Just follow this link to see my catalogue document which reflects critically on conceptual and creative strategies of the performance material created.

https://eportfolio.yorksj.ac.uk/view/view.php?id=110826

Throughout my second year at university, I had the chance to collaborate and create work with both dance students and theatre students. This was a daunting prospect as I had no technical experience in dance prior to the module. I knew, however, that I was interested in experimenting with ideas and practices that utilised aspects and skills from the combined disciplines of dance and drama and was open to learning and exploring a style that I was unfamiliar with. This cross-disciplinary approach exposed me to theatre makers such as DV8 who break down the barriers between dance and theatre by reinvesting dance with meaning where it has been lost from formalized techniques. This felt a little more accessible as I began to appreciate dance as simple movement with meaning rather than a high energy, technically advanced routine like I had once assumed. As a theatre student, the direct collaboration across art forms was crucial when considering the condition of an ever-changing industry. This for me, means being adaptable and open to new ideas and new ways of interpreting and perceiving work. In addition, I took a professional approach and personal responsibility in the furthering my own learning as a performer and creator by allowing new ideologies and performance styles to influence my own way of working. 

I learned the ability to use my body and physicality as a primary source of inspiration, communication and as a contemporary arts image. I considered the body in relation to space, sound, movement and rhythm by drawing inspiration from Western practitioners such as Jacques Lecoq, Joan Littlewood, and Monika Pagneux who have shaped much of my portfolio of work as they put emphasis on the notion of awareness of self and understanding how your own body moves in the space. 

Overall, the project taught me the invaluable importance of the ability to collaborate. For me, this improved a variety of skills such as communication, accountability, organisation, efficiency, problem solving in order to achieve a shared outcome with my fellow performers. These qualities are valuable when considering my future career as, aside from creating theatrical works, I can take forward the personal skills that this module has taught me in order to hold myself accountable both personally and professionally. This module has taught me that I want to be the person that people want to work with.