A’dam Initiative #1

IDOCDE “Amsterdam Teachers Group” PROPOSAL

The A’dam Initiative #1 is a proposed ‘plan of action’ for dance-teaching research and documentation created by the local (IDOCDE) Amsterdam teachers group within the framework of IDOCDE’s 2nd funding application round.
This proposal was submitted to the IDOCDE project leaders in February 2013.

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A’dam Initiative #1

FOCAL POINTS

1. Identity
2. Live meetings: Forums and Classes (participation & observation)
3. Documentation
4. Peer to peer evaluation
5. Project evaluation

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1.   Identity

The introduction of A’dam Initiative #1 was the creation of a new “Amsterdam Teachers Group” profile for the IDOCDE website (separate from our individual IDOCDE teacher’s profiles) that represents the collective identity and focus of the Amsterdam Teachers Group (hereafter referred to as ATG).

This ATG profile will be the repository of all documentation related to the research and developments of ATG’s A’dam Initiative #1 collaboration.

The goals for the organization of the ATG were as follows:

• To define our identity as individual members and as a local group further.
• To ensure continuance of the group by setting up a structural format with live meetings.
• To allow all members to join with different levels of commitment.
• To encourage generation of material that can feed the IDOCDE website.

*Please see our IDOC tilted “Amsterdam Teachers Group Introduction” for a detailed description of the history and development of the ATG.


2.   Live meetings

    “We all agree on the deep value of reading, writing and speaking about dance, but we also agree that dance “happens” in the moment. To embody a deeper understanding of what we teach and how we teach it is essential to have in depth face to face exchanges and body to body interaction.” ATG

For the second phase (2013-2014) of our collective research we will frame our exchanges and interactions within a series of Forums and Classes.

The Forums and Classes will headed by a core group of six teachers from the Amsterdam Teachers Group. The core teachers will equally divide the tasks of organizing, implementing and evaluating the series.

The forums are a continuation of the monthly sessions the Amsterdam local group have held in the past year. The teaching days will focus on Peer to peer evaluation. We aim to collaborate with the AHK teachers department (DD) and invite a group of guests from outside of the dance field to document the series. This will be an opportunity for us to pass on our knowledge about IDOCDE as local mentors to the next generation of dance teachers.

There is an interest within the Amsterdam Teachers Group to visit other groups and have other groups visit us. We therefore aim to initiate face to face exchange meetings with other IDOCDE teachers groups from other countries.


3.   Documentation

    “We are constantly searching for fresh insight as well as articulate, inspiring and informative ways to document dance teaching. We will therefore investigate different ways of documenting our teaching practice by expanding the definition of documentation and creating a multi-layered portrait of our collective research with a series of unique documentations.” ATG

Each Forum and Class in the series will be documented by a guest from outside of the dance field. Ten individuals from various fields (i.e film, journalism, architecture, design...) will be invited to document one of the Forums or Classes in their own unique way. These 10 documentations will be posted on the IDOCDE website and will form a multifaceted portrait of our research.


4.   Peer to peer evaluation

    “We highly value critical assessment and crave a challenging exchange of ideas about the practical application of our work.” ATG

Each of the Forums and Classes in the series will be led by one of the ATG core members and evaluated and assessed by the ATG on both a “General Criteria” and an “Individual Criteria”.

The “General Criteria” will be created by the Amsterdam Teachers Group to assess class structure, depth and development of movement material, clarity of communication, and methods of information exchange.

The “Individual Criteria” will be created by the teacher leading a forum or teaching a class.


5.   Project evaluation

And the end of the 1st year, we will dedicate 1 meeting to discuss our experiences and findings with regards to this initiative. It will be a moment to reflect in order to sharpen our goals for the 2nd year. This meeting will also be documented and posted on the IDOC website as it will be a crucial moment with regards to the greater organization for teachers groups of this kind.


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PLAN OF ACTION

1. Within the local group, we will form a core group of the teachers that commit on a structural basis. (Michael and Roos have already put themselves forward as being available).

2. The core group, and/or members of the greater local group will form a subgroup that is  focused on exchange meetings with the other countries.

3. In line with the educational year, we will have 3 forums. These days are a continuation of the monthly sessions the A’dam local group have had in the past year.

4. Furthermore, we will have 6 teaching days that will focus on peer to peer evaluation by means of participation and observation. We hope to form a collaboration with the Docent Dans department of the AHK in order to invite students to come and participate and/or observe these classes. This will allow us to act as local mentors and pass on our knowledge about IDOCDE. It will also possibly provide payment for the teacher. (Maria Ines and Nicola, who are both on the teaching staff of the Docent Dans department, will establish this connection.)

5. In addition to the forums and the teaching days, we will schedule 1 full day to evaluate.

6. Both the forums and the teaching days will be documented and posted on the IDOCDE website, on the ATG group page, which is to be created.

A’dam Initiative #1 – Calendar

2013/2014

Sept	Theme day	8 hours
Oct	Teaching day - participation	8 hours
	Teaching day – observation	8 hours
Nov	-
Dec	Theme day	8 hours
Jan	Teaching day - participation	8 hours
	Teaching day – observation	8 hours
Feb	-
March	Theme day	8 hours
April	Teaching day - participation	8 hours
	Teaching day – observation	8 hours
May	-
June	Evaluation	8 hours

2014/2015

Sept	Theme day	8 hours
Oct	Teaching day - participation	8 hours
	Teaching day – observation	8 hours
Nov	-
Dec	Theme day	8 hours
Jan	Teaching day - participation	8 hours
	Teaching day – observation	8 hours
Feb	-
March	Theme day	8 hours
April	Teaching day - participation	8 hours
	Teaching day – observation	8 hours
May	-
June	Evaluation	8 hours

A’dam Initiative #1 – Financial Proposal

With regards to the application for funding, we hereby offer an estimate of hours based on an hourly rate of € 40,- and a core group of 6 committed members with assigned tasks for both years. We realize the amount of money is very ambitious, but we wanted to provide an estimate of the actual cost that could serve the IDOCDE application for funding by Kirsten.