Inquiry Task

I have begun to look at possible subjects upon which to base my inquiry. My problem was not in finding themes for the inquiry, as I had so many ideas about subjects I would like to write about; my problem was in narrowing these ideas down to focus on a few that might generate the sort of questions I could raise for an inquiry.

I looked at the question and answer approach suggested in the handbook, but I actually found concept mapping more helpful for me on this occasion. I imagined possible answers to the question posed. 

Below are some of the topics I have narrowed my choice down to:

WHAT MOTIVATES TEENAGE BOYS TO TAKE UP DANCE?

• Watching sister dance
• Inspired by a performance they have been in at school
• Inspired by a performance they have seen e.g. Billy Elliot
• Advised to take up dance to help with movement for drama
• Pop videos- see dance as helping with a possible career as a pop star
• Girls- attracted to the fact that there are a lot of girls and few boys in a class- physical contact
• Gay issues
• Virtuosity- boys like to show off so are attracted to the virtuosity in dance

I have had a lot of experience teaching teenage boys to dance. Several of these have been late starters and have gone on to have very successful careers in dance. I could interview them as to why they started dance.

I know male dance examiners and ex professional male dancers so I could get their views on the subject.

I could question boys who are currently studying dance at vocational colleges.

I could seek the opinions of other ex male dancers on BAPP Arts.

I am interested in exploring this topic because there is still a shortage of male dancers in the profession so we need to continue to attract boys into dance. Now that I am in Italy I would like to see if dance is viewed any differently by teenage boys here as opposed to the UK and look at the implications for the future of male dance in Europe

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ARE DANCE COMPETITIONS A GOOD IDEA?

Positive Aspects

• They can improve technique as you have to practice
• You gain confidence performing alone
• Can promote a sense of achievement
• Give enjoyment
• Make you push yourself more
• Enable you to compare yourself with others
• Give you a goal to aim for
• Allow you to meet other like minded people
• Provide more chances to perform
• Exposure- a chance to get your dance seen in the dance world
• Prizes- sometimes in larger competitions there are money prizes  or scholarships awarded for further training

Negative Aspects

• Pressure to do well
• Pressure to practice
• Time - have to dedicate a lot of time to practice and compete so can't socialise as much
• Costs- can be expensive with lessons, costumes, entry fees and travel
• Pushy parents
• Fear of failure
• Increased risk of injury due to extra training

As a child I entered dance competitions, so I can talk about my own experience. I also enter pupils for competitions, so I can question my pupils, past and present, about their experience and thoughts on the subject.

I have adjudicated dance competitions, so can look at it from the other side of the fence.

I know dance adjudicators, so I could get their views

I could get the views of parents, both of those whose children compete and those who don't.

I could seek the views of both professional dancers and ex professional dancers.

I could seek the views of other dance teachers.

I could ask the opinions of fellow BAPP Arts students.

This would be a pertinent line of inquiry for me as I help with the competitions run by the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dance in my role as an examiner. Also the schools I am delivering workshops to have inter house dance competitions and inter school dance competitions so it would be interesting to explore the psychological impact upon the pupils who take part.

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Does Image Projection Add to ,or Detract from, the Dance on Stage?

Positives

• Images on screen can convey more meaning
• Can transport you to a different place/time
• Fusion of digital technology and dance can create experimental art
• Motion capture implications in film

Negatives

• Can be distracting - watch the image more than the dancers
• Costs involved
• Time constraints
• Practicalities of rehearsing with the finished projection

One of my hobbies is videoing and editing, so I would really enjoy exploring this area, but I haven't got a great deal of experience in using image projection and dance. It is something I would like to know more about and an inquiry into it would, pardon the pun, 'throw more light' onto it. I have used projection for my choreography in the past, but technology has advanced so much and I feel I am getting left behind in this area so, for the development of my future development as a choreographer, this would be a very valuable area to explore.

I will have to give a lot more thought into who I would be able to interview to get viewpoints for this inquiry. A brief internet search has revealed a lot of articles on the subject however and I would really enjoy watching performances as part of the research.

This task has made me focus on the above three topics as possible lines of inquiry to follow and I have collated quite a lot of material on Evernote to use as background information for each of the above topics. I will continue to explore these themes to see which one emerges most strongly as the one to use for my final BAPP Arts inquiry.