“I want to know if you can disappoint another
to be true to yourself
to be true to yourself
If you can bear the accusation of betrayal
and not betray your own soul.
if you can be faithless
and therefore trustworthy.
I want to know if you can see Beauty
even when it’s not pretty everyday.
And if you can source your own life from its presence.
I want to know if you can live with failure
yours and mine and still stand at the edge of the lake
and shout to the silver of the full moon,
“Yes.””
“The Invitation” by Oriah Mountain Dreamer
even when it’s not pretty everyday.
And if you can source your own life from its presence.
I want to know if you can live with failure
yours and mine and still stand at the edge of the lake
and shout to the silver of the full moon,
“Yes.””
“The Invitation” by Oriah Mountain Dreamer
I was met with several obstacles in the project. It was like looking up at storm clouds suspended above my head waiting to reign it’s fiery. While I was ignorantly trying to fight with time, I was relearning the dance of holding on and letting go - a test of intentional attention and trust. Fortunately, instead of having time to dwell, I was working on a few other projects in HK and Canada that demanded my attention. Although I couldn’t see how the works connected in the beginning, they all unveiled their interconnections overtime.
Project 1: HKYAF was developing their project ‘Why On Earth’ that spoke into how humans are affecting the living planet, and I was able to choreograph two new works collaborating with youth spoken word artists and dancers via zoom. Everything is always moving towards something: my experience with Amity and the Spring Show gave me confidence in this new way of creating. Working on this project shifted my perspective around my choreographic methodology using video, editing, and effects which gave myself and the dancers a new way of perceiving the movement and an openness to interpretation.
Project 2: I shared my movement practice of intuitive embodied awareness (EYE) as a movement advisor and guest instructor with Phase One (collaboration between Sammy Chien and Caroline McCaul: IG @we.were.one) and Method Dance Society Workshop Series. It was an informative experience and experimentation in how this methodology can be translated virtually and energetically. With both projects, we explored the body as space, and the body’s connection to physical and virtual environments – body and architecture and body and telepresence.
Project 3: Along with the workshop series, I was working on a new piece with MDS. We were exploring new technology in a video series called ‘Mother Sound/Body’. Shelby Richardson, artistic director, Jon Russell, technical director and the dancers, Ashley Burmaster, Grace Perry and Sloane Zogas worked their magic in exploring territories that were new to all of us all. We explored the digital self through sound and light body mapping. Using sensor technology, MDS challenged the traditional performance space, pivoting their material into the digital realm“ – body and technology (sensors).
Project 3: Along with the workshop series, I was working on a new piece with MDS. We were exploring new technology in a video series called ‘Mother Sound/Body’. Shelby Richardson, artistic director, Jon Russell, technical director and the dancers, Ashley Burmaster, Grace Perry and Sloane Zogas worked their magic in exploring territories that were new to all of us all. We explored the digital self through sound and light body mapping. Using sensor technology, MDS challenged the traditional performance space, pivoting their material into the digital realm“ – body and technology (sensors).
Project 4: Corps Bara was working on a project that focused on a way to experience dance on film as a meditative experience. We explored the topic of interconnection to land, nature and other through reflection as we rehearsed and choreographed the work via zoom with the dancers outdoors – body and land and nature.
Upon Reflection:
“The greatest step towards a life of happiness and simplicity is to let go. Trust in the power that is already taking care of you spontaneously without effort.”
~Mooji
These projects came at a perfect time and naturally aligned with OEWA, I just had to let go of it for a while and let the Universe do its work. Letting go is hard to do. Attention can either guide or distract our focus, and often it is in the moments of letting go we gain clarity and what is necessary effortlessly reveals itself. Trust is not easy and doesn’t always make sense in our minds. Sometimes, it is necessary to sit with the pain and uncertainty of the void to expand our sense-ability to that which is visibly hidden. As I continue to dive deeper into the unknown, the impermanent state and boundaries of my existence becomes more evident. My mind fights for duality, but my soul shouts that it is neither this or that, somewhere nor nowhere. it is simply, now here. And somehow, it’s all connected.
Side Note Story:
Working with Shelby and Jon was an incredible testimony to life in full circle. Jon and I used to meet at least once a year through competitions and Shelby and I danced in the same company at the beginning of our careers. To find ourselves aligned with similar curiosities in our practices and to be able to reconnect and work together years later was an unfathomable gift – huge thanks to Shelby, Jon and MDS for paving a way for our paths to entangle.
**Coming Up Next: Experiencing the process