Well, this entry is going to be about inspiration. When I moved to Calgary 4 years ago to begin an MFA, I was very upset to find that all the things which inspired me in Vancouver, did not exist here. The last 4 years I have collected other things connected to this city which have sunk into my skin and now fuel the desire to create.
After many hours of mind numbing sitting in front of the computer and squeezing out my thesis, I find that the ideas for pieces are overflowing in my brain. There's nothing like a little bit of entrapment and restraint to get the imagination working overtime. This has increased my ability to find inspiration everywhere.
Here, in Calgary, I find inspriration in boxy shapes. Calgary has many windows, square buildings and straight lines in abundance- frames basically.
I am fascinated with what is revealed inside of a frame and what is not seen....I know not the newest of topics but still something I find so much joy in exploring. I love looking into the windows of the office buildings to see snipets of life and become curious about what else exists. My favourite place to look through windows is on the C-train. All those bits of edited life briefly coming into contact with each other whenever the trains pass.
It's like a badly edited film with pieces randomly put together so there is no throughline or conherance. When I am on the c-train and I pass another c-train, I see the briefest of glimpses into other people's lives, each frame not really having a relationship to the next accept for the fact that it is all part of the c-train.
Last night, I went to First Thursday events at Art Central. This is a great Calgary happening that takes place at different spots around town on the first Thursday of ever month. Art Central is always bubbling in the evening. I love all the small galleries there with windows pointing towards the hallways. Looking into the windows at the hanging work is like looking at a frame, which is hung in a frame through a frame.
All the dancing that I will create when done this thesis:) Thank-you to my Calgary experience I think I have become less of a BC snob and my appreciation for this city has grown and grown. With that I hope to keep increasing my ability to find inspiration in all things.
Friday, March 6, 2009
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Night time Dance in Night time pants
This is my first blog. Committment to anything outside of dancing is...well, let's say something that I am working on becoming better at. This blog is a small step in that direction.
I'm setting this up as a means to share my experiences as a contemporary dance artist.
Currently I am in Calgary and part of the close and friendly Calgary dance community. These first entries are going to be short as I am finishing a thesis for an MFA in contemp. dance choreography and performance. I may chat about that more later, when it is all over and done with...but not now:)
Well first thing's first, I'd like to talk about going out dancing. For me, the best time to go out dancing is after seeing a dance show. After sitting that long and taking in all that inspiration, there's nothing like letting it rip on the dance floor.
I saw Alberta's Dance Explosions last week at Dancer's Studio West in Calgary. After seeing some of Alberta's choreographic movers and shakers I naturally felt inspired by the performances and was happy to discover DJ Rice at the Ship and Anchor.
As I am a contemporary dancer I am learning to get grounded and down into the floor in a whole other way here in Calgary with the DJD jazz infused into the community. Going out dancing is a great way to see what styles my body is picking up and integrating into my natural movement patterns. I'm glad for the bits of Funk, Swing and the bit of African that has krpt into my movement. Thanks for the House and Funk DJ Rice.
Afterwards, it was only 2:30 and I couldn't go to bed without another hour and a half of living room dancing when I got home. Yes, I have a life that allows for living room dancing until 4:00am. Taking in the night and allowing the fantasy that is available to my brain at that time is something that will always be a part of my life- and why not:)
This morning, I taught 2 and 3 year olds and ran around the studio following the spontaneous explosions into space that is available to them. I realized why 4 am is so important to me- it's the time when my imagination comes first and judgement falls away.
That's it for now, who knows where this blog will go as I am much more of a mover than a writer;)
I'm setting this up as a means to share my experiences as a contemporary dance artist.
Currently I am in Calgary and part of the close and friendly Calgary dance community. These first entries are going to be short as I am finishing a thesis for an MFA in contemp. dance choreography and performance. I may chat about that more later, when it is all over and done with...but not now:)
Well first thing's first, I'd like to talk about going out dancing. For me, the best time to go out dancing is after seeing a dance show. After sitting that long and taking in all that inspiration, there's nothing like letting it rip on the dance floor.
I saw Alberta's Dance Explosions last week at Dancer's Studio West in Calgary. After seeing some of Alberta's choreographic movers and shakers I naturally felt inspired by the performances and was happy to discover DJ Rice at the Ship and Anchor.
As I am a contemporary dancer I am learning to get grounded and down into the floor in a whole other way here in Calgary with the DJD jazz infused into the community. Going out dancing is a great way to see what styles my body is picking up and integrating into my natural movement patterns. I'm glad for the bits of Funk, Swing and the bit of African that has krpt into my movement. Thanks for the House and Funk DJ Rice.
Afterwards, it was only 2:30 and I couldn't go to bed without another hour and a half of living room dancing when I got home. Yes, I have a life that allows for living room dancing until 4:00am. Taking in the night and allowing the fantasy that is available to my brain at that time is something that will always be a part of my life- and why not:)
This morning, I taught 2 and 3 year olds and ran around the studio following the spontaneous explosions into space that is available to them. I realized why 4 am is so important to me- it's the time when my imagination comes first and judgement falls away.
That's it for now, who knows where this blog will go as I am much more of a mover than a writer;)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)