that moment, you see that crumb you have been seeing sitting on your keyboard keys disappear into your computer

As I not only seem to be the only one panicking about the fact, that due to work commitment issues I am not blogging as much as I want to and probably should, I feel it unnecessary to mention here again, that we are all trying our best to put demanding dance careers under one roof with fulfilling elements of study. It is not easy, but a challenge we will one day be proud to have mastered!
Strangely enough I was relieved to find myself not cast in this season´s guest choreographer´s piece, because I thought that would leave me with more time for my work on module 3, but somehow dashing to the library to work in piece and quiet and then back to rehearsal again; or sitting at my desk post performance are not really giving me that calm I was hoping for either.
I conducted my first "proper" interview last sunday. It went really well and although it took me three days to transcribe I already know, what data to use and how. Although the act of transcription seemed a rather painstaking process I think it has been worth taking the time, as I was already able to analyse the data in my head. I can already see myself needing to knuckle down for december entirely to be able to complete my work to my own satisfaction...
I also competed my survey, had it checked by a sociologist, who in turn suggested I use another programme (I was using the monkey) that would facilitate easier evaluation at the end. However I am not happy with the amount of advertising in the final questionnaire, so I am currently putting the questions back into the monkey. Hopefully I can send the survey out this week-end.
As a great chunk of my Critical Review and artefact will be coming from the literature I have been reading I am not too worried about keeping the survey running for two weeks and conducting the second and final interview thereafter.

I have been reading a lot of Jennifer Mason´s book "Qualitative Researching" and Uwe Flicks "Qualitative Sozialforschung- Eine Einführung".
Both books I highly recommend. Mr. Flick´s book (which is of course also available in English- it was on the Module 2 reading list) expands a bit more on what Adesola wrote about on her blog about campus session 2. Ms. Masons´ book offers a more philosophical approach towards qualitative research and also has made it clearer to me, what "school of thought" I am from and how I want to bring that into my critical review.

I have also been having many thoughts on the audience of my enquiry. As the author of the book on dancers AFTER their active career suggested and recent conversations with peers and colleagues have also brought to light, along with my observations of audience members in the studio, I think it is necessary to inform the dance and ballet- loving audience that come to our theatre on a regular basis and bring forward a lot of interest as to what happens to us dancers after we have "passed our sell by date". I am thinking a little booklet that can be on offer as members of the theatre- going public attend a performance, maybe even sparking their initiative to donate to the "Stiftung Tanz Transition Zentrum in Deutschland" that facilitates the transition of dancers in Germany??
I have also identified family and friends of dancers- especially of those in transition, as a key audience.
So I think I am moving away more and more from the fact, that I want to improve existing possibilities for dancers, as a lot is being done already, it just misses the funding and the public awareness.
The end of a dancer´s career is also a subject that needs more attention in the dance world in order to prevent dancers of falling on their face- especially, when forced to quit unexpectedly, but there is only so much I can do in the format of this degree course.

This week I also had another brain storm to clarify, where I am going with this.
Out came a mind map...

...the topic remains in the centre (orange IKEA gel pen). Four pillars of what it´s about: 1-Where did it come from?, 2- What it looks like today, 3- The in´s and out´s of what´s available and 4- What do my colleagues know and think about it.
In green I added, what research is going into what pillar and then two more topics I am concerning myself with. What justifies a dancer´s right to ask for help (ethical and philosophical) and why is this such an important topic the German dance world (and audience, thank you very much) has ignored for too long?? Hope it makes sense..?

Please excuse my un- academic style of this blog. It is 20 to midnight after a performance, as I am writing this...I hope you enjoyed reading this far anyhow ((O;
Cheers and good night!!