Some departing words...

Follow love and it will flee, flee love and it will follow. Gain strength, courage, and confidence by looking fear in the face and say to yourself, swim in circles in a large fantasy world but don't waste energy! Face life now! Remain faithful when nobody's looking, endure pain when the room is empty and bravely stand alone when you're misunderstood. 

Inspired

I am inspired by that which is conceivably not ‘up for grabs’ as inspiration. I am inspired by disaster. Please hear me out or rather, please hear out the following words of Rourke (The experience of Being inspired, 1984) which may help you to understand how I dare to be so quietly inappropriate.

The experience of being inspired enters one’s awareness with the recognition of a vital force or power…One feels at home, where one has been out of control, able to act, a sense of being empowered…

The power is impelling. It moves or drives the inspired person toward a certain goal. It presses for action. It incites new ideas. It urges one to embrace its cause. The power is so compelling. It demands the total attention of the inspired person. It commands absorption in the moment of its emergence. It leaves the inspired person with a “must,” a “have to,” a “pressure.”

The felt-illumination integrates in such a manner that one feels directed. The sense is that of seeing what one must do, knowing how to do it, and having the will to carry it through. One feels like a runner on a definite course who has no doubt that the race will be finished because one is running on a mysterious or spiritual inner strength.

The Score

even though there isn't a score there is...
run in the studio for an indefinite period of time playing awake, not glazing over or fixing and doing it in such a way that you stay interested. When you notice that you have failed in these latter points just notice this and keep doing what you can to renew the intention to run in the studio for an indefinite period of time playing awake, not glazing over or fixing and doing it in such a way that you stay interested. When you notice that you have failed in these latter points just notice this and keep doing what you can to renew the intention to run in the studio for an indefinite period of time playing awake, not glazing over or fixing and doing it in such a way that you stay interested. When you notice that you have failed in these latter points just notice this and keep doing what you can to renew the intention to run in the studio for an indefinite period of time playing awake, not glazing over or fixing and doing it in such a way that you stay interested. When you notice that you have failed in these latter points just notice this and keep doing what you can to renew the intention to run in the studio for an indefinite period of time playing awake, not glazing over or fixing and doing it in such a way that you stay interested. When you notice that you have failed in these latter points just notice this and keep doing what you can to renew the intention to run in the studio for an indefinite period of time playing awake, not glazing over or fixing and doing it in such a way that you stay interested. When you notice that you have failed in these latter points just notice this and keep doing what you can to renew the intention to run in the studio for an indefinite period of time playing awake, not glazing over or fixing and doing it in such a way that you stay interested. When you notice that you have failed in these latter points just notice this and keep doing what you can to renew the intention to run in the studio for an indefinite period of time playing awake, not glazing over or fixing and doing it in such a way that you stay interested. When you notice that you have failed in these latter points just notice this and keep doing what you can to renew the intention to run in the studio for an indefinite period of time playing awake, not glazing over or fixing and doing it in such a way that you stay interested. When you notice that you have failed in these latter points just notice this and keep doing what you can to renew the intention to ...
(July 2011, Rehearsal notes)

Dancers are runners in disguise

This morning I was walking along Brunswick Street here in Melbourne, quite deeply contemplating Hiatus and the photo shoot we are planning for this Sunday. How in images might the work be indicated or suggested without limiting the potential for it to significantly evolve in the coming months? Contemplating this question my gaze was repeatedly being drawn to an approaching runner. Even at a distance he seemed interesting, familiar even. Sure enough, as he passed I recognised him to be a fellow dancer. Not too surprised, in fact quite comforted, I waved him on his way. I say I was comforted as seeing this dancer running seemed to further confirm my sense that; many dancers run, enjoy it, are good at it and even consider it a vital part of their practice.
It's all about the labels really. What we call ourselves and our actions. I mean, these dancers running may very well be runners dancing or dancers dancing as they stride left foot then right, rhythmically inhaling and exhaling and enjoying the exhilaration of getting the blood pumping.

Question: Do you consider yourself a runner? A dancer? A bit of both or something else all together?

Melbourne is a running city

Today is the Melbourne Marathon. I have just passed the masses of participants near the MCG.
Melbourne is a running city, there is no doubt about it. In fact when I see this enthusiasm for running, I consider that my plans for next year are not so out of the ordinary. Or perhaps they are? It's about context. I mean, I can't say that I am in the practice of creating and performing dance that begins with a 7km run through the streets of Melbourne. It will be significantly different and challenging. Extreme, epic and earnest also come to mind. Melbourne, your running and your art are going to have a  head on collision in 2012!

Question: Did you run today?

Running is...

My best or most efficient running is that inspired by fear. Fear = Fast. 

Running provides a momentary escape from the scary, unanswerable, confronting stuff of this world. Running is liberation of the body and mind, my entire psycho-physical being. The imagination loves a good run. 

Running is a reality check. I cannot deny the actuality of me when my heart is audibly beating, sweat is free flowing and breath is rushing in and out. 

Running is keeping up with a world racing toward its end. 

Running is dancing because gentle and graceful somehow seems insufficient and even irrelevant. 

Running is ritual. How else can chaos be countered? 

Running is because I can. Not everyone can and mostly I forget this. 

Running, running, running. 

Question: Do you run? What is running for you? 

A welcome, as a greeting.