Spontaneous, Special Day

Spontaneity is the name of the game today. Though I felt a little under the weather today, I felt like today would be a special day. And indeed, it was. And continues to be!

After three weeks of no one showing up to my new yoga class, I had my first student this morning! A lovely woman who has just moved to town from the Dominican Republic. She is a recently retired professional dancer. She told me that she stopped dancing two years ago to have her children. She told me also, that she would like to get back in shape (back in shape? She looked amazing!!) to enjoy one last dancing hoorah. She is 41, but doesn't look at all her age (I have always held that dance will keep you young!) and wants to make sure she does a bit more dancing before she cannot anymore. I am happy to introduce her to the NC Dance scene in whatever way I can.

I decide not to dance after teaching this morning, as I was feeling light headed, and took a cue from my body that maybe I could use some rest. So I went home to spend the rest of the morning with Robert. He is such a beautiful man, and a caring husband. I just love him, and never feel like we can spend enough time together. We watch some DVR'd episodes of Family Guy and our new favorite, Boardwalk Empire (HBO, you've done it again...a perfectly addictive, well-crafted show).

Laura calls, and we talk briefly. I posted some videos of the dances I have choreographed for her upcoming Beatles, Bach and Beer concert next week, and I am glad to hear that she enjoys them very much! After getting off the phone with Laura, it is time for Rob to go to work. And almost time for me to meet Suzy, an art acquaintance of mine at the coffee shop for some art conversation.

At the coffee shop, we talk about all manner of things art: projects, collaborations, organization and dreams. I mention that I have always wanted to go on a loooong road trip. She says she would like to do the same. We discuss the possibility of going on a loooong road trip with a purpose. We decide this is do-able. We brainstorm what would go into such a trip, and what we might get out of it. We discuss the concept of having no preconceived notions about what we would make during and after this trip. We agree on that. We discuss how we will gather materials, information and inspiration on our trip. Suzy asks me how long I would like to go for. I say, "In a perfect world, like a month." She says OK. OK...so hence, we begin the process of putting this adventure together.

Later in our conversation, Suzy notices the time, and tells me she must leave, but lets me know that the Woman's Fund is having a social get-together that I should go to. I have no plans, so I go. I meet a friend of Suzy's, who will be sharing an art space with her come December. I meet new women, who are members of the fund. They tell me all about it. It is what it sounds like. Women who work to fund women's initiatives, specifically targeting areas like education, health and the workforce. Hm. Some insight into my current study of feminism.

Well, I'm still feeling light headed. So I'm going to have some tea, take a bath and turn in early. I feel a cold coming on. Boo. I'm hoping I can rest and drink it out before it becomes annoying!

~Cara

Fall Approaching (With Questions)

Earlier today, I figured I would write this post to tell you about the productive morning I had at the studio, or my brainstorming conversation with Laura. Or perhaps I would tell you about my always amazing voice lesson with Barbara. However, since this afternoon, my mind has been changed...

I have just returned from an early evening walk about my neighborhood, taking in the sights and smells of the approaching fall. There are cherry-red leaved speckled in with still vibrant green ones. There are brown, dead leaves trickled all over the street. And the branches of some trees are beginning to already look bear. I wonder how much of that can be contributed to the heat we've had this summer, or to the changing of the season. Though the weather is still warm, the evenings are beginning to cool. The days have begun to shorten. Soon, it will be dark by dinner time. Soon, it will be time to don our jackets. And what's more, I think I'm ready. Pumpkin cheesecake is in the case at the coffee shop. And the summer fruits are beginning to look less vivid, and become less abundant as farmers ship the last of their sunny season crop to market. Soon, it will be time for the crunch of apples dipped in peanut butter. No longer time for the pungent juice of peaches to run down our chins. I bought squash the other day, and think of all the wonderful, soul warming dishes I can make with fall fodder. If summer tastes light and airy, fall tastes like the earth. Dirt. Beautiful, rich, sustaining dirt. There is spice to be had and immense comfort. I long for the blankets, for cozy toes and the anticipation of winter, where we go inside, literally and figuratively. I enjoy the process of watching the flora and fauna in decline. The animals readying themselves for sleep or departure, grass going dormant, sap flowing from pine trees. It seems that only us humans try to continue as usual, as it is our way to live out of sync with the rest of creation. This year though, more than ever, I feel in tune with the cycling of nature, as I am in transition. This year marks many new experiences and many new directions in my life. Summer was a flourish of activity, love and colorful excitement. This fall, I'm settling in for the new routine. There is brewing to be had, and cultivating my creative harvest. This winter should hold some quiet time for me, with rest for the spring, which already looks incredibly busy. Emergence. New projects. New experiences. My birthday, which will mark the beginning for me, of another year on this planet. It feels good to grow and change as the earth grows and changes around me.

Have you taken any time to see and smell the changing season? Are you attuned to the cycle of creation, or are you in opposition to it? Are you growing and changing in some area of your life, or are you stagnant? What are you looking forward to? Have you made a space for yourself lately, to think and reflect?

~Cara

Last Day!

Here we are, coming up on our last day of rehearsals at NC State University. We have had a wonderful time here, and we're looking forward to putting the final touches on the piece.

The past few days have been full of both lovely work and lovely rest. During Monday's rehearsal, the dancers worked very hard to learn a challenging phrase for the final section of the piece. I think it came as a surprise to some, given the mellow work for prior sections we worked on. All the sweat paid off though, and now both the quilt section and the finale section are finished. I think having an audience helped boost the morale of the students as they worked through the phrase. Many of the students that came to our arts village session last week attended this rehearsal, which was open for their viewing. Many students that were not at our arts village session came, as well. All that is left for today's rehearsal are the transition sections, which Laura began work on during the first two rehearsals.

Monday was also a day of wonderful activities just for us. Laura and I both got much needed massages, after all that time in the car. We got ice cream, and walked. We had dinner at a wonderful restaurant called Porter's, and we felt great. I am learning both the importance of rest during intense work periods and the art of it, too. It felt great to claim our free time as our own.

Yesterday was a pretty relaxed day in terms of our NCSU obligations, so we decided to play some, and get some work done for our personal art practices, too. We went to IHOP and ate pancakes for breakfast, as Laura's car was getting an oil change. We then decided to head downtown. Laura's sister is getting married shortly, and Laura needed a Maid of Honor dress, which Molly (Laura's sister) left to Laura to select. We went into the bridal shop, and as Laura was getting serious trying on wonderful dresses, I was playing dress up! I have to tell you, the whole thing was my idea...I felt bad at first, knowing I wasn't there to buy anything, but since Laura was, I didn't feel so bad anymore! I tried on some amazing dresses, and some very ugly dresses. However, I thoroughly enjoyed myself! Laura found the most wonderful dress for the wedding. A deep blue halter with ruffles around the collar. Fit her like a glove!

We spent the rest of the afternoon working on charting songs for Laura's upcoming Bach and Beatles concert. After that, Laura gave me a singing lesson! It was fun to hear her approach to singing after studying with Barbara all these months. Laura is a great teacher, and had me engage in much ridiculousness, which I love and appreciate. I can't wait for my lesson with Barbara on Saturday, as I hope my extra practice will show when I sing for her next.

This afternoon, I teach a technique class for the NCSU Dance Company, another dance group at NCSU, before our rehearsal with the Panoramic Dance Project. Then it's goodbye NCSU, and back on the road to Winston! I'm so excited to be going home. I miss my husband, and my cat terribly!

~Cara

I Love It.

I love what I do. Even when it strikes my body and mind useless from fatigue. The past few days have presented themselves with a blur of activities from teaching, to performing, to rehearsing, to lecturing. And of course, much time in the car.

On Thursday, Laura and I found ourselves back in High Point for my classes at HPU, albeit temporarily. Laura decides to participate in my tap class. I do not have an extra pair of tap shoes, but I lend Laura my flamenco shoes. Along with my students, Laura concentrates, moves and laughs out loud as we move through our warm ups, progressions and combination work. At the end of class, I give my students an out of class assignment, to be completed while I am finishing out my obligations at NC State this coming Monday-Wednesday. They must each find a piece of percussive music, analyze that music and create a tap phrase inspired by the rhythm of that music. Many of the students seem excited about this assignment, which will soon turn into a larger piece for the class. I have to admit, I am excited to see what they come up with! I then have the opportunity to send my contemporary class away with an assignment, too. The students made some seed movement inspired by some random adjectives, dynamic direction and spatial patterns. I have split the seven students into two groups, and each group must create a large, unison phrase based on the seed movement each individual member brings to the group. I can't wait to see what they've come up with!

Thursday evening, Laura and I conduct a dorm program workshop for residents of the arts village at NC State. We talk to the students about aspects of collaborative work, and we do some on-the-fly arting. The burritos provided for the program are a perk, too! We have a blast getting to know this varied group of students; philosophers, mathematicians, environmental scientists, fashion designers, graphic artists, visual artists and more. They enjoy our easy, but enthusiastic approach to the art of art making, and the benefits of random art experiences. We drive back to Winston on Thursday evening, as Friday was an early start for the both of us. Laura has teaching, wedding and church service obligations (she is a professional church organist, piano and voice teacher), and Friday evening marked the beginning of the NC Dance Festival's 20th season, of which 87 Dance Productions is part!

Friday morning, I drive to UNC Charlotte to conduct a masterclass as part of the NC Dance Festival. Though I have 26 students signed up for the class, ten show. I am happy though, as we have a lot of fun! We engage in technique with a healthy dose of general ridiculousness! We practice foot and back exercises, run across the studio screaming at the top of our lungs, learn combinations for moving big and dart across the diagonal of the studio in a quirky improv where every step is a jump. Immediately after this early burst of energy, I attempt to rush to the airport to pick up Mackenzie, who is in town to perform with me! I stop at the grocery store to pick up salads, goldfish crackers and powerade for Mackenzie and I, as I know it is going to be a long day. I get lost on the way to the airport, and leave Mackenzie sitting at baggage claim for many more minutes than I had intended. Once I pick her up, it is time to get over to the theater to tech out our piece, "Words Apart." We will be performing the piece in five NC cities throughout the fall and winter as part of the NC Dance Festival. This is my second time on the NCDF tour, and I enjoyed it so much last time, that I am very much looking forward to participating this year, and having Mackenzie to share the experience with. Friday evening, after checking into the Microtel and catching a nap, we perform our piece for a nice sized crowd in the Robinson Theater at UNC Charlotte. I feel good about our performance, and the audience responded well. During intermission, we find seats in the audience to watch the rest of the show. It is lovely, and I think over and over in my head, about how much I love dancing, making art and making it my life. Back at the hotel, we eat pizza and try to get a few Z's before getting back to our individual obligations early on Saturday.

This morning, I wake up at about 5am to get ready and drive back to Raleigh for a 9am rehearsal with the Panoramic dance Company. I have four hours with the girls to set two sections. One section is from my piece, "Our Quilt." The company members wait patiently as I alter the choreography, originally for two people, to fit a company of seventeen! That was a huge challenge, given the subtle nature of the movement, and the slow pace. I then move on to choreographing Laura's composition called, "Georgia." It is inspired by her grandmother. It is a beautiful song, which moves in and out of slow, soulful passages and heart-pounding up-tempo sections. Also very challenging to create a section for seventeen people. But I have it in my head that this sections is to be a joyful offering. Working on it. I got about half way done today, and feel confident that I can finish on Monday.

After the rehearsal, I have a hard time focusing on my school work for Goddard. My eyes are bleary and my mind is mush. I try to nap, but am unsuccessful. Tomorrow, I plan to have an easy day spent in my pajamas with a cup of tea, writing at my computer. I'm looking forward to it!

Good night.

~Cara

Excitement at NCSU!!

Laura's and my residency at NSCU with the Panoramic Dance Project began on Monday, and so far, so good! We began with our first rehearsal on Monday evening with a large group of eager dancers. I was happy to recognize many faces in the group from my work with the company the year before. After an energetic warm-up, we begin the process of soliciting material from the students for the piece. As I have mentioned before, we are workshopping aspects of our collaborative work, "Common Threads." Before our arrival, we asked that the members of the PDP write a letter to an influential woman in their lives. We of course, plan to use these words as fodder for the piece. The students put much thought into their letters, and there were many strong words and phrases. There were also tender, loving words, words of admiration, questions, and hard experiences. Laura expertly led the students into a collection of activities to edit down their letters down to mere words, for use as seed material. At first shy about speaking out loud, Laura begins to pull the dancers out of their shells, and after some initial resistance, the dancers are talking and moving out loud. As Laura leads her activities, I observe in her a flexibility and ability to think on her feet that would be valuable to any educator. She has an energy that inspires creative thought, playfulness and desire to move forward. She is lovely with the students. They respond well to her open nature and her quirky demeanor. On the way back to Winston Salem that night, we discuss the arc of the piece. We quickly come to some conclusions about how each sections should play out, and how we should conduct the remainder of our rehearsals. We devise a mental map for the piece, and realize that as far as the "larger" piece that we will perform is concerned, we don't need much more. Everything we have is already at our fingertips. We have all the music we need. We have all of our conceptual elements. We have the bodies to execute our ideas. I'm so glad we are engaged in this opportunity!

On Tuesday, we are back in Winston for the morning, as I need to teach my classes at HPU. I bring Laura along to my classes, and I introduce her to all of my lovely students. As always, I have a lot of fun teaching my classes, but by the end of the day, I am tired. As a very demonstrative, energetic teacher, I often forget to pace myself while I'm teaching, and only when I am done, do I realize how much energy I have burned! But there is no rest for the weary...we are right back on the road to Raleigh for our Tuesday evening workshop, "Performative Painting," in this case, drawing, as we are not allowed to use paint in the studio. We have almost an entirely new group of faces at our workshop, and they look as though they do not fully know what to expect from this workshop, with large pieces of paper lying on the floor and music making objects about the place. I explain that the students are not really there to participate in a workshop, but a collaborative, interdisciplinary performance experience. We begin with some general ridiculousness, which I love, as a warm up. This group of ladies is energetic and immediately ready to play with us! The performance begins: all of us begin by moving slowly in a large clump, moving in and out of each other, as Laura makes a rhythm for us. There are rocking motions and searching motions and sensitivity to the space and people around us. I wouldn't call it careful, but certainly a contemplative start. Soon, the group begins to let loose. A voice sounds out in "Happy Birthday," swirls and colors begin to appear on the large pieces of paper, and the energy is quickly rising. The space between our bodies begins to expand and new sounds begin to emerge. There are times of utter silliness, and times of quiet wondering. After about an hour, I step out of the space to observe the goings-on. There is paper strewn everywhere. There are joyous bodies strewn everywhere...some balancing chairs on their feet, some beating drums, some furiously doodling, some skipping and running about. I ask Laura if she thinks the performance will resolve itself. We wait. But the group continues, and evolves again and again. Finally, I call the performance to a quiet close. I instruct the group to quietly clean the floor and to convene in a circle. During our time in the circle, the members of the performance have positive things to say about their experience, and many expound upon how refreshing it was to play so completely. Many members noted poignant moments in the performance where they observed fleeting moments of beauty, aggression, tenderness, play and uncertainty. How lovely!

We are looking forward to this evening's rehearsal, as we will begin to set some of the larger aspects of the piece today, and continue with the material we began on Monday. Tomorrow, it is back to HPU. As always, I'll keep you updated!

~Cara

Time Flies!!

I am always amazed at how fast time goes, and lately, more amazed when I realize how many days have gone by without a new post!

Life continues to be as busy as ever. This past week, I taught my first yoga class at Winston Salem State U, and was surprised to have a full class my first day. The class is an extra curricular offering of the fitness department, and it is not required that anyone attend on a regular basis. The students did wonderfully. Only one young woman in the class had ever taken a yoga class before. The rest of the group did beautifully, and seemed to take well to this first experience. After the class, many of the students exclaimed that they felt relaxed, and didn't feel at all like they'd taken a full day of classes. many of the students also said that they had plans to return!

In other yoga news, I am kicking off September with the free yoga weekend at the Yoga Gallery here in Winston Salem. I taught two demo classes this weekend of the class I will be teaching on Monday mornings this fall, "Focus and Flow," which is a powerful practice in both flow and deep alignment based exploration. I had a great time meeting new potential students, and I hope the class will take off soon.

Yesterday, I had a wonderful voice lesson with Barbara. I have begun an exploration into more classical singing, and have begun to practice "Ombra Mai Fu," both in celebration of this new vocal venture and my impending trip to Italy this winter! Barbara as always, is a lovely teacher, and I feel like I learn so much every time I study with her. Singing is such a satisfying art form. I think even if I never perform, I will keep studying voice for the fun of it. I find it is wonderful for finding your voice, literally and figuratively! And music really does make my heart sing!

These past few days at the dance studio have been difficult. Lately, I feel as if I am walking a thin line between great progress and utter burn-out. This past summer, this past year in fact, has been so full of creative projects, I don't know how my brain will be able to keep up to finish out my creative duties into the spring. Yesterday evening, I completely scrapped the idea I'd been working on for the past two weeks, as it was feeling antiseptic and not at all organic. I ended up staying longer than I'd originally planned, to stumble upon a concept that felt much more in keeping with the vein I am wanting to portray emotionally. This afternoon in the studio, all began well, but I soon became stuck. I think I became too judgmental about the material I was working with and I got frustrated. The frustration resulted in me sitting on the floor to stare at myself in the mirror, wondering what I should do next. Just then, Laura called. She told me to get out of the studio, to breathe easy and to have some "me time." Her thinking is, that if you're not ready, you're not ready. I can agree with her, but I feel guilty leaving after only an hour and a bit of work. I decide to go to the park, and sit quietly for a while. It is a gorgeous day, after all. I realize that I cannot for one minute, keep my mind off of dance, and making dance, and teaching dance and performing, etc., etc. So I set the alarm on my iPod to 5 minutes, and forbid myself to think any thoughts about dance. I am unsuccessful the first go-'round. I try again, and I give myself something to think about, instead of focusing on what I ought not to think about. I begin to notice my heart beat. The tension in my jaw, the feeling of adrenaline in my veins. And I begin to recognize those things that bring these sensations to rise. Contemplating my artwork, setting up my adult life, not breathing deeply enough, and not getting enough sleep are some of the things on my list.

After the park I make my way over to the book store, where I stumble upon a book that I might enjoy reading more than the book I have in my possession at the moment. I am supposed to be reading about feminism for my MFA work. The book that was suggested to me by my adviser is one that I am having a very hard time getting into. I hate to say it, but political conversation of any kind truly bores me, and feminist politics are no exception. But I'm willing to give the subject another try, and perhaps the book that I have found today will illuminate the contemporary feminist movement in a way I can relate to. School is yet another worry for the time being. After having such an amazing semester this past spring, I can't see how this semester will measure up. I haven't begun to put together the packet work that is due on the 20th of this month, and I am at a loss of how I should begin. Again, I suppose I should breathe, and let the work come when it is ready.

This evening, I am making preparations for Laura to arrive later, as we begin our artist's residency at NC State tomorrow. What a whirlwind two weeks these are going to be. Oye. However, I will do my best to keep you posted! This residency is a very exciting venture for us both, and despite how crazy these next two weeks are going to be, I am sure they will be more than worth while!

~Cara

Jelly Belly Week

Another week has begun in a rash of activity that is as varied as a bag of Jelly Belly's.

Brett and I continue to edit and tweak our film in preparation for our October 28th premiere. We've been focusing intently on the color enhancement and correction of each scene, and it is turning out beautifully. Our colors are popping, and I can see an end to our process in sight. For the premiere event, I have been researching party activities from the 50's so that our reception party will be historically accurate. Mr. Potato Head was a hot toy, but apparently, didn't come with the plastic potato when it first came into being...just parts for real potatoes. I LOVE it! I know it's a children's game, but I think it would be appropriate for a just-about-Halloween time-dress up-50's party. And a Hula Hoop contest. I am struck by how simple the toys and activities from the 50's were. It seems in many ways, that the 50's were, at least on the surface, a simple time to exist in. Children could be amused by low-cost toys that forced them to stretch their imaginations, men went back to work, women were back in the kitchen and so on, and so forth. Things seemed cut and dry. However, it is obvious that the simplicity wore on the nerves of many, as the 60's saw some of the most acute change our culture has ever seen.

In other news this week, I have been given the OK to make my curatorial debut in putting together an evening of dance films at the a/perture theater, and independent theater here in Winston. So my job over the next two weeks is to put out a call for submissions, come up with a title for the event, and decide how the evening should go, so I can begin the process of imagining the evening. I'm so excited to officially introduce my community to the art of dance film through showing the films of other artists who have different approaches and view points than my own.

In regards to "Common Threads," the project Laura and I have been collaborating on, I am working on a new song. I have gotten about half way through the song, but am stuck on a lyric, and cannot bring myself to continue writing the rest of the song until I am happy with this solitary line of melody. I hope I can finish the song before next Monday when I see Laura for the start of our residency at NC State U, so I can share it with her.

AS for my studio practice, I have been making some progress with the dances I am to contribute to Laura's Bach and Beatles concert next month. I am a little worried about the lack of time I have to finish the choreography, as this residency will eat up a huge chunk of my time this month. Laura's concert is October 9th, and I want to make sure what I have made is well-rehearsed! In addition to worrying about Laura's concert, I have been working to make sure I am prepared for my classes at High Point University. Especially the tap class, since it is so huge. I'm glad to say that our second week of classes together has begun well. I am waiting to hear if we can have a formal concert near the end of this semester...the first formal dance concert HPU will have had since I have been employed there! I am looking forward to helping expand the presence of movement arts at HPU, and a formal concert will be a first step!

Well, it is late. I don't have to get up early tomorrow, but I would like to try to get some good sleep tonight. It (sleep) seems to have eluded me for the past few days, and I think this night would be as good a night as any to try to catch up a bit before the craziness that will befall me in the next two weeks with the NCSU residency.

Buenas Noches.

~Cara

A Full Week!

This day marks the end of a fabulously full week, of teaching, creating, planning and absorbing!

I have officially begun to teach my classes at HPU this semester, and they are going rather well, if I may say so! My tap class is HUGE, and has every experience level from nil to proficient. I have to admit that the first day of classes, I was thoroughly intimidated by this group of students. Though I had over-prepared for my first lesson, I found myself changing up my plans to fit what I was seeing from the students. I observed as some of my on-the-spot experiments went differently than I had intended. So, given that experience, I returned to my class on our second day of class with a slightly different game plan, and it went beautifully! We worked a little slower and with more pointed focus on the little things. The students seemed to really enjoy it, too. My contemporary class, which happens just after the tap class comes to me as a breath of fresh air. After the many bodies and cacophony of sound, my quiet group of only seven students provides a chance for me to settle down, and return to my teaching comfort zone. The students in this class are all on a similar skill level, which makes my job much easier than the tap class.

Earlier in the week, I continue to plan for our film premiere event. Michael, the curator at SECCA and I discuss how to set the mood for our event. We are having a 1950's themed event, given the 1950's styling of our new film, "Kitchen Table." We talk about how we might decorate, and how we should encourage patrons to dress the part! We discuss some 50's themed party activities, and I speak with Laura to plan a 50's song list. I think this event is going to be a blast! Now, we've just got to get the editing done!

This afternoon, I work on material for Laura's Bach, Beatles and Beer concert that will happen early next month. I have a hard time keeping my mind on one thing at a time, so I decide to give myself some parameters in keeping with the theme of the piece, which is based on the concept of "a gift." More specifically, the gift that a teacher gives a student, which I am making in honor of one of Laura's most beloved teachers. I have decided to take a bit of a literal approach, and use a beautiful box as a prop for the piece. The parameters are as follows:

1. I must keep the box in my hands until further notice.

2. I may not color outside the lines (this parameter give that I will have a limited amount of space in the performance venue).

3. I can peak, but only once.

Given these parameters, I begin to generate material, and am looking forward to continuing my exploration tomorrow.

To sum up my art activities this week, I attend a work-in-progress showing of a fellow NCSA alum, Helen Simoneau. Her work is at first contemplative and hypnotic, then expands into precise physical encounters of tension, tenderness and play. I always enjoy seeing what other artists are working on, and realizing how many different view points there are regarding choreography, performance and its significance.

I am looking forward to going to bed, and having the weekend off! My first in what feels like years.

Until next time!

~Cara