Some Inspiration

I actually got a lot done today including (but not limited to) sweating in Abby's class, returning emails, responding to discussion posts from my students, meeting with Fiona to discuss production issues for our show (which is quickly approaching), hacksawing parts off the Keystone projector, brainstorming more fabrication ideas with David, putting the helmet cam on skaters at derby practice, rounding up OHRG merchandise for easyriders (we're the "rock-em-sock-em Women's Roller Derby action they're referring to in their sound-bite), gearing up for our first OHRG home bout of the season (which is THIS SATURDAY!) and finding some new inspiration from this video:

Week One of Winter 2012 Quarter Done!

So far, I'm loving this quarter. I'm taking two Contemporary Dance Technique classes (one by Abby Zbikowski and one by Meghan Durham Wall - two excellent teachers) and teaching two classes - Beginning Contemporary and Jazz 2.  I love teaching and I love taking classes again.

For the first couple of weeks of Jazz, I am reviewing Jazz from the 20's and 30's. This Monday, we'll watch one of my favorite videos from that era:

Summer 2011

Besides working at the Wexner Center this summer, I've concentrated most of my effort at understanding how I fit into the Ohio Roller Girls. What better way to understand the difficulty of the questions I ask the interviewees of other women's organization then to turn the questions on myself. Asking myself what role I fill or how I want my fellow skaters to perceive me is harder to answer than, say asking myself what role I fill as a dancer in OSU's Department of Dance. I already have a feeling for what kind of dancer I am. After all, I've been dancing for more than twenty years now. In roller derby, however, I'm still trying to figure out the sport. The newness of my involvement leads me naturally to more questions, and after one year of skating, falling down, booty-blocking, getting hit by other skaters, etc. - I'm continually finding more questions to ask. My involvement in this sport spurs my inquisitive nature and that's just what I need as I travel to Washington state and Texas to interview other organizations as part of my Master's thesis project. Now that my commitment to the Wexner Center is completed, I have renewed energy and more time to devote to processing all this wonderful information swirling around in my head. I'm back to blogging and will be back tomorrow!

Winter Quarter 2011 - so far so good!

So far the Winter Quarter is pretty cool - aside from the awful cold I have right now. Above is an example of the kind of cinema I'm watching right now in my Silent Cinema class - which I LOVE.

Here's my schedule:

Mondays

8-10 - Wexner Center

10:30 - 12:00 - Modern Technique class

12:15 - 6:15 - Wexner Center

Tues/Thurs

8:45 - 10:15 - Professional Development Seminar

10:30 - 1:00 - Wexner Center

1:30 - 3:20 - Silent Cinema class

3:30 - 5:00 - Wexner Center

Evening Derby Practice

Wednesdays

8-10 - Wexner Center

10:30 - 12:00 - Modern Technique class

12:30 - 2:30 - Wexner Center

2:45 - 4:15 - Workshop in Dance for Costa Rica

6:00 - 8:00 - Rehearsal with Erik Abbott-Main

Fridays

10:30 - 12:00 - Modern Technique class or catch up at Wexner Center

1:00 - 2:30 - Rehearsal with Maungsai Somboon

Saturdays

1:00 - 3:00 - Rehearsal with Maungsai Somboon

Derby Practice

So far, I'm having a good time...

Fall Quarter Synopsis

I realize that I say this every quarter, but I'll pretend I don't and say it anyway - "This quarter was incredibly intense!" I think it's fair to say that I took on way more than I ever imagined I could (or probably should have) and I lived another day to talk about it. Two major factors contributed to said intensity.

1) I started my journey in WFTDA skills testing so that I could skate in bouts with the Ohio Roller Girls. WFTDA stands for Women's Flat Track Derby Association for those who are new to derby. I'm a baby in this sport. It's frightening, humbling and exciting all at the same time. And it's engrossing.

2) As for my course work, this quarter was completely tech heavy. I went to Gaga technique once or twice a week as an independent study, but other than that my physical practice really involved skating, hitting, and falling during derby practice. If it weren't for derby, I really wouldn't have had much time away from the computer. BUT a lot of great things came out of this quarter. Here goes:

Since the video file is too large, these are some snapshots from an animation I created in Maya. This was my first class in modeling, animating and lighting objects using software - yet another new world I visited this quarter. More humiliation perhaps, but a lot of little discoveries. I'm not sure what the future holds for me and Maya, but I do know that I would like to take the concept from this project and apply it to a redesign of my website.

And then there's "Women of the Flat Track." For my Dance for Camera/Video Editing class, I decided to focus on derby. Hey - it's movement! Kind of hard to deny that. What I discovered was that I wanted to make a feature-length documentary about the Ohio Roller Girls. My final project became a trailer (since obviously I wasn't going to make a documentary in less than 10 weeks). I'm super psyched to make the documentary now. Some of the footage will actually tie into my MFA project as well, which is tentative called "Portraiture and Perception." (That's another thing, I handed in my first draft of my final project to my committee. Things are moving along with this grad degree business!) You can find the trailer at my vimeo account, however, you'll need a password to see the video. Let me know if you have any questions....

As a continued independent study project, I am collaborating with Maree ReMalia and Michael Morris to develop merrygogo, Maree's website that examines her choreographic process. The attached image is a screenshot of "my" process. The mind map was started by Michael and at this point, I was just testing how the embedding of the map was going to work. I have more formating and transparency issues, but development is coming along.

It's already the week of Christmas. Now that I've wrapped up the 2010 Fall Quarter, I think I can move on (well except for the fact that all of these projects are continuing in one way or another). For now though - Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night.

Phew! Back After a Blogging Break

I can't believe a month has already passed since my last entry. I've been busy trying to get a handle on this quarter. It's definitely different from last year. While Gaga technique serves to save my sanity and my joints and muscles, I'm predominately preoccupied with technology and roller derby. After derby practice at night, a morning Gaga class works out muscle soreness nicely! I am thankful for this. I am also thankful that I have Friday off to rest, spend time with David or have meetings with my new advising committee, Valarie Williams and Melanye White Dixon. Friday makes all the difference, especially since the weekend seems to be full of going to performances, volunteering for derby events and completing chores. There's still barely time for homework. That said, today I am combining a derby practice with storyboarding homework. I'm not skating today, but am going to practice anyway to do my storyboarding. We'll see if it helps with inspiration or if it's just plain distracting.

My final MFA project will consist of several video shorts that have a documentary feel. I am taking a project I did last fall and developing some of the ideas and concepts. Here's a link to the 100th post.

Summer of Wheels

This summer I'm training a little differently. Cycling and roller derby. It's all about the wheels!

Two Things

Quick blog for the week. I'm still struggling to find time for everything, including time to decompress. This morning I had to watch an episode of "Castle" on hulu.com for example just to zone out.

Two things I've discovered this week:

1. I must like working with video. I'll stay up for hours working on things I don't even end up using. But I like it.

2. My body isn't killing me anymore. I think the weather helps. I also think Karl's modern class works well for me. Rehearsals can get strenuous, but they're definitely manageable.

Below is a video I created for texture. (I'm not using it for its intended purpose - I might not use it all, but here it is.)

Spring is Helpful

Monday I wasn't able to blog because I used the morning to catch up from a busy weekend. I can't believe I was actually prepared for Monday night's class and Tuesday's Media in Performance class. I had two books to read in a week for these classes, reading responses to write, videos to shoot, etc. Monday night I stayed up until 3:30am mixing a video I didn't even show. But I had fun. And that's my point. I'm having fun, despite all the long hours and work. Spring is here and I'm optimistic!

This morning I started off with meditation and stretching, a little photography (see the pear tree below) and some reflection about how I'm going to get through another 12 hour school day.

(The picture of the Spring Buddha was taken by David.)

Lastly, here's the video of my latest solo, "Bear Traps and Other Impressions." I shot the video, then gathered still shots, then made it back into a video. Hmm. Could all my theory classes be getting to me, because this seems pretty deconstructive.

Now off to Karl Rogers's modern technique class!

The Gift of Morning

It's after 9am and I am so happy to have enjoyed a little bit of peace before starting another day of endless tasks. Yoga was sweet this morning. Happy and peaceful. Hopefully I will carry it with me throughout the day.

Oh, hey, I just realized that today I get to attend a master class by Noh Theatre artist, Toshinori Hamada. Nice!

Off to class, work at The Wex, a couple of hours of celebrating Alexis's birthday, then a ton of reading and writing before bed.

That's a complete day right there!

Spring Quarter 2010 and YoBB

"The tragedy of life is not death rather it is what we allow to die within us while we live." - Norman Cousins

Today I start classes for Spring Quarter. I also continue what I like to call YoBB, which is short for: yoga, breakfast, blogging. I hope to be able to keep this up every Monday and Wednesday before I head out to classes. Last quarter I tried to find a semi-daily physical practice. But, as there is no "try," only "do" - I wasn't doing very well.

Back to Donna Farhi's wise words I go.

"Of the nine obstacles to the yogic path listed in the Yoga-Sutra, four can be attributed in some way to the effects of dullness, laziness, and inertia. Sloth makes it almost impossible to establish a firm ground for practice, and even if we are able to do so, sloth may prevent us from sustaining any ground we have gained. Most of us have a sense of what's good for us. This knowledge of the medicine we need bypasses the central dilemma: How are we going to get to the medicine cabinet?"

Yesterday, on my last day of Spring Break, I charted this idea of starting at least two days a week with yoga, breakfast and following it up with blogging. After going through my practice yesterday, I realized it was much like finally having food for my body after being hungry for a long time. I had a great day yesterday, partly because of my attitude, but largely because I took care of myself. So, my way to the medicine cabinet will be to change my priorities - GET 8 HOURS of sleep, attend to my needs in the morning, give David a kiss as I leave the house, then give OSU all I can offer.

Twyla Tharp suggests that forming a ritual is essential to the creative process. (Check out her book, The Creative Habit.) I think it's imperative to changing my lifestyle, not just for grad school but for myself.

It's 9:15. Time to pack a lunch and head out to school. Till next time....

Next Phase of Gender in Choreography and some thoughts

For the most part Chalk Boundaries rehearsals are over. There may be some involvement in the female cast, but I'm not sure how this will all work out. I posted some clips from a rehearsal with the guys.

Today I found Chafin's solo on tape - I start rehearsing this week. I'm excited about it, but a little a nervous at the same time. I'm slightly afraid of embarrassing myself. Luckily I feel like my knees are getting better and other aches are subsiding. Onward!

Friday night's performance by the Merce Cunningham Dance Company was an eye opener. I appreciated the program's variety - 1960's Crises and 2003's Split Sides. They were so different to me. David slept through about 80% of Crises, but absolutely loved Split Sides. David was really curious about what were distinguishing Cunningham movements - how could I tell it was Cunningham work? We both talked about the shifts in direction, the balances on one leg, the awkward jumps and hops, the "kicking" (as David put it), the placement of the arms. I used to think of Cunningham's work as mostly technical. This is the second time I have seen Cunningham's work in person and this time I sat a lot closer and was blown away by the individual dancers. This time I saw their faces. In fact, a couple of times it looked like some of them were smiling - as if they enjoyed what they were doing! I found it delightful and was happy to see them as individuals. Split Sides also offered an easier way in for David and I. The music was Radiohead and Sigor Ros and I think that helped. Plus there was so much going on all the time - the cast was much larger. The chance operation was intriguing.

From all this inquiry about Cunningham's particular style, David wondered how people would know that my choreography was mine. I turned it back to him to answer and his response was, "Someone's getting pushed." What about my solos? "You move as if someone has pushed you."

I couldn't help but laugh.

Merce Cunningham Legacy Tour Kicks-off Tonight!

Right now I'm biding my time until the Pre-Performance talk before Merce Cunningham's company takes the stage at Mershon Auditorium.  I can't wait to listen to Karen Elliot and David Covey speak about their experiences working with Cunningham.  I am constantly in awe that I attend a school who have faculty such as these.  The lives they have lived, my goodness!  And I get to learn from them?!  I can't believe how fortunate I am.

Oh, and I'm really excited to see Cunningham's company too.  I'm a little bummed that I missed the master class - the sign up came and went before I ever knew it was offered.  I enjoyed hearing from those who did take the class though - I only heard positive things from them. I'm always surprised that not more dancers have taken his technique.  It makes me think I've been around longer than I realize.

On days like today, with Cunningham's influence so near, I really miss Kate Warren.  But that's another story.

Now - off to the show!

A Couple of Quotes to Inspire Change

"Attempt the impossible in order to improve your work." - Bette Davis

"Defeat is a state of mind. No one is ever defeated untildefeat has been accepted as reality. To me, defeat in anything is merely temporary, and its punishment is but an urge for me to greater effort to achieve my goal. Defeat simply tells me that something is wrong in my doing; it is a path leading to success and truth." - Bruce Lee

This week has been a tough one already.  I feel behind on everything and my body wants to sleep.  I don't feel like I have the time to do anything well.  I am hoping to turn some of this around - as in re-evaluate what I think I'm trying to accomplish.  If it's discovery - then yes, I think I'm discovering a lot.  If it's crafting my best choreography or whipping out my best performance in class, then maybe no.  Maybe it doesn't always have to be about excellence.

On a side note, I adjusted my morning ritual ... again.  I can't manage to get up in time to include mat exercises before class.  I've maintained my stretches and a little meditation in the morning though.  Instead of the mat exercises, I've started walking again.  It snowed last night, but it's sunny and by this afternoon the snow had melted.  Maybe the weather will continue to get better.  Walking before class for 30 minutes seems to help a lot.  Oh, and not that it's noticeable, I'm dropping weight consistently each week.  This will help the knees too!

Now - off to attempting the impossible.  Dynamics and Phrasing starts in 45 minutes and I'm still struggling with my phrase!

Another Lesson in Effort & Surrender

"Success usually comes to those who are too busy to be looking for it." - Henry David Thoreau

Hmmm.  I came across this quote and I think I have a problem with it.  I wonder if Thoreau's idea of busy is a little different than mine.  If one is too busy to be looking for success, would he also be too busy to notice that he achieved success?

Last week I decided to continue certain rituals in order to keep myself grounded and to further rehab for my knee.  I managed to maintain certain stretches, but couldn't keep up with the mat exercises because I just plain didn't have time in the morning.  I feel like time shifts so easily beneath my feet.  Sometimes I am able to stand up on it as it moves beneath me and other times I am totally sunk.  I just keep trying to do the best I can, which sometimes means getting 15 minutes more of sleep which doesn't account for the hour or two I'm behind.  Sleep is very important to me the older I get.  Likewise, change seems to take longer.  Could it be that I'm just trying to slow down in order to recognize the changes?

Whatever is going on, I think the issue I have with time, also has to do with when to make effort and when to let go.  There's a reason for savasana at the end of an intense yoga class...

Art and Fear

Last quarter I engaged in a regular yoga practice twice a week, along with also blogging about it twice a week.  This quarter, it's not as simple to find my physical practice.  The two technique classes really aren't meant as "physical practice" in the traditional mode of practicing the same concepts each day - as in sun salutation or tendues at the barre.  The modern classes I take vary from day to day - which I like - however I see the need for consistency in order to anchor myself.  After registration completed, I have 20 credit hours.  This is insane.  The busiest classes for me aren't actually classes - they're independent studies that only account for 1 credit each.  I have five independent studies and I'm happy about them all.  Nevertheless...

After pondering on this little dilemma, I think I came up with an idea.  I need to get my mat out every morning and work on some core issues for myself.  I'll pick one topic each week and build on them.  And, as I enjoyed Michael Morris's approach of taking literary inspiration and applying to my own life, I will also pick a quote or passage and share that in my blog.  The passages I draw from won't necessarily be yoga-centered, but will most likely draw from books I read for my other classes.  In other words, I will relate certain issues to my own physical practice as another way of embodying what I'm learning here.

So I will start now.  It's a quote from a book I'm reading for the Dynamics and Phrasing class, "Art and Fear" by David Bayles and Ted Orland.

"What separates artists from ex-artists is that those who challenge their fears, continue; those who don't, quit."

I don't want to quit.  Today I was completely discouraged by the status of my knee.  I'm a bit angry that I can't seem to get my body into the shape I want.  Plus, I have a final draft due for my Dynamics and Phrasing class which means I need to perform Tuesday.  Perhaps this is another detour, a challenge to get past my fear that my body can't keep up, and a chance to let go of things that are holding me back.  Perhaps I can see this as a certain kind of restriction that actually frees me to focus on other things and find creative solutions that I might not have seen before.

Tomorrow I plan on continuing my morning ritual of stretches in bed before rising, foot exercises once out of bed, and then going through a pilates mat session that will take the weight off my legs.  I'll take the dog for a short walk to test out the knee and then head to the studio to see how I'm going to do this.

So here it goes...

Inversions and the end of a quarter

Tonight I decided to work on inversions with a little help from David. I wanted to make sure that I give myself the opportunity to feel verticality. I have always had a problem with inversions, mainly with getting my pelvis in the right alignment over my head. What I felt when I was finally vertical was a lengthened feeling in my abdominal wall. Well, actually, engagement AND length at the same time. It was great! Also, I think I might need to consider that my back will feel a little arched at first because normally I want to round my back when my head is going to the floor.

It was a liberating experience tonight and one of many experiences from this quarter's yoga class that I will happily carry with me into other areas of my life.

Tomorrow is technically when yoga journals are due (in my case, my yoga blog). I suppose this could be my last post as it would have fulfilled my class assignment. I will, however, continue to post findings, revelations, etc once a week as my yoga practice is never-ending and always developing.

So... Thank you Michael Morris for your guidance and inspiration!

Till next week...

Yoga Competition?

I know yoga competitions exist, but I really don't understand them. To me they are completely separate from yoga practice or the yoga discipline. I understand that proponents for yoga competitions say it is one way to get people into yoga studios to practice yoga and learn the deeper value of practice beyond asanas, but I think this is a superficial reason. If someone is interested in learning the value of yoga, he will find himself in a yoga studio. If he is introduced to yoga through watching a competition, he might be more interested in yoga competitions. In other words, I think yoga competitions will breed yoga competitors, not enlightened human beings.

That's just my two cents worth.

Revisiting

Today I popped in an old yoga DVD that I used to practice called Baptiste Power Vinyasa Yoga. It was wonderful to notice slight differences. Baptiste's language is different than Michael Morris's, however, I found myself translating Baptiste's words into what I have been exploring in Morris's class.

For example, when Baptiste would talk about breath, specifically "oceanic breathing," my ears heard ujjayi. When Baptiste spoke of drawing the belly in deep, I thought of muscle engagement and the Svadhistana Chakra.

The particular vinyasa yoga I practiced today was a thirty minute session that focused on core strength, so there were more "exercises" for the abdominal muscles, which I needed today. I found it interesting that it was next to impossible for me to maintain ujjayi breathing when I moved through more tradition abdominal exercises. It was if my mind kicked into "gym" mentality. The other thing I marveled at was how quickly 30 minutes passed. I have more patience and stamina in yoga then I did when I first bought that DVD. What a happy discovery!

Self and All Else

From the Bhagavad Gita:

If a man keeps dwelling on sense-objects,

attachment to them arises;

from the attachment, desire flares up;

from desire, anger is born;

from anger, confusion follows;

from confusion, weakness of memory;

weak memory—weak understanding;

weak understanding—ruin.

I understand this. I get where attachment to sense-objects is going. And as I eat my ice cream, I confess that I don't think I can totally rid myself of desire for sense-objects. I think, though, there is balance that must be considered. For me, it is really about dwelling on the attachment. Moderation, right?

Another reason I think balance is important, is that (for me) I am able to understand the world if I acknowledge desires; not completely give way to them all the time, but acknowledge and understand them just the same. It's human nature to have desire. If I completely ignore what desire feels like, I don't think I would understand everyone else around me.

It's counter-intuitive for me to think of detaching myself from everything and everyone in order to explore the idea of universal Consciousness. However, I know that when I "sequester" myself (to borrow the words from my last post) to my room to meditate, I am detaching myself from everything and everyone in order to get in touch with my own Self. After meditation, I am a much more centered person, more grounded and more accepting of others.

Admittedly, this week has lacked the same dedication to meditation that I had the week before. I literally have been falling asleep while doing coursework. Tomorrow is Saturday and I will be practicing yoga and meditating. I'll get back to another post tomorrow, writing about breath and whatever else comes up.