Foreword: After teaching for some years now, I have been reflecting a lot on learning -- in terms of both speed, as well as our attitudes towards it.
Children seem to have this determination to want to do their best. the younger they are, the more they want it. It could be for praise, for ego-boosting, for happiness, for the love of the teacher, for the love of the activity, for personal satisfaction, for self-worth. Whatever the reason...it does them good.
Why do we slowly lose it as we get older? Do we get more used to failure? Do we accept that we cant do some things? Why cant we know that we have our limits, and yet still strive for the best?
There was once when i was teaching a primary 1 class. We were doing stretching. Some girls were struggling.
One big mouth said "I cant do it!"....and I could see the rest of them slowly starting to give up and telling me that they also couldnt do it.
I had to do some crowd control: "There's no such thing called 'I cant do it'....there's only a thing called I'll try my best"...."I'm not expecting you to get a perfect split today...all I want to see is that you try your best....so...dont say can't....say try".
They perked up a little.
I asked them, "so...what should you say??"
The cute little things replied, "try"
Sometimes as I teach adult classes, I do see the look of determination in some. And yet...there are others who give in too readily. We think that we're too old to learn new things. We sometimes sign up for courses with the mindset that we are trying things out...and will accept fate if we turn out not being able to do well in it....get discouraged, and stop trying.
Why do kids keep going for classes every week, trying so hard to please the teacher and their parents (and themselves)? They (and their parents) know it's gona take a long time to be a good dancer or musician or karate-master....and they may not even become one at the end of it. I'm not saying that all grown ups don't have determination....its just that I feel that a lot of us get defeated just by the thought of "age". Cant we also just keep trying for more than 10yrs? Or are we seeking instant results...and when it doesnt happen, we give up?
Ahhh...and the last thing this reflection leads to: is the process or the end the most important?
Friday, December 3, 2010
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Friday, February 26, 2010
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
The Thinking Dancer Topic 5 ~ Full-soles VS. Split-soles
Article taken from AllAboutDance.com Facebook
"Marie Ann Cupis de Camargo, of the Royal Ballet, is credited with helping create the first ballet slipper. In the 1700s, she began dancing in slippers instead of shoes with heels to allow for more graceful jumping and leaping. Ballet shoes...have come a long way since that time and now dancers have many varieties to choose from, like full-sole or split-sole slippers.
As the name suggests, a full-sole shoe has a “full” sole that runs the length of a dancer’s foot from the heel to the toe. A split-sole shoe has two smaller soles at the toe and heel of the shoe. There is no sole at the arch of the foot.
Many beginners wear full-sole slippers because the shoe has extra arch support for students who are just learning to work through their foot and pointe. Intermediate and advanced dancers often wear split-sole slippers because these shoes offer more flexibility and cleaner lines. They also allow dancers to better feel the floor.
Whether you wear full sole, split sole, leather or canvas – visit AllAboutDance.com to find your perfect shoe!"
"Marie Ann Cupis de Camargo, of the Royal Ballet, is credited with helping create the first ballet slipper. In the 1700s, she began dancing in slippers instead of shoes with heels to allow for more graceful jumping and leaping. Ballet shoes...have come a long way since that time and now dancers have many varieties to choose from, like full-sole or split-sole slippers.
As the name suggests, a full-sole shoe has a “full” sole that runs the length of a dancer’s foot from the heel to the toe. A split-sole shoe has two smaller soles at the toe and heel of the shoe. There is no sole at the arch of the foot.
Many beginners wear full-sole slippers because the shoe has extra arch support for students who are just learning to work through their foot and pointe. Intermediate and advanced dancers often wear split-sole slippers because these shoes offer more flexibility and cleaner lines. They also allow dancers to better feel the floor.
Whether you wear full sole, split sole, leather or canvas – visit AllAboutDance.com to find your perfect shoe!"
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