Red Flag 5-29-14

How much time did you spend on your project?
This week I spent 8 hours working on my project.

What did you do that was hands-on?
This week, I spent a majority of my time figuring out how to cut my music for my dance. I've cut music before, but I wanted certain parts of the lyric to be in a different place of the song, so figuring that out took me awhile. Easily, I spent four hours working on it. My cousin bought me a tutorial type thing to help me cut music four years ago, and I never really opened it or tried to do it, but I used it for this and it was awesome!

What research did you do?
I spent time researching whats the best music cutter like that, I have the website documented at home but I didn't make a blog post about all my research yet. I plan on getting that all together soon because I have the information at my house.

Did you meet with your mentor? What did you talk about?
I still have not met with Mrs. Pearl. I'm nervous to talk to her.


Do you have at least 3 Journal entries? Do your journal entries include planning, recording activities, and reflecting?
I only have 2 journal entries this week so far. On the 7-8 hour bus ride for the Senior Trip, I plan on getting a lot of blogs done instead of sleeping or staring out the window.

Were you in class on this week? Did you have and use your journal?
I was not in class this week.

Do you think your fulfillment of WISE requirements was : Inadequate? Adequate? Good? Excellent? Explain.
Although it may not look like it from my lack of journals, but I am feeling very accomplished and ready. Bella is really grasping the idea of my choreography and it makes me feel very productive. It is hard to document certain things that happen in the dance studio, it's more of a watching and learning type deal. I have had so much fun doing this dance, I'm so glad that I chose this for my WISE presentation.

Attire

Bella and I had a very nice rehearsal yesterday. We discussed the performance and the aspects that go along with it. We decided on a costume, and we believe we know what we want to wear. I decided that we both should wear red. This red with symbolize the evil in me because I want Bella to do everything that I do. I figured she should start out wearing red as well during the whole lyric when it says "I feel lovely" because this states that she is not certain whether or not she is actually beautiful. Until the lyric changes to "I AM lovely", she will then take her red dress off as a symbol as independence. I think she should be wearing white underneath the red. The perfect part of this all is that I have all these costumes from previous dances, so reusing these will be the perfect thing to do!

The surprise

As I mentioned in my last blog, I got a nice visit from Bella's mom during our last rehearsal last week. She usually waits in the car upon Bella's arrival, but I feel that she was very interested in what was going on and what magic was being made during that rehearsal. She came up, and it was unexpected to me. I've known Bella and her mom for quite some years so to me it wasn't awkward. She quietly creeps in with a smile on her asking if she is allowed to watch. I thought this would be a fantastic idea. Performing in front of an audience that you're comfortable with is always a good idea to get you prepared for the real show. I thought this might help Bella prepare too, seeing that she is a little nervous to perform in front of some of her school peers. She watched and gazed in awe as we moved across the floor. Bella's mom as always referred to me as a role model to Bella, so seeing me improve some of Bella's dancing really made her happy. She thought the dance was beautiful and she was very proud of what we accomplished. I think Bella's moms visit really gave me assurance that I was doing the right thing, and doing it well! 

Red Flag Journal 5-22-14

How much time did you spend on your project?
This week I definitely spent more time doing hands-on work with my project then usual. I spent at least 8 hours on my project this week. This involved figuring out costumes, hair, length of dance, choreographing, driving etc.

What did you do that was hands-on?
This week, like I said above, I spent a lot of time on my dance and figuring out key elements to make it come alive. While Bella and I were working on our dance, we had a surprise visit from her mother. Usually, Bella's parents pick her up at 4:30 after our rehearsal and wait in the car, but her mother came up and watched.

What research did you do?
Honestly, I got lost in my project this week. I had so much fun teaching Bella and hearing what she had to say, that it really made me think in my head that this is exactly what I want to do with the rest of my life. Research was slim to do gazing in my thoughts of the future in hopes to be the best dance teacher possible.

Did you meet with your mentor? What did you talk about?
I'm a little nervous to ask Mrs. Pearl to help me out as a mentor. The reason being it is the end of the school year and I just feel silly so late in the game coming up to her just to ask for some help while I know shes probably stressed out to the max when it comes to figuring out grades and other end of the year stresses.

Do you have at least 3 journal entries? Do your journal entries include planning, recording activities, and reflecting?
This week I did not have the minimum journals. However, my reflection on Bella was adequate because she really made me stop and think last night. She really gave my confidence and reassurance that dance is truly my passion.

Where were you in class on this week? Did you have and use your journal?
I was in H-courtyard during class this week. Bella and I decided that to use our maximum productivity, we should use our free periods to finish the dance as well. Even if we just have a hallway, dancers have learned to adapt to tiny spaces. We both have 5th and 6th free which I figured out the other day which is awesome.

Do you think your fulfillment of WISE requirements was : Inadequate? Adequate? Good? Excellent? Explain.
This week I thought my requirements were good, but could of been better due to lack of blogging and research.  

What are your plans for next week?
I will have the music cut by the next rehearsal, as well as have the costumes ready!

"Out the Rut"

PLANNING
7 things I want to accomplish in the next week:
1. Get a form signed to use Kulp for my presentation space
2. Finish my duet
3. Talk to Mrs. Pearl about mentor
4. Research more things about diet and how that reflects a dancer
5. Start on my Essay
6. Start making slide show presentation
7. Get a collage of pictures together to show the progress of my dancers

5 things I should talk to about my project:
1. Talk to a lighting crew from the musicals to see if they can help me out with lights
2. Talk to the guy in Kulp to get permission
3. Talk to the other five girls who aren't as involved with my project as I would hope.
4. Make a CD with a cut version of the music.
5. Find a costume for Bella and I.

3 things I should talk to my mentor about:
1. Will you be a mentor to me?
2. Can you help me with filling out a form?
3. How do I begin to reserve a space?

7 things I want or need to know more about:
1. Do I talk to Ms. Tino about lighting?
2. How long should my duet really be?
3. Should we wear a similar costume, or portray different roles?
4. How should we wear our hair?
5. Will this story be effective to audience members?
6. Should I invite family to my presentation or will it make me more nervous?
7. Research about who is most likely to dance a certain style.

Wise with words

Working with Bella for the past couple weeks has truly been amazing. She has taught me so much even though she is so much younger than me. She suggest so many ideas that brings such joy to me because she's actually taking my project and kind of making it her own experiment as well. It makes me proud of her to know how wise she is. She suggested that I use my movements to make a more forceful act on her. This will demonstrate and portray the controlling character I play in the dance. For example, I move her arm and force it to go the way I want to demonstrate that I want her to be the way I want her to be. She had truly brought a new since of recognition to song lyrics to my head and  I'm so proud of her! I feel like she also has truly taken in my corrections to her and applied them to her dancing. Teaching her new skills has truly been a pleasure to my eyes, and I can't wait to show off her skills as well as mine during my presentation. 

Red Flag journal 5-15-14

How much time did you spend on your project? 

This week I spent a total of 7 hours on my project. From driving to the Y, spending 4 hours choreographing my dance, and watching old dance videos on my computer to get ideas, it took me 7 hours this week. 

What did you do that was hands-on?

This week I choreographed another 30 secs of my duet with Bella. We also worked a lot on technique this week. Bella is currently on recreational dance at TNJ, meaning she doesn't go to competition. This doesn't hurt her, but doesn't really benefit her either. The time she gets to work on stretching, leaps and turns is limited, so me helping her out works out great.

What research did you do?

No new research this week. By the end of the week I really wanna focus on the different body types of different dancers.

Did you meet with your mentor? What did you talk about?

No mentor meetings this week. I'm trying to figure out the mentor situation.

Do you have at least 3 journal entries? Do your journal entries include planning, recording activities, and reflecting? 

I had three, one of them didn't load from my computer, it was a video of a production number it was so cool. I think it is on my computer still. These entries include my hands-on work with Bella at the Y. 

Where were you in class this week? Did you have and use your journal? 

This week I was in H with my journal most of the week. I also was talking to most of my dancers about future plans.

Do you think your fulfillment of WISE requirements was: Inadequate? Adequate? Good? Excellent? Explain.

I think my requirements were excellent this week! Working with Bella went very well and we got really far on the duet. I feel very accomplished this week! 

What are your plans for next week?

Next week the group is going to meet so we can sit and talk about the date of the performance. I wanna make sure no one has testing so it won't  be a conflict. 

Working on technique

Bella and I met today to keep going on with our duet. We added another 30 secs onto the dance and we are almost done! We have also worked on a lot of things she wanted help on. Such as her splits, her jumps, and overall flexibility! Here are some photos of her making this happen! 

The whole group

Today is finally the day where I get to meet with all my girls and finish the dance. The Y is a designated space to practice given that I know the combination code for the music room. I can't wait. I've had some challenges though. My current studio is such a different styled. Mainly based on modern and ballet while all my dancers have a concentration in jazz. I used to dance like that very well, but adapting to my studio has caused my body to train as a modern dancer. This affects my ability to fully choreograph to my "jazz ability" I hope the girls aren't too uncomfortable with the style I am about to throw at them! Good luck girls, you're in for a challenge! 

Red Flag 5-8-14

How much time this week did you spend on your project? 

This weeks I spent a total of 5 hours on my project. 

What did you do that was hands-on?

This week I finished choreographing my duet with Bella. All that is left is choreographing the group. 

What research did you do?

I looked up the lyrics to both the songs so I could have the dancers and well as my blog viewers to really grasp a better understanding of the dance as they correspond with their movements.

Did you meet with your mentor? What did you talk about?

Mentor meetings have been a struggle and I don't really meet with her. It's a hard connection between the two of us, one her being new, and second the conversation tends to get vague and awkward!

Do you have at least 3 journal entries? Do your entries include planning, recording activities, and reflecting?

Most of my entries included my research with the song so far this week. The week isn't over, so I still have things to blog!

Where were you in class on this week? Did you use your journal?

This week I was in H talking to some of the dancer explains how we couldn't meet this week. This weekend is competition which is the biggest time of the year for me! So preparation is a must:) they didn't mind because they are all dancers so they get it.

Do you think you fulfillment of WISE requirements was Inadequate? Adequate? Good? Excellent? Explain. 

I think the requirements was good this week. I could of done a lot more with my project but my hectic schedules mislead me to get off task. 

What are your plans for next week?

Next week I plan on teaching Bella the rest of our duet that a finished, and continue on the the group dance as well! 

Latching on

This is the group dance that I'm choreographing. Here are the lyrics to understand the song and the movement I will be using! 

(Never [3x])

You lift my heart up when the rest of me is down (never)

You, you enchant me even when you're not around (never)

If there are boundaries, I will try to knock them down (never)

I’m latching on, babe, now I know what I have found (never)

I feel we're close enough

I wanna lock in your love

I think we’re close enough

Could I lock in your love, baby?

Now I got you in my space

I won’t let go of you (never)

Got you shackled in my embrace

I’m latching on to you (never)

Now I got you in my space

I won’t let go of you (never)

Got you shackled in my embrace

I’m latching on to you (never)

I’m so encaptured, got me wrapped up in your touch (never)

Feel so enamored, hold me tight within your clutch (never)

How do you do it, you got me losing every breath (never)

What did you give me to make my heart beat out my chest (never)

I feel we're close enough

I wanna lock in your love

I think we’re close enough

Could I lock in your love, baby?

I feel we’re close enough

I wanna lock in your love

I think we’re close enough

Could I lock in your love, baby?

Now I got you in my space

I won’t let go of you (never)

Got you shackled in my embrace

I’m latching on to you (never)

Now I got you in my space

I won’t let go of you (never)

Got you shackled in my embrace

I’m latching on to you (never)

Latching on to you

I won’t let go of you (never)

Latching on to you

I won’t let go of you

(Never let go, never let go)

Lyrics tell the story

Following up on the duet with Bella and I, these are the lyrics to the song. I wanted to kinda pretend as if I were the one controlling Bella and telling her the girl she needs to be. Even though she wants to be her own person, I control her until she realizes she can be her own person. She feels lovely all the time, but the shift at the end of the song tells the story that she is confident in herself and is lovely as she states, " I am lovely." 

I don't wanna be her

I just want to be little old me

Shouldn't have to think

Who am I suppose to be today

And what give you the right

To tell me who I should be

Who gave you that right

Cause I, I feel lovely

Just the way that I am

Yes I feel lovely

The way that I am

I know you want the best

Yeah only good things for me

But you have to realize

I can't be all these things you project on me

Cause I'm beautiful to me

Doesn't that mean a thing

I feel lovely

Just the way that I am

Yes I feel lovely

The way that I am

I need that to be enough for you

Need that to be enough for you

Cause it's enough for me

It's enough for me

Am I suppose to give up everything I am

Just to make you happy

I thought I was the one you

Always wanted me to be

It turns out I'm just little old me

I'm just little old me

And that's fine by me

Cause I, I am lovely

Just the way that I am

Oh yes I am, 

Yes I am lovely

The way that I am

I am lovely lovely

I am lovely

Happiness revisited

1. When do you feel most happy?

I feel most happy when I dance. It brings out a certain emotion that is indescribable but I know fills me with joy. I know it makes me happy because I have a passion for it, and I know I could dance all day if necessary. 

2. React and respond to article 

I really enjoyed this article. It had me confused at first because I wasn't sure about the chart on the first place. But I figured out that when your challenges are in the middle and your skills are low, you have low flow channel. When your challenges are in the middle, and skills are in the middle, your at perfect production. When your challenges are high and skills are high, your bored. 

3. Where are you on the flow chart?

I think that my challenges meet my skills at a perfect production. During my project it has changed because at first my challenges were very high as well as my skills so I was really bored. But as my project went on, I started to get in the flow channel in the tunnel of light.

4. How can you achieve flow? 

You can achieve flow my having a good source of time management. That being said, you need to learn to balance time and productivity.

Red Flag Journal 5-1-14

How much time did you spend on your project?

From driving to the Y, choreographing the dance at home, choreographing at the Y, looking up song choices for the duet, and reserving space, I've spent a total of 7 hours this week. 

What did you do that was hands-on?

This week choreographing the dance was a big hands on part. I was not expecting to choreograph the duet but that was definitely my biggest challenge doing it on the spot. 

What research did you do?

This week I looked up songs that would be age appropriate for the freshman and I  to do the duet! 

Did you meet with your mentor? What did you talk about?

I did not meet with my mentor this week. 

Did you have at least 3 journal entries? Do your journal entries include planning, recording activities, and reflecting? 

 This week I only had two journal entries. They talked about my hands-on tasks when I choreographed the duet with Bella. The other entire was the class assignment to listen to the podcast and respond. 

Where were you in class on this week? Did you have and use your journal?

This week during class time I spent it trying to save space at the Y in order to use the dance studio. They gave me the combination to the lock that has access to the music stereo. It's pretty cool that they trust me that much with high quality equipment. 

Do you think your fulfillment of WISE requirements was: inadequate? Adequate? Good? Excellent? Explain.

This week I thought I did a pretty good job making up a dance on the spot. Later in life it is going to be a main necessity to do that in jobs. It will help a lot to know how to do that in the future so I'm proud of myself!  In college, that will be a main assessment as well! 

What are your plans for next week? 

Next week I plan on meeting Wednesday again to go to the Y! This time it will be finished for real and here on out we can just practice practice practice! 

Inspiration

Last night was another night filled with rehearsal. I thought this time that everyone could attend, but turns out everyone had last min plans. Only one girl could make it and we met in H- courtyard after school. She told me she had a great idea. I was curious on what this idea could be and how it would affect my vision. Bella, the young girl with the amazing thoughts, and I used to dance together. I always had a close bond with the little ones and in particular, her. We've never been able to dance in a group together because of our age, and as well parting through new studios. That being said she asked if I could choreograph a duet for her. And I looked at her and said " Bella! Who is going to be the other person." She looked at me with a great smile on her face and said " you Mac, I wanna dance with you." Everything in my head bounced into place and I thought, what a great idea. I've always wanted to dance with her and now my senior year I get the chance to do so. We went to the Y last night and I choreographed a duet to the song Lovely by Sara Haze. It is about a girl who is constantly told she is not beautiful but by the end of the lyrics she realizes she really is. This duet is already coming along smoothly and it's almost finished. I can't wait to finish it with her!