I am sailing

Just to let you know I am off to sea tomorrow for 2 and a half months so I apologise now for being slow to reply to comments and anything else. I am going to try my best but from lots of experience at sea, Internet on the ship is both expensive and slow. I am going to struggle without my Web 2.0 on tap, it is amazing how much we take it for granted.

prisoners dilemma

I was finding it hard to digest all the words regarding 'the prisoners dilemma' so I have managed to find a video on it which helps to explain it. I thought it maybe helpful for anyone else who seems to have lost the ability to read and absorb information in recent days. I hope someone finds it useful.

http://youtu.be/jUTWcYXVR5w

Task 3:A Current Networks

A professional network is vital in our industry. We were taught in college how important it was to network in order to optimise our chances of success because lets face it this industry is so competitive and if you know someone it can make your life a whole lot easier. I didn't fully understand the importance of this until my career truly began. My idea of networking is talking to people and sharing information. The information can be regarding up and coming auditions, classes or just basically if you know someone who has a 'finger in a pie' as they say, maybe they can put in a good word for you with the choreographer/director, that then increases your chances of being successful in that particular audition.

Networking these days has never been so easy. Like I said in a previous blog I used to have to go and buy 'The Stage' newspaper when I started out, that was really the only way of me hearing about auditions. I didn't live in London where most of the auditions and classes were held and those gatherings were the places that 'networking' really happened, that way you were 'in the loop'. I was not 'in the loop' I was a 3 hour drive away from where the big networking hub took place. This really left me with a huge disadvantage. I missed a lot of auditions because I simply didn't know about them and if some how the information did get relayed to the northwest it was usually 'there is an audition at pineapple tomorrow'. Trying to get a train for the next day to London was extremely expensive. I paid over a hundred pounds on one occasion to get to an audition. London, for 1 day, 1 audition and I got cut. Whilst there I got 'inside' information that they were only looking for boys, fabulous, I was there with hundreds of other girls who were never going to be successful either as they were the wrong sex, money well wasted.

It isn't like this now though. Now that web 2.0 is here anyone from anywhere can be in the loop. 'The Hustle' on Facebook is a fantastic source of collective intelligence when it comes to auditions and just any information that is slightly related to a performers life. I am quite new to 'the hustle', I only had a small professional network of people to begin with who I had met mainly through working in the industry, after joining the hustle  my  professional network soared up to 21380 people. That is a lot of information sharing.

Talking about sharing, some people don't share information which I find really frustrating because I will share anything with anyone. For example a girl messaged me on 'Dancers Pro', I had never met her before but she had obviously been looking at my profile and could see that I had worked for headliners Theatre Company and that is where she wanted to be. So she messaged me asking questions, I messaged her back with audition dates, what they look for and even gave her the email of the director to ask for a private audition. I don't know how she got on as she never contacted me again but the point is I shared my information to help her. A lot of people won't, even 'friends' sometimes, they keep their information close to their chest, I don't know if it is because they don't want any competition or what? who knows, everyones mind works in different ways so it is just something we have to accept.
These days there are some fantastic networking tools on the web such as linked in, Facebook, and twitter. I am a big fan of 'the hustle' on Facebook and before that 'Dancers Pro' I am now just getting more into 'Linked in'. I do want to start using 'Linked in' much more because the professional networking potential is great. Another one I would like to get to grips with is 'Twitter', I have a profile but never use it so I feel I really do need to utilise these tools at my finger tips much more effectively.

The power that web 2.0 holds for professional networking is phenomenal. Although 'The hustle' on Facebook is fantastic for finding out information I wouldn't necessarily use Facebook for professional networking. I think social networking and professional networking should be kept separate. Me as a professional and me as me with my friend and family on my down time a different as most people.

I think primarily networking as we do was more common within the performing industry but now it seems that it has spread into many other fields too. People are networking professionally from what I have seen all over in what I call 'normal' jobs. A saying come to mind at this point and I think that I shall conclude with this last thought... 'it is not what you know but who you know'.

Task 2:D

What in your daily practice gets you really enthusiastic to find out more about? Who do you admire who also works with what makes you enthusiastic?

Music. Music motivates me in a way that nothing else can. I think it is incredible how an arrangement of notes can move you in such a way, granted it is often the words that accompany the music as well but words are not always necessary. Music can reduce you to tears, make you feel happy, excited, driven, relaxed and so much more. Music makes me want to move my body in different ways. If I hear a piece of music I like, I am instantly thinking about different moves in my head because I love to choreograph. I would love to have my own show with all my favourite music in to choreograph different routines to. I would probably have to have about 20 shows though because I have a wide range of music that I just love. I love classical, old music hall stuff, Frank Sinatra, Queen, Dire Straits, The Beatles, any current up to date music and so much more. I just love it all. Everyone loves music, have you ver met anyone who doesn't? it is around us all the time, in the car, out for dinner, in Asda. Life would be so dull without music and dancing. I some times think to myself, dancing is funny thing to do really. We all go to a disco and congregate on a dance floor and move our body to the music. Supposing aliens came down from space and saw us all doing this strange behaviour, what would they think? I know that is is a very strange thing to think but this is how my mind sometimes works. Who was the first person to ever get up and dance, I wonder if they got laughed at? No other animal seems to appreciate music and dance like we do. I'm not strange I promise, occasionally I just have strange thoughts. lol, it is interesting though I think.
I admire my dancing friends, they all have special qualities and strengths in which I have learnt from through the years. I try to adopt what aspects of their practice I like and apply it to my own.



What gets you angry or makes you sad? Who do you admire who shares your feelings or has found away to work around the sadness or anger?

What makes me sad is the fact that I feel the appreciation of dance is being lost slightly. I know that dance is still quite prominent on the television with Strictly Come Dancing and Britain's Got Talent and such like but I just don't feel that it is the same as it used to be. I feel I was born in the wrong era sometimes. My mum used to go to dances when she was young, that doesn't happen anymore unless it has just manifested into a rave over the years which is not my cup of tea at all.
There were always musical films being made and that doesn't happen so much now which I find a shame because I love them. People don't dress up to go to the theatre anymore and they don't seem to know how to behave either. I went to see Dirty Dancing in Newcastle about a year ago and I was appalled by the audiences behaviour, they completely ruined it for me. They were raucous Heathens in my opinion. Not all of them granted but a fairly good percentage had no idea how to behave. Is this the future for theatre?
When my mum was young there were the Tiller Girls, Pans People along with great entertainment such as Sunday night at the Palladium. We don't have anything like that now or is it just outdated?My friend used to choreograph a little show for a club in the town where I live, it was called 'The Show Bar' I thought it was a great idea but the young people who enjoyed the club where not interested in the show at all so it got cut. I wonder what the future holds?
Again my friends feel the same as I do and I don't think there is a way to work around this frustration, it seems to be the way it is and we have to get on with it. The world is ever changing and evolving and this is no different, I just don't like the way it seems to be heading. I hope I am wrong.




What do you love about what you do? Who do you admire who also seems to love this or is an example of what you love?

I love the fact that dancing makes me happy and even better it makes other people happy too. To entertain someone is the best feeling ever, the buzz of being on stage is phenomenal. I admire so many dancers whether they be famous or my friends. I admire Audrey Hepburn, she was beautiful, a dancer, great actress and just had an air of grace about her, she was also very classy which I like. Darcey Bussell I admire for she is an amazing dancer. I admire so many for different reasons.

What do you feel you don’t understand? Who do you admire who does seem to understand it or who has found a way of making not understanding it interesting or beautiful, or has asked the same questions as you?

My career path, I feel a little lost. I don't want to stop performing because I love it however I have to be realistic. Unfortunately a dancers life span is so short compared to other careers so we have to see what we can branch into when the time comes. Teaching is an obvious one but not my 1st choice, I would love to be a choreographer or maybe move into acting. My concern is, it is hard enough to get a dancing job as there is so much competition let alone a choreography post. There is only one choreographer to I don't know how many dancers. Then the acting route, another difficult industry to break into, more competition and auditions, have I had enough of that scene? What else is out there for a retired dancer?
A lot of my friends have the same questions as me and are in a similar position or will be at some point in the near future. One friend in particular has really helped me and I thank her for that, she has pointed me in the right direction hence why I am here studying the BAPP.



How do you decide the appropriate ethical response in a given situation? To what extent are disciplinary responses different to that you might expect more generally in society? 

I think deciding on an ethical response is pretty much common sense. We should all know how to behave and what is appropriate and what is not. It is how well we are brought up and trained I believe. If I am ever unsure I always ask someone who I trust for advice.
I think in the dance world ethics are rather different to the general work place. I find it much more strict and old fashioned.

Emerging lines of enquiry

-How does music stimulate the mind in such a way to make us feel emotion?
-History vs the future of dance.
-What makes a good dancer?
-What do retired dancers do? how does retiring so young affect us psychologically?
-How different are the ethics of the studio to a 'normal' job?

Task 2:C

Here is my critical reflection on reflective practice. Follow the link below to have a read. Let me know what you think. Any comments or advice is welcomed.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-Wbpw5bisgovuaAQWR4--yq4HWHOHX3MmEoPbWej_xE/edit?usp=docslist_api

Thank you for reading.

Danni. x.

CALLING ALL DANCERS- Do you always start a class/ combination on theright side?

I came across this particular discussion and I found it rather interesting so thought I would share it with you. Maybe it would be helpful with some of your enquiries.I have copied the link below.

It brings to our attention that generally we always begin a class or combination on the right side. Now from my own experience during my training I can say that this was mostly true. Occasionally we would have a teacher who would mix it up and start on the left which felt really weird and sent me into a tiz of unfamiliarity, which I hate. I feel I have continued this behaviour into my professional practice and beyond. I definitely favour my right side, it is stronger, more flexible and just better than my left. My left side is such hard work and it brings me to this question, what if I had started on the left equally to the right? would my left side be more like my right? has this practice really affected my left side's progress?   I think maybe it has. Theoretically it shouldn't because I would execute the exercise on the right side and then repeat on the left, So really my left should be just as strong and flexible as the right. But it isn't, my left is significantly worse than my right. If I had to kick my left leg in a show because that was the choreography I didn't like it, I like to kick my right. My right leg flies up with no effort whatsoever, my left is a real effort. It is not just with strength and flexibility but sometimes the left feels a little alien to me, I am comfortable on the right, I like the right, Damn you left side, pull your weight! What are your thoughts on his discussion?

http://thehealthydancer.blogspot.com/2015/01/choosing-which-side-to-start-ondoes-it.html

People are talking about it on linked in too.

https://www.linkedin.com/groups/Do-you-always-begin-your-3682328%2ES%2E5966986195056488448?view=&item=5966986195056488448&type=member&gid=3682328&trk=eml-b2_anet_digest-hero-1-hero-disc-disc-0&midToken=AQFl2OaaCBpjEw&fromEmail=fromEmail&ut=10Lgt8Wu8jzSE1&_mSplash=1

2:B journal writing experience

So I have tried the different methods of Journal writing and I have decided which work for me and which don't. I wouldn't completely rule out the methods that didn't work for me this time and if I felt in the future that a certain event required a graph for example in order for me to capture my experience effectively I would use it. It has definitely opened my mind to other ways of recording my experiences as before in previous journals that I have written I focus mainly on description, Evaluation and stream of consciousness. I never would have thought to do a graph or from another view. So here is how I found each one.

Description-

I found this quite easy as it is a method that I am familiar with. I particularly like it when looking back, it really captures the feel of they day and locks in all the little details which can easily be lost in other methods. This is definitely one of my favourites and a shall be continuing to use it.

Initial Reflection-

This is another method I like and use occasionally already. I tend to use it If something has happened and I want to get the details logged straight away so I don't forget anything. I think it is a great way because the event is so fresh in the mind how ever it is not always possible to do this because we all live such busy lives. I think this method would work best for nurses and teachers maybe after each lesson or patient just because I think they could have a tendency to merge by the end of the day especially when tired. I will be carrying on with this method sometimes.

List-

This didn't really work for me. I think it is good if you are in a rush and to use in conjunction with 'initial reflection' and then write up properly later with more description. I would definitely consider using it again in the future for that reason but to use that and that alone, my list was huge.

Evaluation-

I wan't too sure about this, I think a journal is an evaluation of your day anyway? that is what I do in my diaries already, evaluate your day and it's events.

Graph/chart-

I didn't like this either. It wasn't descriptive enough for me, I like a story. I really struggled with this, I didn't know what exactly to put in my graph, I managed, but to look back on, it just doesn't do the day justice and relay all the information that I like to record. It also took more time to create a graph than to just write it down.

What if-

Not something I am used to using in my journal. I did it but I just felt it was more fantasy than real, what if that happened? yes but it didn't, this happened. It is not real. I suppose it is good for maybe looking at different ways to do things, maybe I miss interpreted this one slightly. I shall try it again. 

Another View-

I did this as if I was my iPad. I found it very strange and not very helpful. I had fun doing it though. Creating a character for my iPad was enjoyable and interesting. I can't say it helped me much in my reflective practice. I won't be using this technique again, ha well I don't think I will anyway.

poem-

I do like to write poetry not that I do it often because I don't. I found this very hard, it took me forever because I like words to rhyme which I know isn't essential in poetry but I just like it. My poetry trends to take a humorous path rather than serious too. This wasn't a true representation of my day because I had to add words in for rhyming purposes that had nothing to do with my day. It was far too time consuming. I like to just scribble down facts and thoughts quickly.

Stream of consciousness-

I often use this method,  I just write exactly what I am thinking at that time. I find it really interesting to look back on too, especially if your mood is less than favourable shall we say it can be quite funny but it also opens the gate right back into your mind set at that time. I love this style. It works for me.

 

'Journal Writing Experience'

So I started my journal writing for the course a couple of days ago, however nothing that exciting has happened. It is just full of my own thoughts regarding my own self belief or rather lack of it with relation to my own abilties to do the set tasks of the course well. Being a performer we are not usually required to use our grey matter in such a way so for a lot of us I guess it has been a long time since we had to employ that skill set. So it is time to locate that box of skills that are hidden somewhere deep in our brain, dust it off and oil it up because it presenting itself as a little rusty. Come on brain, engage.

Keeping a journal is not a new concept for me, I have done it for quite a few years now. I adopted this method of recording events, thoughts and feelings because I have been very lucky to travel a lot of the world with my dancing career and I didn't want to forget any aspects of my experiences. Memories usually fade with time and although you remember key facts, the small details tend to get lost in the depths of the mind and I think it is a shame to lose the details. Keeping a journal preserves those memories in black and white for you to call upon when ever you wish. I actually pulled out my journal from last year this morning and read what I was up to this very day in 2014. It made me smille and recalled some memories that were definitely on their way to being completely lost from my mind. It wasn't a particulrly productive day judging by what I have recoreded but it clearly states what I did, who I was with, thoughts and feelings, all in all the  5th March 2014 was a good relaxing day.

Like I stated earlier, I started my journal for the course a few days ago but my days have been pretty boring. well, I should re write that, my days haven't been boring for me because I have been focussing on the course, doing lots of reading and following other peoples blogs but to read on paper.... I got up had breakfast, read, had lunch, read, made tea, read, watched telly then went to bed. that is pretty boring for the likes of you to read about. So, I am not sure if I am allowed to do this but I am going to reflect on a day from last year's journal (I was on a world cruise, so it makes for a much more exciting read). Follow my link to read.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-DFUYLWi6hWCnVN5bqToUZi9o9fxze36VqoRR3P_nVM/edit?usp=docslist_api

I also came up with a graph to reflect my level of happiness from 1-10 during the day. Follow the link below.

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B3eZ2ba6GbVieEVZckdXaDVubDg/edit?usp=docslist_api

I think I have incorperated most things I was supposed to. So this is my version af task 2.b, if I have missed anything or misinterpreted anything please let me know your thoughts. All suggestions are welcomed. Thank you for reading, I know it was a bit of a slog. x.

Ps. I have added some pictures from this day at the elephant orphanage to my flicker account, have a look if you like. The link is below.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/131689345@N07/

Reflective learning

Over the last few days I have been trying to get my head around reader 2 and reflective learning, which as a rule I understand, it is just all the theories from Boud and Moon and such like that are taking their time to sink in. I think the main problem I am experiencing is not that I find their theories difficult to understand but that I find it difficult to digest large pieces of literature, I soon lose concentration and can read the same paragraph over and over and still be non the wiser. I found a short video which covers a few of the aspects of reader two. It is nice and easy to aborb and makes a lot of sense. The information it puts forward I can really relate to and it explains why we are being encouraged to comment and connect with each other. I think things are almost starting to click.

http://youtu.be/XIsznZR4hzY

I found a few things that I found helpful too. I like to harvest things and info I find just in case it comes in useful.

I also love quotes.

Task 1:D images

I had great fun reminiscing over old photographs during this task. Take a look at my link below there are lots of pics from my time working as a dancer.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/131689345@N07/


They say " a picture speaks a thousand words" which I think is true. I can be awesome on paper, my CV says I'm great,  however the camera doesn't lie! Ha ha. True though isn't it? I can look at a picture of a dancer and think "wow, he/she is fantastic, great lines, good body, nice face".......or it can tell a completely different story about that person, "you may talk a great job, but that photo of you in that split leap really says otherwise" you get my gist?
It is all about photographs and videos these days. I am a great lover of pictures, I love Facebook and Instagram for that very reason. Sometimes you can get a job just by sending a photo and a video. I think show reels are bigger than ever these days. When I started out my show reel was on VHS, I had to post it and I mean really post it, at the post office. I am making myself sound really old now, I'm not, I'm only 29, but that is how fast things have come on. It is almost incomprehensible.
Images and videos are a huge part of our culture these days. My Facebook news feed just used to be full of people's status' for example " just bathed the kids" who cares? " just took the bin out" big deal, but now it is full of photographs and videos, some personal and some that are trending. My newsfeed is full of photos and videos now. I can actually watch Facebook instead of the telly ( which my husband always does) we are both watching different videos a friend has posted on facebook. It is very interesting to look back and see how things have progresses.
So the moral of task 1:d The image is powerful! what is that picture saying about you? A thousand words remember! 

Reader 2, journal writing and thinking about thinking.

I am trying to power through with these tasks as much as I can because I am going away to sea in a few weeks and with work commitments onboard my blogs will slow right down for a while I think.

So I am half way through reader 2 and there is a lot of information to take in. I am trying to do spider diagrams to keep track of key bits of information. I am hoping it works. The spider diagram has worked well for me in the past, it is a good brainstorming tool I find.

I have started to write my reflective journal although it just seems like a load of babble at the moment, I'm not sure I'm writing the right things, not that there are right or wrong things to write. I gather it is down to your own interpretation again. I'm sure it will all make sense as we plod on.

Now, the thinking about thinking, I'm not sure I'm doing that right either. Ha ha I know this sounds a little daft but I feel you have to take on a whole new way of thinking on this course. You need to think out side the box which as a rule, I'm not always that good at, but I need to get good at it and fast. I really want to do well in this course but feel if I don't find my correct thinking cap it won't be that easy. I am a thinker, I over think things all the time, I think about things from all angles and probably think about things that no one else would but I need to start to think like a bachelor of the arts. How can we transform our thoughts from - dancer to academic superstar? Ha, we probably can't, but I am open to any suggestions. Thank you for reading your thoughts and advice are more than welcome.

Danni x

Dance is a visual art not a sport!

This Morning during the Skype session I mentioned that I had seen slight debate in one of my dance networks on linked in. It was regarding dance not being a sport but a visual art. A few of my fellow dance Bappers were interested in this concept and thought maybe it could link in with their enquiry so I have popped the link below for you to have a little look at and I hope that you can gain something from it.


https://www.linkedin.com/groups/Dance-is-Visual-Art-not-3682328%2ES%2E5977794708296998912?view=&item=5977794708296998912&type=member&gid=3682328&trk=eml-b2_anet_digest-hero-4-hero-disc-disc-0&midToken=AQFl2OaaCBpjEw&fromEmail=fromEmail&ut=0orkS4_ZOAvCE1&_mSplash=1

So, what do you think? Is dance an visual art or a sport? I personally think that it is an art but I can't understand why people are getting their backs up so much on this topic? A quote from one lady was "when it is done vulgarly, it is a sport". What is so wrong with it being classed as a sport? I suppose it goes hand in hand with a dancer not being an 'athlete' but an 'artist'. Is it possible to be both? Is a gymnast an artist? 

I am sitting on the fence with this one a little bit because I think it is a compliment for a dancer to be compared to an athlete, normally people don't realise how hard we have to train to be a dancer, especially ballerinas. It takes lots of hours and self discipline to build the stamina, strength and technique to be a good dancer. I think that some people who are not necessarily educated in this field don't realise how hard it actually is. 

What I am trying to say is generally normal joe blogs next door probably has no idea how hard it is to stand on point, balance and spin round multiple times all simultaneously, he probably has no comprehension to how much strength that takes. However when he ran for the bus last week, he almost had a coronary just running 100m at a moderate pace, so he will take is hat off to Jessica Ennis because he has actually experienced how hard it is and how much stamina is needed. I think sometimes people see dancing as effortless, which is how it should be perceived, you don't want to see a dancer puffing and panting and making every move look laboured because that is not how it is supposed to be.

So back to the original question, can dance be classed as a sport?  I hope this has got your brain cogs turning, Thank you for reading.

Danni x

1st Skype session with Adesola.

This morning I had a great Skype session with Adesola and a few other lovely Bappers. We all picked a different topic to talk about and by the end my head was buzzing with ideas, it was extremely thought provoking I don't even know where to start. I want to talk about everything, don't worry, I won't! Ha ha. 

So I am going to start by showing you a spider diagram that I did during the session. It has some of the ideas that were mentioned and some of my thoughts.

As you can see we spoke about a lot of things. I am going to focus on the topic which I put to the group. I touched on it briefly in my last blog. "how should I play it with my blog? Light hearted and personal? Or professional and academic?" The answer is it is down to you. We came to the conclusion that 'professional and academic' can some times be a little heavy to digest. Obviously there are times when you are required to write in that way like in an essay for example, but for a blog it is down to you and your own interpretation. 

We also discussed that the blog isn't just for the tasks that we are set, but we can blog about our own experiences day to day and this could help us later on as we progress further into the course. So just blog blog blog, blog about anything ( within reason ;) ). Maybe don't blog about taking the bin out, well unless you danced whilst you did it obviously, ha. 

Oh, and also don't forget to comment! I received my 1st comment today and it really did make my day, it was really reassuring. Thank you Katrina.

Before I draw this blog to an end there was one last point that was brought up and I would like to talk about...........'blog length'. Bigger isn't always better! A shorter blog can often get more comments because a longer blog can sometimes lose your reader half way through! I understand sometimes they have to be long to get all that information in but I guess sometimes things can be said in fewer and maybe even simpler words. This is maybe something I need to work on because I can be a waffler at times.

So the conclusion that we came to in our session is that it is ok to be yourself and light hearted in your blog if you wish, it's yours! Any advice you could send my way about my blogging style will still greatly be appreciated. Thank you for reading.

Danni x

Task 1:C my 1st vlog

Wow, this task proved to be a little more difficult than I first thought. I thought it would take me about 5 minutes, ha, yeah right, about 500 takes later and I just had to pick the best of a bad bunch. Who knew I could stumble over so many words in one go. Ok maybe 500 takes was a slight exaggeration but I did do quite a few. Ha ha, it was fun though although slightly embarrassing. I have posted the link below for you to have a nosey and maybe a slight chuckle at. Enjoy.

http://youtu.be/qR8Hv8EIB_o

Task 1:B- what is Web 2.0?!?

when I saw that we were required to use Web 2.0 I freaked a tiny bit. What is Web 2.0? I had no idea, so off I went and asked my old trusty pal Google and this is what I found...

Web 2.0

ˌwɛb tuː pɔɪnt ˈəʊ/

noun

1. the second stage of development of the Internet, characterized especially by the change from static web pages to dynamic or user-generated content and the growth of social media.

   
   

   Clear? Yes, clear as mud. So I had to delve  a little deeper into this Web 2.0 phenomenon. I searched all different sites to find a straight forward explanation, all the info seemed like waffle in the end, I soon lost concentration and my mind started to drift, then I found this.... 

   
   

   http://youtu.be/Bc0oDIEbYFc

   
   

   So It all turns out that it isn't that scary after all. Most of us use it all the time,  every day in fact, we are constantly using it. I then found this comical video which helped explain it even further.

   
   

   http://youtu.be/7BAXvFdMBWw

   
   

   So there you have it, Web 2.0 ladies and gentlemen, what a fantastic creation to keep us all connected........or is it? 

   
   

   I personally think it is an excellent addition to technology as long as it is used in a responsible and professional way. Below I have copied a link to a site which lists the positives and negatives. 

   
   

   http://www.acs.com/web-2-0-%E2%80%93-positive-vs-negative-effects/

   
   

   I think that the positives far out weigh the negatives and I am more than happy to use and contribute to the Web 2.0 culture we have today. I believe that we all heavily rely on this technology every single day, I know I do, it makes my life so much easier. I have so much information at my finger tips, it is absolutely amazing. I can find out practically ANYTHING just by using this tool. Where would we be today without Web 2.0? Especially in the performing industry networking is a key part of being successful. 

   
   

   It is funny really to think back to when I started in the industry, there was no Facebook, I think maybe MySpace was just becoming popular but the only way I had to find out about auditions was to go to WH Smiths and actually buy 'The Stage' newspaper. Now look how far it has progressed in such a short space of time. We have so many networks that are easily accessible now, for example 'dancers pro' and 'the hustle' group on Facebook which is just fantastic. I can go on 'the hustle'  ask questions about potential employers, find auditions, available accommodation or just any advice I need. Being a part of 'the hustle' gives me a network of 21,380 people to share information with. People post on this network every couple of minutes on average. I am quite new to the hustle, I wish it had been around earlier on in my career, it would have made my life as a performer so much easier and opened many more doors for opportunity.

   
   

   Focusing on Facebook for a moment, I am a great fan of facebook, being a dancer and working all over I have friends everywhere. I have friends in Japan, Australia, America, Norway, Belgium, Budapest and many more. I think this is quite a common occurrence for people in my industry. Facebook allows us to keep in touch with those friends easily. For instance I made a Japanese friend back in college which was around 10 years ago now, she went back to Japan and eventually over time you tend to loose touch just because that is what happens, but not now, not with Facebook I can keep up to date with her life progress, see her pictures, comment and we still are able to have a connection. I work a lot on cruise ships, I don't go often to Japan but back in 2011 I was lucky enough to visit Japan on the ship. Back in the day I would have probably lost touch with my Japanese friend and have had no way of contacting her to let her know I was in her homeland with that feeling of being so close yet so far but not now, not with Facebook, this is why I love Facebook......... However,  there is a down side to Facebook in which you do have to be careful. When Facebook started it all seemed very personal but not so much anymore. I do feel that I have to be more careful with what I broadcast and what pictures go up there as I really wouldn't want to give the wrong impression of myself, especially if potential employers can see. Not that I would broadcast anything inappropriate, it just may not be seen as "professional". My point is , would I want a potential employer to see a picture of me on my holidays acting silly with a cocktail? Probably not. They are my holiday snaps which would once have been in a photo album for just friends and family to see and I don't mind looking daft in front of them but I certainly wouldn't put that picture on a professional profile for all potential employers to see and judge. The question is, how can we be sure exactly who our audience is and exactly who is posting what of us? I know there are privacy settings but the amount of times I thought my Facebook profile was private and only for my friends to see but then realised any Joe Bloggs can see. We all have that friend who will post a picture of us looking terrible whilst they look gorgeous, they have some how managed to catch your worst angle EVER and you resemble something a little like Yoda from star wars, then they think it is appropriate to 'tag' you in it,  so you instantly remove the tag and it has gone from your Facebook page, phew......however it still remains on theirs and you don't want to look vain by asking them to remove it do you? Agh the dilemma, but who else can actually see that picture of you looking like Yoda?!? A casting director? A choreographer? Who else is in their network and can see it. It can be a little scary. So the moral of the story is to never pose like Yoda! Ha, but joking aside, this is a very serious issue, especially for teachers and other professionals such as police and nurses and so on. I know a few people where Facebook has got them into hot water with an employer. 

   
   

   Me as a professional and me as me are quite different people (not in a bad way, just the way we all are). Me as a professional I am quite reserved and diplomatic which are characteristics required by a professional I believe, me as me, well I'm just me. I act and talk in a different way dependant on who I am interacting with, now these paths I find are getting crossed with the likes of facebook. At first I was just broadcasting to my friends, now my parents are on there and their friends so now I have to think more carefully , then you have work employers and employees on there so you have to be even more careful. Are these personal and professional lines starting to cross a good thing? I'm not so sure.

   
   

   I must admit I do have some slight reservations about this blogging too and putting myself out there on Web 2.0 for anyone to see. How do I portray myself? I want to come across as professional but I also want to be me and add a little of my personality into my blog, I want to make it a little light hearted and hope that it is an enjoyable read rather than being hard work,  but how does that come across? Should It be more robotic and keep my personality out of it? One minute I think I should and the next I don't, I think "it is my blog and my interpretation and I should be me". I'm not sure convinced though, any thoughts you fellow Bappers have would be much appreciated.

   
   

   Another Web 2.0 tool I love is YouTube, it allows me to watch funny videos for entertainment and I also use it for educational reasons. I used YouTube a lot to get a grasp of Alvin Ailey's work for a project I was working on. I wasn't that familiar with his creations however after finding a lot of his pieces on YouTube it enabled me to get a firm idea of his style and works. 

   
   

   YouTube has helped me improve on different skills and even help me to teach myself new ones from beauty tricks to how to make jewellery and how to crochet. I think it is just amazing that I can be taught all these things from YouTube . It has even taught me how to make tomato soup from scratch. It is almost like your own personal teacher as well as entertainer.

   
   

   I am very much looking forward to creating my 1st YouTube video in the next task so I will go from being the consumer to the creator, what an exciting thought.

   
   

   We could all go on forever about Web 2.0 but I'm not going to because I don't want to bore you too much but one more point I would like to talk about after reading it on a fellow Bappers blog was about  are we being sucked in to the culture a little too much. As great as it is, how many times have you seen a couple out for dinner and they are both more interested in their phones? Checking facebook and writing a status that states what a fabulous time they are having? No you're not having the best time ever, you are playing with your phone! 

   
   

   Is the ancient art of human interaction becoming a thing of the past? I must admit I'm a culprit too, I'm doing it now, I'm sat here with real human company and I'm blogging! I suppose it is a little different as this is work but you get my gist right? I often sit on the sofa next to my husband, facebooking, youtubing and so on and so does he to be fair but where is the art of conversation going? I do think we need to make the effort interacting in person rather than just concentrating on the cyber world. We all do it, every day, how often do you check facebook? I know I can probably check mine at least 10 times in a day. It is quite scary when you realise how much power the cyber world has over us. Are we being sucked in and hypnotised by Web 2.0? What do you think? I don't think we are at the moment but how far is it going to go, I have seen information on Web 3.0, I haven't looked into it properly yet but I definitely intend to. How much further can it go?

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

Choose languageAfrikaansAlbanianArabicArmenianAzerbaijaniBasqueBelarusianBengaliBosnianBulgarianBurmeseCatalanCebuanoChinese (Simplified)Chinese (Traditional)CroatianCzechDanishDutchEsperantoEstonianFilipinoFinnishFrenchGalicianGeorgianGermanGreekGujaratiHaitianHausaHebrewHindiHmongHungarianIcelandicIgboIndonesianIrishItalianJapaneseJavaneseKannadaKazakhKhmerKoreanLaoLatinLatvianLithuanianMacedonianMalagasyMalayMalayalamMalteseMaoriMarathiMongolianNepaliNorwegianNyanjaPersianPolishPortuguesePunjabiRomanianRussianSerbianSinhalaSlovakSlovenianSomaliSpanishSundaneseSwahiliSwedishTajikTamilTeluguThaiTurkishUkrainianUrduUzbekVietnameseWelshYiddishYorubaZulu