Pictures:
things you have learnt and experiences in class. It is also to reflect on the things that went well and things to improve in your dance performance. Planning and process of practice and producing steps are also included.
Week 1 – October 12 & 16 #Intro to east coast swing
The first time we get in touch with Swing dance, under the training of Mr. King. He teaches us the basic dance steps : “Step-Close-Step” “Back step” “Free-Turn” “She-Turn””He-She-Turn”. I felt relax and comfortable while learning the steps, maybe because the steps itself brings people a sense of harmony. The things that went well in the dance lessons are the good cooperation between my partner and I, and I can catch up to the steps well. However I need to improve more on my movements, I need to be more energetic, otherwise the steps will look dull.
Week 2 – October 19 & 23 #Dance with lift
After the continuous practice of swing dance with our partners, here comes the hardest part (For us) in Swing Dance, LIFTING !!! Basically lifting means boys will lift the girls, and most of the girl are pretty shy… while the boys are so excited… ==||| At the beginning we’re still fighting with our mind, whether want to do it or not, but in the end we decided to be open-minded and entrust ourselves to our partners.
Here comes the steps: Girl and Boy will do basic steps first, then Girl has to jump up to Boy’s waist and Boy has to carry Girl for a few seconds.
The things that went well in this were that most of us were able to carried out the steps successfully and we learnt how to trust others too. I also learnt how to cooperate with different partner, communicate with them and tried to lessen their burden :’D Then the things that I can improve on is to trust my partner that they can lift me up, and be more confidence of myself, because I worried a lot, but I have to say that I’m impressed with the strength they have. *Clap Clap Clap
Week 3 – October 26 & 30 #Plan and choreography
This week we meet our partner for dance performance, and we discuss which steps will be most suitable for little kids. At first we are so blur, we have no idea what steps kids can follow and what steps kids cannot. In the end, we still manage to came out with some plan like: “Step-Close-Step-Back-Step” for 3 times, then one “Free-turn”. The things that went well today are my partner and I were able to plan some steps for the dance performance. We also learnt how to consider the capability of little kids and arrange the steps for them. However we have to improve on our brain activity and think more steps before we meet our kids.
Week 4 – November 2 only Practice
My partner and I rehears the dance steps that we had planned earlier with music “Close To You – Carpenter” and we found it quite relax and suitable for our dance. After that we came out with more steps according to the feeling music gave us:
“Basic (3) – Free turn (1) – Basic (1) – He-She-turn (1) ……”
#the steps still incomplete.
The things that went well in this are that we finally came out with steps that follow the music we choose and the cooperation between us (partner and I) went well. Then things I have to improve on are trying to get free from the wall of normal and think out of box, create some steps which “says” the song. I learnt how to feel the music and let the music move my body, it feels good 😀
Week 5 – November 13 only (Meet grade 5)
This week was a BIG day, we had to met our “Destined-Kids”. I am the first to choose 5 kids and I guess I had chose the best :’D The kids are : Ferrina, Su Ying, Chua Ling, Jeremy and Max. Well, for now I think they are good, at least they can understand what I say and followed or learnt the steps I teaches them. The steps I teaches are: “Step-Close-Step-Back-Step” the basic of Swing dance. I teaches them the basic steps first instead of whole dance, is because I think that only if they learned how to do Basic, then they will be able to do the other steps.
In this assessment, I learnt how to communicate with kids and what is the most effective way to teaches them the dance steps — “Speak Loud, Show Clear Movement and Be More Patient.” I learnt that in order to make kids listen to me, I have to be sure of what am I going to do, otherwise in the end no progress will be shown.
The things that went well today was I successfully teaches them (kids) the BASIC steps and they LEARNT it 😀 I am glad that we cooperate well. As for the things to improve on is to complete the planning for dance steps and try to memorize everyone’s (kids) name in order to pull a closer relationship with them, so we can collaborate well 😀
Week 6 – November 20 only – teach grade 5
This week my partner (Sato) and I (Jin En) will teach our kids the dance steps which we have planned up until now. The dance steps are:
“Basic (3) – Free turn (1) – Basic (1) – He-She-turn (1) – Basic (2) – Hold hand and form a circle – Basic *Start form right to left (2) – Go in the circle and come out (2) …” #Still incomplete…
I learnt how to be patient and sometimes strict with kids, because they are too active and cheerful, is not that easy to teach them steps. Furthermore I also experienced something new, something I’ve never experienced before in previous assessment, I felt being needed and I have no chance for me to be not confidence, because if I’m down, then who is going to lead the kids.
The things that went well was the cooperation our kids gave us, they listened, followed and memorized, I’m glad that they are the one I chose 🙂 However I have to improve on communicate more with my partner (Sato), in order to complete the dance steps as soon as possible.
Week 7 – November 23 (cha cha cha), Nov. 27 – teach grade 5
This week teacher teaches us new dance style – Cha Cha Cha and it is quite interesting. Cha Cha Cha dance steps are some how alike with Swing dance, it’s steps consists of “Step-Close-Step” and “Back Step”, just that the way it swing and move will be different, it will be more jumpy. Additionally one of the difference between Cha Cha Cha and Swing dance is the position of arm on partner.
Cha Cha Cha: Swing Dance:
This week my partner and I also teaches our kids new steps, as what the picture show below.
The things that went well this week are we finally able to complete the dance steps and I’m so so so glad about it. Furthermore I am learning and memorized the new dance steps as quick as I can, is good that I am able to catch the pace of my partner 😀
However I have to improve on finish process journal on time and practice the dance steps more with kids, always do revision with them. Up until now, things had been going on well, so far, so good 😀
Week 8 – Dec 4 only – Performance with grade 5
Today is a BIG BIG day, today is the day to perform our dance, today is the last day for us (Sato, me, Jeremy, Ferrina, Max, Chua Ling and Su Ying) to collaborate together. After all the weeks we spent together, I can see their efforts and their spirits of learning. I’m proud of them no matter how the dance will turns out to be, thank you, my kids 🙂
After the dance performance, the comments our group received are: “Relax” “Comfortable” “They collaborate well” “Funny and Cute XD” “You have to be more energetic and you bring a new element to the dance”
Based on the comments they gave, I’ll improve more in breaking the rules and be more energetic, try to bring the dance performance to a new level, and show changes, improvements to others. The things that went well today was we FINALLY finished the dance performance and my kids collaborate well with us (Sato and me) until the very end. I have to say THANK YOU to them, without them I really will collasped 😀
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Jinen Dance 