Skip to main content

research methods

As I’m starting my second module at the Middlesex University I begin to think about my research methods for my inquiry.


My inquiry is an investigation into whether dancers with disabilities are able to express themselves through dance and if so are they given equal opportunities within the arts. 

This is an inquiry I have briefly touched on within my undergraduate but I feel like my research and inquiry can be investigated a lot deeper. I want to know more and hear your thoughts and opinions. 


Why do we dance in the first place ?

There are research methods I would like to use which include a Questionnaire method, and the use of interviews and observations. I start to think about my quality of data and reflect on performances and online videos i have recently seen. It is very important that I understand the nature of my inquiry and by 

reflecting back on the performance I seen in 2017 with Mark Brew I begin to collect data for my portfolio. 


Right or wrong approach ? 

I start to think about my interviews, who will I invite and where will I interview? How will I feel when I ask these questions as I don’t want to come across in a negative way, how will they feel about my questions ? Will I feel awkward or will I make them feel isolated and awkward I wonder how I can re word my questions without being ignorant or demanding. 

I have 5 literature reviews I am ready to write but first I need to explore more into the scholars of whom I am reading about and explore more in depth there perspectives and views on my inquiry.

I am really looking forward to start this module : meaning making in action as I have loads I would like to know and inspect, and I am looking forward to work with Candoco Youth Company this feb halfterm where I’ll be doing one to one interviews and questionnaire with some of the non disabled and disabled dancers.


Any thoughts on equal opportunities within inclusive dance ? Please message me I would love to hear your thoughts :) 

Comments

  1. Jade Nunn11 February 2019 at 05:01

    Hi Tara,

    I think your post is very valid in what I want to eventually research. I think there aren't as many equal opportunities for visibly disabled dancers. Although there is a musical 'spring awakening' where they did a professional revival of the show with a disabled cast of all sorts of disabilities 'Deaf West Theatre'.

    My thinking is more towards non visible disability but your post has opened my eyes to a broader thinking. As I said last night I'd be happy to partake in your questionnaire as it might teach us both something.


    Take care and I look forward to reading your next post

    Jade

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tara Warburton18 February 2019 at 09:25

      Hi Jade, thank you for taking your time into finding me. I promised i would send as link to my blog but work took over and i completely forgot.
      Thank you for your comment, i have never heard of the Deaf West Theatre so will look into this and the spring awakening. The questionnaires dont have to be completed just yet as this is just the start to my inquiry plan but i will defiantly send you a form once needed as i would love to hear your thoughts.

      Love forward to work with you.
      Tara

      Delete
  2. Marianella Desanti- Dancer, Choreographer and Teacher17 February 2019 at 17:42

    Tara I love your topic and I am a bit amazed by it. I believe it is wonderful that you are focusing in such an important area of dance. When I was young I received a lot of elitist discourse of how dance was only for a certain few. This included a body type and ethnic look. We were given lists and lists of reasons of why we would be eliminated and why we should not expect to make it to the stage. Of course these lists pre-supposed that the dancers did not present any disability or condition. It felt somehow that the stage reflected a perverse desire to expose an idealised version of humanity, far away from who we are as a rich and diverse people. The encrypted message was that the disabled were not to be represented. What startles me about this topic is the depth of what you are studying. You are truly going to go to the bottom of why we dance...is it to look beautiful, perfect, etc...or a deeper embodiment of our art which embraces our imperfections. I insist, the topic is extraordinary.

    I would be so interested in hearing what your dancers can share with you. I would stay as far away as I can from questionnaires and keep at least a part of the interview so that the dancers can tell you their narratives without filters or interpretation of their stories yet. Get their real voice before you start finding connections. I guess you are researching the unique...the results will probably not be traditional.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tara Warburton18 February 2019 at 09:40

      Hey Marianella, thank you for sharing your comments with me. I
      believe disabled dancers should be given equal opportunities within the perfromance idustry and believe they should be seen for their merit and achievements rathe than what they look like or can not do. I spoke to a lady today who told me she had watched many dance perfromances in London but never seen a performance which involved a disabled dancer, this comment really shocked and upset me in a way as i thought WOW thats crazy we are in 2019 and the West End in London still are not displaying disabled dancers as they should be seen.

      Your comment " the stage reflected a perverse desire to expose an idealised version of humanity, far away from who we are as a rich and diverse people" is so completly true and i couldnt agree anymore with this i might even have to reference you within my assignment if that is ok.
      Yes i am really going to dig deep into what dance and expression means to non disabled and disabled dancers and how movement and expression can develop emotion. Why do we dance..... of course we dance to express but without these specific body parts are we still able to show emotion through the use of one arm or one leg ? I am obseving a workshop led by Candoco Dance Company on Wednesday from 10-1pm i will of course update my blog and speak about my experience there so keep an eye out.
      Thank you again for sharing your thoughts and views and look forward to continue to study with you
      Tara

      Delete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Induction Week 13.9.19

This is my first blog being a Module three student. I begin to stress on how lost I feel right now in my studies, but with the induction Skype blog last week I felt a lot more at ease. Unfortunately, due to work commitments, I was only on the Skype call for 30 mins which is half of the session but thank you to my class friend Marianella I was able to catch up via the recording I was sent. The induction was very helpful as it allowed the MAPP dance community to come together and share ideas with new students on module 1 up to present students in module 3. Adesola guided us through the importance of communication with our peers and class friends through Skype sessions and blogs and also the importance of UniHub. Adesola  helpfully shared her screen and lead us through UniHub where we could find our module handbooks and other important information regarding the course e.g  library resources and class timetables and calendars. One thi...
Post a Comment
Read more

what I think knowledge means

Knowledge to me is an networked product. Knowledge to me is something you have experienced and learnt along the way of either your professional practises or day to day lifestyle. Like George Siemens I believe knowledge comes from networking and people gain more knowledge and experience through social media.
Post a Comment
Read more

how is the literature I am reading helping and supporting my writing

Tonight’s Skype session 4th November 8pm (London time) with my class mates involved “embodiment” and different ways of learning.  Personally I feel like my writing process so far has been difficult; as discussed I express myself through dance and as a performer and dancer I feel reflective writing is a difficult process. I feel by reading several literatures it helps me discover my own experiences and understand my own knowledge.  ‘Art as Experience’ by John Dewey gives different understandings of having an experience and I feel when I read someone else’s questions and answers I am able to then reflect and write on my own knowledge and experience.  By listening to someone’s point of view it helps me remember and understand my own work. Literature I have read has provided different expects and connections on knowledge and different approaches which also helps with my own reflective writing. David Kolbs learning cycle has helped me understand my own teaching and learning st...
4 comments
Read more