, it allowed us to understand the movement of this dance
style much more and even listen to feedback by Lindon on ways in which we
could improve. One piece of feedback I revived was to keep lower down in my
dancing, by being more grounded it follows the hip hop dance style closely.
These workshops meant that we were becoming more versatile in our dance
styles and adapting to new techniques and ensured future performances are
stronger.
The peer assessment that we wrote for each other were useful to allow me to
see my individual development as a performer from another perspective. As a
performer it is important to understand the usefulness of constructive criticism
as you can use it to get better results in your performances and create the best
show for audiences. It was a supportive way to encourage each other to
develop skills by also receiving positive feedback to help with confidence. These
assessment forms from my peers acknowledge certain areas I could better
results in, and often I agreed with their opinion, it was important to me whilst
learning new choreography that I was aware of my strengths and weaknesses
so in return I could develop as a performer. for example, a skill they suggested I
work on was my posture to fix this I focused on strengthen my core muscles
and incorporated these exercises into my weekly routine. I also worked on my
flexibility which overall helped with my alignment for better posture. This has
allowed me to become more aware of my posture in dances and to ensure it is
correct before performing. I would say that my posture has improved since
then and I can see a change in the progress videos we take in me performing
choreography. I believe my confidence is something that massively improved
through the peer assessments and it is evident in my willingness to try new
styles and take lead on things that are out of my comfort zone. This will benefit
me in future performers as it will allow me to approach them with
determination and an open mind allowing for rehearsal periods to be
smoother.
One of my main strengths I found from watching back my final performances I
feel was technical accuracy especially in the routine Charge. For example, I feel
as though my turns, jumps and alignment was accurate and followed closely of
the professional work. In the beginning this was a weaker skill however through
the process of developing my skills and working hard in rehearsals it paid off. A
weakness however in the dance Charge that I noticed is my strength this is
something I struggled with in the beginning of learning the repertoire however

5. I still feel as though it was a noticeable skill I would improve further on if I was
to do it again. It can be seen in sections such as the develope to the second,
with further strength I would be able to hold it for longer. A strength I found in
my final performance video of MHTP is my use of weight placement for
example in the beginning my groove in the dance Hatters House was incorrect
as I was unsure on how to achieve this step. But with the use of workshops and
rehearsal I feel as though I have achieved this and is seen in the video. A
weakness however I have noticed was my skills of popping and locking. This
was a dance style that I had not tried before learning the choreography for
Funk It Up and I still feel as though I could develop it further.
Through the process of creating my blog, I have now got a significantly better
understanding of the dance industry both as a performer but also as stage
manager/lighting technician/costume designer and many more roles. I have
gained lots of knowledge through the process of researching and writing the
Learning Aim A (Dancer Essay). By creating the blog, I have also learnt
transferrable skills about working professionally in the industry. This task
taught me lots about the roles outside of a typical dancer/singer/actor as the
technical sides of the performances are just as important to make sure the
performance runs smoothly, and the audience receives the message the way in
which the choreographer/director intended. Prior to having completed the
blog, I had no understanding of these roles and the importance but now I feel I
have understood them well. I also researched the day of a life of a dancer and
found details on the way they live an average day as a professional, this showed
me the resilience and determination it takes to be a part of this industry. I
further researched working conditions, lifestyle factors and mindset of this job
and it was eye-opening. I found dancers shape their life around their career
changing eating habits, regular intense exercise and practices of a healthy
mindset. I also now know about the apprenticeships and jobs that you can go
into through the research I conducted. I am grateful for this task as it has made
me more aware of the dance industry and the skills you need to obtain.
In conclusion, I feel in the process in developing my skills for rehearsals and
performances my self discipline and dedication to becoming a better performer
is recognisable. With all the research and creative expression, I have put into
the making of my blog I am happy with where I have ended up and will use
these improvements and skills I have learnt such as organisation, terminology,

6. and technique I will transfer them onto the next unit and ensure I am
continuously developing as a performer.