2D: Inquiry Task

To find possible lines of inquiry, I have been reflecting on what has sparked my interest so far in Module 1 and in my past and present practice. 

• Why are so few women (in comparison to men) choreographing for and directing ballet companies? This was at the forefront of my mind and hardly surprising at this moment in time when a lot of aspects of inequality are beginning to be questioned.

• Can choreography be copyrighted? Who owns movement? There in an interesting article on the ISTD website about this https://www.istd.org/news/istd-news/making-the-right-moves--choreography-and-copyright/ .

• Should there always be an intention in dance? This is something that has intrigued me ever since working with Northern Ballet where the question of intention is repeatedly asked because the productions are often very theatrical. I learnt a lot from watching the experienced dancers tackle characters that they portrayed so well by, in part, always being clear on their intentions. I tried to put this into practice myself but I would love to explore it further. 

• How has the past shaped and moulded dance today? I am always inspired by people whose knowledge about the past can explain where we are today and what we have learnt for the future. At ENBS our Head of Studies was someone who inspired me in this way but other people I admire are Judith Mackrell, who writes for the guardian but has also written many books, and author John Caute who wrote The Dancer Defects which is one of the most informative books I have ever read.

• Does success require confidence? http://www.pointemagazine.com/the-quest-for-confidence-2412904305.html has some very honest and open words from Emily Bromberg, soloist with Miami City Ballet and this caused me to wonder why we talk so little about confidence when its something almost everyone struggles with at some point.

• Can you be a selfless dancer? “Ballet can be selfish at times—you’re always working on yourself" Hannah Bettes, Boston Ballet, on http://www.dancemagazine.com/on-the-rise-hannah-bettes-2306957384.html. 

• I am particularly interested in the idea of 'mindset'. After reading some of the work of Dr Carol S. Dweck who argues that there are two types of mindset, "growth" and "fixed", I thought it would be interesting to explore the place this theory has within dance. After all the reflecting we have done so far, I can identify myself inhabiting both these mindsets however only one of them affects my practice positively... No prizes for guessing which one! I am still working on a concise question for this one because it is such a huge area to explore.