Attached....

More Pressing Empty...
my "what if" worries are the topic of the newest section -
this is a rough version (first day in the studio on it) of a duet dealing with those nagging questions.


music by Ingrid Michelson

....

Life imitating art imitating life imitating a shadow puppet.

One step at a time - I am moving slowly away from my old home and (it seems) just as slowly gaining footing in my new one.
Chocolate chip pancakes at the neighborhood diner, walking in a snow covered old wood park (as Patrick claimed it) looking out over the Hudson from a vista (a real live vista!) and cleaning house to make room for the belongings that will make their way across the Hudson and into this feels-too-big-for-just-me-right-now apartment

The new duet is creating itself from moments that are happening, moving around in my bones and then ending up on the dancers.

Away

In Washington State, specifically Pt. Townsend....

I took a ferry across the Sound to get to Bainbridge Island....all of the mountains were "out" here...an unusual and incredible sight to see the water surrounded by snow capped mountains...harbor seals playing next to the ferry and the air crisp and cold.
I couldn't stay inside the ferry...I just stood out there amazed at the feeling of freedom I get on the water and the sense that there is so much nature NYC leaves behind.

For now I'll be enjoying warm company and dogs and walks on wooded paths...Last night's Sunset and full moon rising with the Olympic Mountains clearly seen was an overwhelming and beautiful experience.








I started this trip with my dearest Becky in LA at her beautiful cozy house....









Next is Seattle, to see Charlie, Alexis, Laura, Tom, Am and Rob....

There are dances to be made at home.

Thank goodness. I might not get there otherwise.

Quick choice

Dear Bunnies...please help my brain..
Choices need to be made:

Time in a studio (I have already rented the time)
or audition for a woman everyone says is awful to work for
just to be able to do this
honestly its not a "just" .....its exactly the kind of thing I love to do.
and of course, of course..there is an ego assumption that I would get it...
And with the large population of aerial dancers and younger stronger more likely to take abuse dancers in NYC...I just might not make the cut...bit lets not think about that...
Lets pretend I make the choices here...
Come on..please?...just pretend...
Anyway... let go of thoughts of dancers with numbers desperately kicking their long legs high in the air just to get attention...pushing one another over to be seen better in line...
Just forget that stuff (yes..there is a reason for all parodies...)
I actually have constant thoughts of creating performances on,
up, in and out of things...
Perhaps the question is really...
Should I just wait until I can do it with a better vibe amongst the performers
and a knowledge that the safety aspect is well taken care of?
I admit..... as I go back and check the links, the studio is looking so much better...
Decisions, decisions...

Choreographer’s Notes

I am considering making these my program notes for our upcoming show -
it may be too much info - personally and generally -
However, I find that it is information I want to share -
So you get it shared. right here.
__________________________________________
Side note - This is what went into the program......
__________________________________________

Notes on
Right Before You Fell

Between people in relationships, or strangers in close proximity, is space with a tangible quality that fascinates me.
Relationships that work are balancing acts. Connection, communication (silent and verbal), laughter...and then, there are those experiences we’ve all had that don’t really qualify as “working”.
And where do we, as New Yorkers, go when things aren’t working? Often, we go walking. In 1999 I took that idea to new heights. I found myself walking the streets of the Village, the East Side, West Side... Below 72nd Street you name it I know it, because I’ve walked it. For hours.
A friend asked me if I walk to get away from, or walk to go towards. I’d like to think I am always “going towards”. I was searching for understanding of myself, love and who knows how many other things....and I needed to move to do it.
At a Christmas party in 2005 I began talking with a friend about the saying “the elephant in the livingroom” - and my fascination with communication grew deeper - what if there was a view into our minds when we had something we couldn’t say - What does it look like, and how does it get physicalized?
Once all of the dances were intertwined, I found there was something larger then all of these minor ideas of communication.
There is a deeper communication we all long for. A love that spans this life and the next however our beliefs systems may tug us. My grandfather left this life’s stage recently, and gone over to the Bright Side of the Road...he is dancing there while we dance here.

This performance is dedicated to the memory of Louis J Sanducci.

Long walks, doorways, and a small search is begun and ended simultaneously.

Melissa Riker
Choreographer