Friday 2 November 2012

Teaching + Things


My first room. 

The first room I thought of when I originally came up with the first ideas of my centre, and what it could be. 

The dance studio. 

Hopefully, in an ideal world and with the right financial situation, I would like to think there would be several dance studio spaces within Liberty's. Numerous spaces for teaching, practice, and rehearsals to take place. But for now, these rooms still only exist in other people's centres. 

I have been lucky enough to have taught in a wide variety of settings and surroundings. Currently, I am teaching at 'Art Academy', in Marrakech, which I love! The brainchild of Mounia Dadi, a wonderful and well established dancer and artist in Marrakech, Art Academy is a space for dance classes as well as arts and music. It is one of a kind within the city, and has many qualities that I so hope Liberty's will be proud to hold in the future. Altogether, a very positive and creative space to be in. 


http://www.artacademy.ma

This week, I taught three classes at Art Academy. One of which was my regular class for teenagers - 'Body Flow' which is balletic/lyrical technique & choreo. I really love teaching this class - they are a lovely class, and very committed. It's proving to be somewhat of a challenge to explain and demonstrate on some occasions, as most don't speak English. However I have adapted to using as much French as I can manage, along with plenty of gesture and physical corrections!

I  am filming new class choreo every two weeks. I will post the YouTube link up on the 'Links' page of this blog - feel free to have a watch! For now, this weeks class is posted below.......

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mYp4X7urMYk&feature=youtu.be


This week, I also had the pleasure of cover teaching two children's ballet classes. Both groups proved to be wonderfully behaved, despite the fact the first class were only aged between 4 and 5, the second of which being 6-10, and each class lasting an hour! 

Both groups found my sketchy use of French very entertaining! But they were wonderfully open, and amazingly quick at picking up the ballet exercises I taught them. In addition, both classes finished with lots of huge cuddles from them all, and lots of french exclamations of seeing me soon, as they skipped (I.S.T.D style!) out of the studio! No better feeling. 

In fact, it is this exact feeling, when I teach, that I cannot wait to develop and share within Liberty's. As you may be able to tell, I love to teach. But this is not enough for me. I want others to have this feeling of pure enjoyment, through teaching and learning. 

I have had some of the happiest and absolute worst times of my life in studios, learning how to dance. It is a process. A process which is unpredictable and unique to each dancer. This will be the founding philosophy of my dance studios - to treat every dancer as an individual, and for them to be appreciated and encouraged as such. With some beautiful big spaces, barres, and equipment thrown in!

Every dance studio I have taught in so far has taught me something or given me a new idea or perspective on what I would like my future studios to be like. I have taught in some pretty gritty places, as well as some very polished, brightly lit, beautiful places. But aesthetics are only one set of considerations. Considerations that I look forward to at some point in my future. 

For now, I want to keep teaching as I have done this week. To keep collecting up my ideas. I'm more than happy to do so!

Rooms of possibility...

HV. 
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