Senior Project Reflection

Title: Blog 23:  Senior Project Reflection

Label: Presentation
Directions: Please answer the following questions, and submit them to the blog.
Due Date: The day after your block presentation by 8:00 A.M.

(1) Positive Statement
What are you most proud of in your block presentation and/or your senior project? Why?

          What i am most proud of from my senior presentation was that i did 130 hours of mentorship, making my dance future better and it shaped me as a better dancer. As for my presentation i am proud to have use up all the time the block has given me and make people feel happy and see the enjoyment they had with my activity, which was teach choreography. 

(2) Questions to Consider
a.     What assessment would you give yourself on your block presentation (self-assessment)?

AE       P          AP       CR       NC

          I would give myself a P+ because of not only reaching the required time, but using up the whole block efficiently.  

b.     What assessment would you give yourself on your overall senior project (self-assessment)?

AE       P          AP       CR       NC

          I would give myself a solid P- for my overall senior project for completing everything as required and knowing my topic inside and out, but the minus because in the beginning i did not turn things in on time like my extra month blogs. 

(3) What worked for you in your senior project?

          How resourceful my mentors were and how surrounded i am with my topic outside of school. 

(4) (What didn't work) If you had a time machine, what would you have done differently to improve your senior project if you could go back in time?

          Just turn in things on time, because i would finish things but forget to turn them in, like leaving things at home or being late on turnitin.com.

(5) Finding Value

How has the senior project been helpful to you in your future endeavors?   Be specific and use examples.

          I am going to continue dancing when i am in college. That being said, the senior project is a great head start to prepare me to dance with the big teams and events. I am planning to join the Company called GRV when i am in Cal Poly, and later try to audition for the company called Cookies in San Diego if i transfer there after. Since these teams are very hard to join and it takes a lot of experience, the senior project showed me detailed facts on what to focus on when training for these teams in the future. Learning things like different forms of exercising and how to focus on facial expressions when dancing, has helped me be more aware of things when i am dancing, making me a better dancer overall. 

Blog 22: Mentorship

Title:  Blog 22: Mentorship
Label: Mentorship
Due Date:  Thursday, May 14 by 8AM

Content:

LIA Response to blog:

    Literal

·     Log of specific hours with a total and a description of your duties updated on the right hand side of your blog

          You can check my Hour Log Here, as well on the top right of my blog

·     Contact Name and Mentorship Place

          My Mentor, Tawnya Nguyen - (626)-756-5993

          Mentorship Place - Dellos Dance Studio. 

          

   Interpretive

     What is the most important thing you gained from this experience? Why?

          I believe the most important thing i've gained from this experience is knowing what my body is capable of and how hard and exciting it is to work with a team of dancers all striving for the same thing, to get their "voice" heard from moving in rhythm.  The reason i believe this is the most important because it helped me learn what true teamwork is and knowing how hard it is to be a dancer.

   Applied

     How has what you’ve done helped you to answer your EQ?  Please explain.

          My mentorship helped me accomplish all three answers. The first answer was found when practicing every Saturday, the directors would tell us the same thing over and over again, don't forget facial expressions and remember to BREATHE. With that constantly being told, I realized how important these factors are to make a great performance for hip-hop. My second answer was achieved was when a week before the competition, we practiced places other then our studio and it was a total different environment and feeling, but it helped us prepare for the stage itself because the stage is where everyone is uncomfortable and nervous. For my last answer, I was thinking about it for some time when it was under my nose that during practices, we would workout for 30-50 minutes in just our natural strength and stamina, so your body does not have a limit when dancing making you a better dancer overall.

Grading Criteria (May 13^th)

• 50 hours completed (50 from the academic year)

• LIA response (submitted to your blog)

• Essential question connection

Exit Interview

Blog 21: Exit Interview

Title:  Exit Interview

Label:  Exit InterviewDue Date:  Thursday, May 7th by 8AM

(1) What is your essential question, and what are your answers?  What is your best answer and why? 
          What is the most important factor in creating a successful hip-hop dance performance.

Answer 1. Performing with facial expressions and controlled breathing.

Answer 2. Practicing in a non dance environment for different situations before competing. 

Answer 3. Exercising your body for stamina, endurance, and maximizing your natural strength. 

My best Answer is practicing in a non dance environment for different situations before competing, because without being able to practice anywhere other then your studio, you will limit your space and practice time, making a inefficient routine to perform. 

(2) What process did you take to arrive at this answer?
          many hours of mentorship and dance rehearsals from my dance company. Mostly from self experience and advice from other dancers in the community, as well as my mentor. 

(3) What problems did you face?  How did you resolve them?
          One of the biggest problem i faced during my topic was the retirement of my Director from my company, who was also my mentor. This made the company fall behind a little because we had to figure out the new director and co directors. I solved the problem for my project by getting another mentor who is now the new director of Marvels Dance Company, Tawnya Nyugen.  I had problems with my third answer because at first i did not know what to come of it i just knew you should workout because dance is a physical sport. I solved this problem by asking choreographers from workshops what they focus on when they workout. 

(4) What are the two most significant sources you used to answer your essential question and why?
           The biggest source that helped me accomplish my answers was my dance company itself and my mentor. I relied on them when i needed help or had questions because its one on one experience as well as years of knowledge about dance. My mentor has traveled a lot to dance in different states and cities and so she knows the different cultures and forms of hip-hop dancing, thats why i believe she the most significant source. 
          My second source i used quite a lot during my project was Articles involving interviews of choreographers who gave one on one tips and advice. One of the websites who have efficient articles involving dance reviews and interviews as well as different hip-hop dance cultures is New York Times - Dance Art.