Sheslow

Name: Annie Sheslow

Guiding Question: Do I want to pursue tap dancing as a hobby?

(optional) Use this space to list possible activities, tasks, experiences. Remember everything you do should help you answer your Guiding Question.

(Required) This plan is a “best guess” as to what you and your mentor think you will be doing. It is not meant to be a hard and fast schedule for your Exploration. The plan should illustrate how you intend to complete a minimum of 80 hours.


 * = Date ||= Location/Activity ||= Number of Hours ||
 * =  ||= Buying Tap Outfits ||= 3 ||
 * =  ||= Observing Classic Tap Films ||= 4 ||
 * =  ||= Warming Up ||= 10 ||
 * =  ||= Learning Basic Tap Steps ||= 30 ||
 * =  ||= Learning the Routine ||= 30 ||
 * =  ||= Editing/Creating the "behind the scenes" movie ||= 3 ||
 * =  ||> Total Number of Hours ||= 80 ||
 * =  ||> Total Number of Hours ||= 80 ||
 * =  ||> Total Number of Hours ||= 80 ||
 * =  ||> Total Number of Hours ||= 80 ||
 * =  ||> Total Number of Hours ||= 80 ||
 * =  ||> Total Number of Hours ||= 80 ||
 * =  ||> Total Number of Hours ||= 80 ||
 * =  ||> Total Number of Hours ||= 80 ||
 * =  ||> Total Number of Hours ||= 80 ||
 * =  ||> Total Number of Hours ||= 80 ||
 * =  ||> Total Number of Hours ||= 80 ||

Journal #1 So far we have followed our plan of action pretty well, meeting each day (except for Saturdays), and getting straight to warming up and tapping! On our more intense days, we took a break by watching famous tap movies, and calling out the basic steps we recognized from our lessons. So far we have observed "Moses Supposes," "Fit as a Fiddle," and "Singing in the Rain" from the so-titled Gene Kelly classic to see more traditional tap dancing rhythms. We then switched to a much more contemporary view of tap with an Australian movie detailing the passion a group of steel workers have for tap called "Bootmen." Many of the dances in this film were a cappella and this gave us a much better understanding of the importance of rhythm and unity in tap dancing. More recently, we got the pleasure of observing a few of Sara's past tap dancing recitals, were we also called out steps we learned, but felt slightly demoralized by watching small children who could tap better than we could. From this week, we have learned shuffles (to the front, to the back, to the side, with toes only, with heels only, etc), scuffles, skiffles, "flaps," toe-heel steps, and more recently, organizations of these steps such as the Military time step or the Train time step. So far I have learned that telling your brain to do something and having your feet obey is fairly difficult! I had a lot of trouble with my brain somehow slightly changing the requirements of the step to something wrong (for example, I often get my scuffles and skiffles mixed up, and added extra hops when they were not needed). Hannah and I work really well together in supporting each other regardless of the level of understanding at that point. We have learned to be patient when one of us doesn't understand, and to congratulate ourselves when we do! What is surprising is that I think Hannah and I tend to be less patient and understanding with ourselves, individually, then Sara the choreographer is with helping us learn the steps. I think one difficulty from observing tap moves from others is that professionals make it look so easy and it is frustrating when we cannot grasp even the simplest steps! With difficulties in mind, I am having a lot of fun with my exploration, and look forward to learning the actual routine next week!

Journal #2 This week we got to put the 'building block' steps such as shuffles, flaps, and the time steps into the first half of our routine! Practicing to music and adhering to the rhythmic requirements of the song and the rhythms of the taps proves fairly difficult, and we spent this week drilling the routine pretty hard! What was different here versus last week is that Hannah and I had some individual time with Sara to practice the section where we have different rhythms, which was both helpful and a little more stressful (to be put on the spot!) I had trouble with the flap drag step, and through lots and lots of practicing, I have the drag element but can't combine it with the flap movement. So far, Sara decided to change it to simply a drag step, but I am hoping that if I keep practicing we will be able to change it back before the final show! The syncopation and call & response rhythm styles of our music choice (Me & My Shadow) and the tap steps as they are require a lot more partnership between Hannah and I. There is even a moment when I must "trust fall," and I think Hannah and I have learned to (literally) lean on each other a lot more and have become closer friends as a result of week 2! This can be frustrating for Sara, as both of us can have spasms of contagious giggles or anxiety. Towards the end of the week, once we got most of our steps down, we began the process of refining the dance. I have learned a lot about posture, especially to be sure to watch the location/position of my hands, which is something I never would think to mind! Both Sara & Hannah have noticed this problem, joking with me that I tap like an Irish step dancer. I also had a lot of trouble one day with my drag turn, but I think I am doing better with now that I have learned the proper way for my arms to stretch (right palm out, left in, fingers making "birds") which helps me propel myself around fully. Another conflict has been the rising temperatures of May, as both Hannah and I are not very athletic people, and the modest air conditioning does barely nothing when you are dancing! I have really learned to appreciate the stamina of professional dancers (or friends Sara and Kristen Siegfried). Next week, I am excited to learn more of the dance and buy our costumes!