logic verses wisdom

Yes, I am still here.. 

mentor: What is the logic of your work?

cj: I dont know what the logic is, but I do Know

Logic

| Logic |

There is a new order, a new logic here in India I am experiencing a new sense of patterning one far from any linear line, yet one that makes total sense once you accept that it may clash and challenge your own logic tendencies.. 

change is happening..

what else is happening?!

Well a dear visitor arrived safe and sound this week, our beloved Morag, Yes Morag is here!! And with her arrival a sudden feeling and clearer concept of distance. Distance between here and home. That first embrace with someone from your home family, from the other side of the globe, gives a sense of both near and far, and for the first time I missed 'home'

home, truly is, where the heart is..

*********

Its Thursday, apparently, over the half way mark

This week, being week 4!! is now a count down to the opening of the Attakkalari Biennial Festival that kicks off on 6th Feb, and with the next week looking at technical rehearsals for our FACETS choreography that has been quietly in the making. And continues to be quietly in the shadows.. it will, I have faith, that it will materialize in time.

 so not to get too heavy, but thoughts of heart..

'Where is our faith, devotion, hope, and spirit'

To what do we devote our time, loyal service and ultimately our life to? 

Where does our faith lie; in family, loved ones, children, growth, justice, kindness, life and love.. 

 We have a deep sense of knowing, an ancient text that has been written, been told and passed down through the traditions of storytelling, dancing, in song, poetry and art.. we continue to pass on these stories, of the truth that has been long told.

This is where my thoughts and heart have fallen, having been to see much wonderful classical Indian dance here this past week. Kathakali, wow utterly bonkers ones first reactions could be, then the stories told by devoted dancers and musicians unravel in the most beautiful and unexpected way. Then more last night a 2hrs female solo of Bharatanatyam classical Indian dance. 

 Am blown away, a little love struck, and not to mention exhausted by this momentous introduction to ancient storytelling...

I am an absolute beginner here in India.

So

lets begin again..

start again, from the beginning

I had a dream last night, that I was born of a different time

 when I woke up, there was a new world around me

Namaste

A Haiku

practicing Haiku;

Dragonflies hover (5)

Shooting darts all directions (7)

Spirits flutter-by (5)

cj

a day for rickshaw stories

Its Friday

..and well not sure how we arrived here, coming to the end of week 3 already! Awaiting Morag's safe arrival from Edinburgh, UK, cant wait to share some stories and adventures with her.

And already we start to say goodbye to people..

Philippe Saire, one of the Mentors, heads back to Europe tomorrow (Saturday), and his input and experience has brought lightness and wit to every ones work. Am still working on it Philippe, and will be for some time!! 

How can we go deep into the darkness, but still keep a thread that draws us into the light? 

How to still access the full emotional body, but not to become over saturated, to have sense of space and breathe which invites the audience into your world, to be able to reach and connect, through movement/sound/energy to those at the back of the theatre..

I am now working with the challenge of a small stage space - originally the space to perform which was of preference, was in a court yard, with people able to come as close or as far as they wished -- now that space is out of bounds (the french institute wont allow) and so we are into the black box.. my challenge is to use this 'conference' stage set up and find an unorthodox way of using/seeing/and experiencing it..

Borrowed light, my aim, is to draw the audience into a world which at first is abstract (is theatre abstract?), and through movement, narrative, and by borrowing light, to guide them and to find a way to bring in the natural reality of the eastern sunlight.

Not so much in the movement this week, but stepping outside to observe, to shape, form, and bend light, to write a story which from darkness grows light..

I love the reminder of being here,  the work is one aspect, we, the choreographers on the FACETS residency go into individual studio spaces - a borrowed space, and focus on our own worlds and work, sometimes forgetting that we are in Bangalore, a city so connected. Every time I hop into a Rickshaw to take a journey, and taken down new streets with new sights (and there are more than 10 ways to get to your destination, never the same path taken) I am blessed by seeing the value of life, family, living and a culture so rich in its traditions.. 

*** RICKSHAW ADVENTURES ***

Yesterday was rickshaw day.. in the morning, the driver and I got stuck in the traffic (nothing new) and then his rickshaw wouldnt start.. in the middle of what we would call 2 lanes, which means 5 here.. with a wall of horns bleating at us, the driver got out and started to push us to 'safety', so I too got out and helped him push the rickshaw through the bikes, cars, other auto-ric's, and buses.. "10mins madam and it will start again" we sat for exactly 10mins and he started up the motor, he wasnt even tempted to try before 10mins, a full 10mins he knew was needed for the little putt-putt to rest! and so we sat, and he spoke proudly of his family, his life and his honest earnings.. we continued on our way and arrived safely at my destination.. The thought didnt even cross my mind till later, which was actually the thought of one of the local dancers, that I could have gotten out and hopped on another Rickshaw, was happy to sit and listen to his story.. and it was the most beautiful rickshaw I had been in during my travles - this man had such patience, and pride..

safely on our way!

How connected are we???

So, on my second rickshaw journey, heading towards an Attakkalari sharing of our work (another story), with all the streets, all the millions of people, all the places to stop in traffic.. during a long dusty 40mins rickshaw ride.. the rick stops for not even a minute.. I look to the side of the road, and there is Pia (from Attakkalari, she works hard on the admin team) looking straight into my rickshaw... WHAT?? no chance, really?? to bump into someone you know, here its unheard of.. then shouting through the traffic where are you going, to the studio? Yes, replies Pia, so she dashes and leaps through the bikes, and heavy traffic, jumps over the side bar and slips into the Rickshaw.. the driver, a little perplexed, as his passenger, a foreigner just picked up a local in the middle for me was an unknown street, revealed a moment of true connection.. thanks Pia, what a wonderful meet!!

I rest there, no doubt more Rickshaw stories on their way.. thank you Bangalore, for these precious, unpredictable and quite hilarious moments.. 

Namaste

stay connected!

Day.. stopped counting

Today, I saw blue sky

Hasn't been seen since arriving in the city, as a blanket of dust fills the air and dulls the colours of the sky. But after rehearsing today went out on search of some fresher air and clearer skies. So the Botanical Gardens called to me and lured me south of the city. I sat under a larger tree, along with many squirrels, birds and monkeys, and began to decompress from the city.. 

before I knew it I had been sat there for 3hrs.. stillness, my body started to tingle, and the dust from my lungs cleared, I wanted to breathe deeply into the belly - then as dusk fell, I gathered my renewed energy and set home, back on the rickshaw and 10mins later, through what seemed to be an even busier city, my memories took me back under the tree..

This moment of breath and stillness will feed me for the new day, note to self must take these moments daily, if at all possible!

****

Tomorrow evening there is a sharing of work in progress. 5 of the FACETS residences, myself one of them, and will show what it is we have been working on these past 3 weeks, really we are in week 3...


and so in keeping with my changing and evolving process, 3rd week, brings 3rd working title, and one I shall be working with till the end of the process (she says!).. 

| Borrowed Light |

Since the moment of arrival, here in Bangalore, much wonderful and helpful advice has been given;

“Walk like cow” a pace now happily adopted

“Life, is Risky!”

on crossing the road, said knowing smile & nodding head

“Take rest” after any journey made

''Any idea or concept you arrived here with, from this moment drop it, let it go, and let being here be your discovery” given two weeks into choreographic creative process

Borrowed Light is an exploration about the many paths tried and tested in life, and aware that there are many more waiting to be discovered. Having courage to take risks, braving the darkness of fear, and truly seeing what is in front of us. A reminder that we are all here, right now, experiencing this moment together. Follow the path of your heart.

a chosen path

| Day - not sure |

I have lost a few days, not hard in this city, this city never stops. That constant vibration doesnt allow you to fully rest, after a few weeks of little sleep, moving days, the body was bound to find its limit.. and so it decided to shut down, and so I have been at rest for 2 days

Able though thank goodness to find the energy to attend a wonderful book event on Saturday, where a German artist has collaborated with a local print makers, where all books are hand crafted and created with love - was a beautiful experience to be there in the tiny factory with the workers, the proud owner, family and the German team.. a simple delight to buy one of these small precious books, an a-z guide of the city Bangalore. Was able watch a 10mins film they documented showing the long process with numerous procedures, and uncountable people involved..

 | Sunday 18th |

Back to the studio to work - a healthy 4pm start

Today Sound; working with Martin Lutz from Berlin
we tried the idea of Microphone, mm, but both unable to approach it, so it remained watching on the side lines..




photo to follow..
sound and technical 
problems!!

And instead came up with a new score that is in keeping with the next stepping stone of my process an exploration that is relevant to me being here, this was inspired by some invaluable advice on Saturday night at the printers.. 

 

'What ever you came here with, forget it and leave it behind, let being here tell you what it is you need to discover, and therefore share..'

 

an introduction with Meryl Tankard

 

 

 A most delightful surprise meeting in the back streets of Bangalore, in a printing factory of all wonderful if not bonkers places, I was introduced to renowned Australian Dancer/Choreographer Meryl Tankard, a former dancer with Pina Bausch, a by chance meeting before she went off on her travels further South to Kerala.. Thank you, another Mentor in passing!

 And so the dance piece continues, returning back to where I started on day 1, at the beginning, but this time I know where it is I wish to go, deeper into my surroundings, so lets see where this new direction takes me.. 

 

Also this week very much looking forward to the safe arrival of Morag Deyes, another mentor and not to forget reason I am gratefully and gleefully here, and thanks to her visa coming through, giving her a way back here to Mother India..

 

 

 Namaste

 

***

Warrior of Light - poem

| Warrior of Light |

A dark light shines from the heart

Filled with loss and fear

Trembles of pain; a dreaded unknown

Something tells me 'this will pass'

I whisper in reply 'yes, this will pass'

A test to endure, and trust

After, the darkness remains

The weight lifts, releasing its firm grip

I remember to breathe

An Inner strength of fortifying courage rises

I stand alone on my two feet

A Universal Creation

Dawn calls-

A horizon of mystical light

Full of wonder, hope and falls

A sign appears;

Life,

Risk Ahead

Carry Love to Protect

by C.Jarvis

January 2015