Tuloy ang Laban

So it turns out that the school didn't want me to skip this (first) batch of Theatre students. Instead of transferring my lone student to the other classes, they transferred one student to my class.

We had our fifth and last official session last night, and though all the sessions were fun, they were also stressful for me. As I mentioned before, I had to research because our classes were curriculum-based. Then using 2 old laptops in this "new normal" added to the stress. I have been in theatre for 27 years, and I've been a teacher for 19 years, but I really dislike teaching theatre online. It's just not right.

I will have to continue researching for the run of Batch 1 - sort of like second semester if it's a normal school. At least I already have the knowledge, experience and materials for the next batches of Run 1. Still hoping though that we will be able to have face-to-face sessions soonest.

In the meantime, laban lang!

Huge Realization

I was chosen as one of the theatre mentors in a new performing arts center a few months ago. The biggest difference between this and other centers is that this is a curriculum-based training center. I was chosen because of my experience in theatre (27 years this month), but when I saw the actual curriculum with the topics to be discussed, etc., I was, right there and then, slapped with a huge realization that I am illiterate and incompetent. For the first 2 sessions, I researched, learned the topics, then made the informational materials just a day or two before our actual classes. I think I did a satisfactory job with my 2 students for the first 2 sessions.

Now that 1 student quit the training because of his studies (hopefully not because of theatre class or because I was lousy), I got 1 student left while the other mentors (who are formally trained so they're wayyyyy better than me) has 3 or 4. The center owners said that the ideal number per theatre class is 5, so I immediately suggested that they transfer my student to any of the other classes so we will experiencing interacting and working with other students. I hope that they will grant that request for the sake of the student.

I have accepted the fact that I am incompetent with formal theatre training since I've not experienced any of it. All that I have are experiences on and off stage with a lot of great directors, but sometimes, experience is not enough.