Reflection or Curiosity?

Many, many months back, whats seems like nearly a lifetime ago, we had to write about something in three different writing styles. If you remember my chosen subject was Andrew LLoyd Webber's Phantom of the Opera. My academic piece touched on Phantom's sequel Love Never Dies and if a sequel would ruin Phantoms reputation?

Well, as it was something I was genuinely interested in, I have took upon myself to continue and complete what I started by reading some reviews of the sequel to possibly summarise the publics thoughts.

I personally haven't seen it as time is always against me, however I would love to hear from anyone who has seen it to share your views.

Love Never Dies, The Papers v The Fans

So what did the papers say?

There is no doubt that Love Never Dies seems like a relic of another age. Gloomy-doomy, largely through-sung musicals like this have in recent years been superseded in public affection by a welcome return to musical comedy in such shows as Hairspray, Sister Act and the latest hit, Legally Blonde. In the midst of a recession, will audiences fork out top dollar for two-and-a half hours of dark Gothic imaginings, seething passion, and in the final scene, sudden violent death?

I haven’t got the answer to that, and only time will tell. What I have no doubt about whatever is that this is Lloyd Webber’s finest show since the original Phantom, with a score blessed with superbly haunting melodies and a yearning romanticism that sent shivers racing down my spine.

Charles Spencer from the Telegraph 9th March 2010

There is much to enjoy in Andrew Lloyd Webber's new musical. The score is one of the composer's most seductive. Bob Crowley's design and Jack O'Brien's direction have a beautiful kaleidoscopic fluidity. And the performances are good. The problems lie within the book, chiefly credited to Lloyd Webber himself and Ben Elton, which lacks the weight to support the imaginative superstructure.

In short, the show has much to commend it and the staging is a constant source of iridescent pleasure. But, as one of the lyrics reminds us, "diamonds never sparkle bright unless they are set just right". Although Lloyd Webber's score is full of gems, in the end a musical is only as good as its book. With a libretto to match the melodies, this might have been a stunner rather than simply a good night out.

Michael Billington from The guardian 10th March 2010

Love may never die but West End shows will come perilously close to disaster unless they have some oompf and bongo — and preferably a decent tune — in the first 15 minutes.

Love Never Dies, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s sequel to Phantom Of The Opera, is as slow to motor as a lawnmower at spring’s first cut.

It doesn’t really smoke into life until the 20th minute and even then it splutters for a while. Finally, the singing and the ingenious staging combine to show the Lloyd Webber orchestration to its full glory, but, boy, it takes an age.

Quentin Letts from The Daily Mail 10th March 2010

So what did the fans say?

http://www.loveneverdies.com/members-area/phan-reviews/

What do you think?

The Half Way Point

So guys, 60 credits gone, 60 to go, we're half way there now, no turning back (you must be crazy if you do) this is where the real fun begins. THE PROJECT!!

So, after a well deserved break it's that time again and for some reason this time i have found it the most difficult to be motivated. I just want this pre-summer holiday to keep going I really think it's because i have scared myself into a position where i feel my whole grade relies on my project, it has to be fantastic. So no pressure or anything right!!

I also know that the end few months of completing this project are the busiest for most people on the BAPP course and things could get a little stressful, for me having three jobs, xmas shows, xmas bookings and my degree project could quite possibly make me unpopular in my house!!

So, what am i going to do about it? Well this post if a first, and many people have been asking me about my project as it was the main subject of conversation a few months ago, whats good is Jess has even booked herself on a pole course so i was having some effect on the public. I am off to get some questionnaire questions down as that is the first thing i said i would do in my proposal, i'm sure things will go from there. I have done well so far and not prepared to let myself down, so here goes, good luck everyone

Abbi :-)

Award Rationale

My Rationale for my award title

The award title I would like to receive is a BA Honours in

Professional Practice (Human Movement & Education)

The study of Human Movement traditionally incorporates areas of Physiology (living systems), Psychology, Biomechanics (analysis of athletes) but also includes other topics such as Diet, Nutrition and Performance analysis.

There are a number of influences that have helped me to determine my choice of award title. I have thought about all my previous qualifications, knowledge and work experience. I have considered my highest previous qualification which is a Trinity National Diploma in Musical Theatre. I obtained this award after I studied at the Northern Ballet School for three years and gained this rewarding qualification when graduating in July 2004.

I then went onto Preston College where I studied my Foundation in Dance Instruction award and my Certificate in Dance Education in Modern Dance and Ballet qualification. To complete these I had extensive learning of the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dance syllabus, I was required to demonstrate understanding and learning of Health & Safety and Lifespan Development. I had to demonstrate my capability of teaching my chosen genres (Ballet & Modern Dance) considering different abilities and conduct a class in front of an examiner. Upon completion this now means I am qualified to teach people how to dance and educate them about the dance environment whilst entering people for exams.

Upon completion of my dance qualifications I teach children/students and adults how to dance, I have choreographed many dances for performances using my experience from the Ballet school, I have educated A-Level Dance students from a Grammar School about the dance environment and entered many children and students for exams where they have all gained extremely good results because of my dance knowledge. I have also been working for Monarch education recruitment for four months where I am a teaching assistant, I educate children and assist teachers in primary schools all over Manchester.

Whilst studying these dance qualifications I also completed an A-Level in Physical Education, I have always loved sport from an early age and played for all the sports teams at school, however it was whilst studying the A-Level where I became really interested in sport history, diet and nutrition. During the two years I learned about sport promotion, sport performance, sports science and sport psychology all of which I use my knowledge and experience when teaching.

My proposed project title is another influence for my chosen award title. I wish to study “The public’s perceptions on Pole Dancing as a Sport”. I will be using my work experience, knowledge and previous qualifications to help me to study this. I feel that my project and previous experience and qualifications are related to Human Movement. Human Movement is a related scientific discipline that studies human movement in all contexts including that of sport.

I have strongly considered my title award as after my degree I wish to do my Postgraduate Certificate in Education. I feel that my award title is justified by my past experiences, my present professional work and research and my future aspirations, goals and qualifications.

Whoop

At last, no more stressing about this module. My hard work is on it's way to Middlesex as we speak.

No more writing, sleepless nights, stupid printers that don't like printing, folders that aren't big enough and countless amounts of reminder notes..............................for now!!!! Bring on the project!

:-) xx

Literature

School gets pole-dancer to perform for pupils
January 29, 2009 4:51 PM

Education bosses have been bombarded with complaints from teachers after inviting a pole-dancer to perform for school children.

The pole-dancers were invited to give demonstrations as part of a 'Be Healthy' initiative at South Devon College in Paignton.

But after 1,000 pupils aged 14-19 watched the demo the complaints started to roll in - from teachers who hadn't seen the act - claiming it was inappropriate and indecent.

Isn't it odd that the complaints are coming from teachers rather than the 14-year-old boys?
Dancer Sam Remmer - who teaches pole dancing as fitness classes - said on her blog: "On querying the nature of the complaints I was told that most of the complaints had come from members of staff who had not actually seen our displays but had just assumed that they were inappropriate for their students.

"I was annoyed to think that mainstream pop group such as the pussycat dolls seem to promote inappropriate behaviour far more than my pole dancing classes.

"If anything my classes empower women and therefore encourage them to be in control of their bodies."

http://newslite.tv/2009/01/29/school-gets-poledancer-to-perf.html

Literature

Mon Feb 22, 2010 3:02 pm EST

Will pole dancing be the newest Olympic sport?

By Chris Chase

If the founder of the International Pole Dance Fitness Association has her way, an activity popularized by strippers will one day become a medal sport in the Summer Games.

Although such an event would make rappers, athletes, and bachelor-party guests very, very happy, there's no chance it will ever happen.

As the Associated Press reported Monday, some members of the pole-dancing community (yes, there's a pole-dancing community) are dreaming of one day showcasing their ability to hang upside-down on a metal pole in the Olympic Games.

To call their pursuit an uphill climb would only suffice if said hill was Mt. Everest. Pole dancing isn't recognized as a sport by the IOC, doesn't have any uniform judging regulations, and, most important, is pole dancing.

This doesn't stop IPDFA founder Ania Przeplasko fromdeluding herself hoping that the sport could get into the Summer Games as soon as possible. "There will be a day when the Olympics see pole dancing as a sport," she told the AP. "The Olympic community needs to acknowledge the number of people doing pole fitness now. We're shooting for 2012."

That the schedule for the 2012 Olympics has already been set is only the first of thousands of things wrong with this statement. The next three that come to mind are: A lot of people do yoga for fitness and you don't see Denise Austin lobbying the IOC; it may be tough to envision Olympics where Derek Jeter can't participate but Savannah can; and, again, pole dancing.

How would you even judge such an event? Would there be a compulsory routine set to "Pour Some Sugar On Me"? Could competitors earn deductions for not getting a tip from the creepy guy with the mustache? Will the U.S. trials be held at Crazy Girls? And would Pacman Jones be allowed to judge?

We appreciate all that pole dancers do and respect the moxie of its community to set such lofty goals for itself. But we sadly don't ever see the activity in the Olympics. Unless, of course, Scotty Lago ever gets put in charge.

http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/vancouver/blog/fourth_place_medal/post/Will-pole-dancing-be-the-newest-Olympic-sport-?urn=oly,221369