Back at it!

So, it is with happiness that I return to the studio this week to work on many projects!

My sister is here. With her arrival, I am reminded that play is ever present in our collective experience as collaborators. This morning in the studio, we joke, but get right down to business in the process. We begin with a class, where I introduce Mackenzie to her first micro movement practice. I decided not to tell her much, but just bring her through the exercises, and see what she got out of simply doing. She will write a short statement for me to include in my next MFA packet on the experience. With our performance for the Storyline event on Friday, we began by running "Words Apart." The piece comes back into our bodies with ease. The piece seems to be taking on its own life now, changing and evolving with each performance. There is much yet to be revealed to us, the dancers, in performing the piece. however, our continued engagement with the work will continue to bring us to new understanding, both kinetically and emotionally in the work.

With the second hour of rehearsal, we commence work on phrase work for the upcoming dance film. I have decided to set some of the same movement from the original stage piece from which this film is derived, but set new movement, as well, breathing new life into old material. I make two phrases on Mackenzie today, which are positively satisfying in their humor and exaggerated nature. Dinosaur hands! And a Long Island accent. Which became a Spanish accent. That became Russian, suddenly. Anything to keep us laughing and working hard!

Lastly, we begin to work on material for my newest piece, "Quilt(working title)," for which I am writing the music! So excited! The first section of the piece is slow, and builds, like the current of a river. I set some movements today, but don't put them in a specific order, as I would like to at this point, see how they organically attach to each other in our individual bodies.

Later this evening, we work with Linda, on her children's theater piece about Phellipe Petit, the man who walked between the twin towers on a tight rope in the 1970's. During Linda's rehearsal, we work on assembling a live soundscape, full of hand-made rain, tapping feet, sweeping brooms, popping paper, whistles, and vocal play. We recorded this soundscape, and it sounds like a lot of fun! The space was full of sound, which is what we wanted for this particular section, which happens to open the piece. Setting the scene for NYC waking up!

Tomorrow, I prepare for my friend, Laura to arrive at my house. So excited! She will watch our performance, and presentation of the Documentary on Friday. I hope it all goes well!

~Cara