Fieldwork Diary Entry (February 9, 2013)

Have set up a survey on SurveyMonkey which I have emailed out to 105 people in my address book. The aim of the survey is to get a vox pop feel of what the average person on the street thinks of Charleston dance. The survey that was sent out can be found here. 

My thoughts prior to  seeing survey results are that people still view Charleston as an old-fashioned dance from the past, not the present.  However I do believe that everyone will know what the Charleston is, even if they have scant knowledge about dance. So I am curious as to the reasons why  a dance that has such a strong legacy and recognisable features & imagery (certain moves such as Granny Knees, basic Charleston, flappers) is given short shrift in today's dance spectrum. I am hoping that maybe the answers to the survey might give me an insight into one of the original questions raised by my fieldwork.  That being, why in modern London is solo Charleston dance less popular than other swing and vintage dances?

The age group I sent my survey put to ranges between 25 to over 60. So I hope (if they respond) this broad pool will throw up some interesting views.  Or maybe not.

Alia from the Bees Knees responded to my email request and has said again she is interested in being interviewed and asked me for another time availability. So I have replied again with various options.

Some of my correspondence with Alia from The Bees Knees

Naomi from Glambop Fitness emailed me to say that she has checked with the students in her Parsons Green class and they are uncomfortable with being filmed.   Instead we agree that I will film her and Sara executing some of the exercises after class as well as conduct an interview with them.  I am disappointed but I do understand as it is a small class and they don't really know me.

I missed the last lecture on filming at Roehampton with Gemma.  As it is, I already have done all my filming, my fieldwork with Rosaria having finished last week.  Although I'm sure that the footage I've captured could be much better but I am now limited to using what I have.