rehearsing in the rain

in the gloom and the rain of georgia winter. woodstove cranking. dana and suzanne and I talk/danced some more improving. I have been resonating with the idea of time. Dana posed that time exists historically and simaltaneously. So Jesus walked on water, because he was in a time loop where there was a pier into the water, while the onlookers where in a time loop when that pier didn't exist.
Suzanne danced/talked that she could count on one hand the times she has been in church. One of those was when she didn't get to be Mary..... and the result was: no more church for Suzanne.
I am trying to collect some questions that might be interesting prompts for a wider exploration, say in a workshop situation. Like: What experiences in your life can you count on one hand?/with the corresponding movement exploration of "counting on one hand"
So if you think of any - post them!

2/19 rehearsal

I had a blast in rehearsal yesterday.  And being non-religious, this exploration of Mary has been singular for me, as she has never been someone I have given much thought or reflection to.  I liked the idea of her as risk-taker.... maybe because it was so delightful to be in a room moving with risk-takers.  Seems the mere action of being an artist these days, in this culture, is such a brave and often lonely act.  To quote Henry James regarding art "We work in the dark.  We do what we can.  We give what we have."

Loads of thanks-

Nicole

Rehearsal: February 19 with Celeste, Dana, Sharon and Nicole at the Beam. We improvised talking/dancing for about an hour. Somethings that came up:

if the Annunciation is an announcement - maybe its a classified ad that Gabriel places. "Looking for someone with enough faith in the impossible...". We jammed on other kinds of announcements - evites. Does Mary, and the others, get an Evite to be the mother of god?

Maybe she didn't say "no". She just wanted to think about it for a little while...On her own. Without being rushed. What is the skill set needed to make such a decision?

What is the weight/burden of stepping into the impossible (having the courage to), doing it, and then others follow behind in your footsteps?

Mary, virgin, perfect. Dana played Mary in second (?) grade. We need to hear this story.

Nicole was kicked out of Sunday School in kindergarten, for calling out what she felt was an unfair request of her brother.

We started talking/dancing at one point about the "microwave minute" culture we are in. Someone asked: "What is fast and good?" We came up with: water when you are thirsty.... but not cold water.

At the end, Sharon got into this beautiful, big, in the floor out of the floor movement jam. The rest of us slipped into the sides Witnessing. As Sharon pushed the dancing, her breathing became fuller and fuller. Nicole began to pick up on the breathing, and accompanying it with additional breathing. I liked the image/impact.

Sharon: "I wonder if what I am saying is blasphemous?" "Oh, it is" the rest of us said. Sharon said it felt judgemental. An image of us all holding signs: Blasphemy. ANother image: See no/Hear no/Say no evil monkeys calling out "blasphemy".

Structurally I am thinking the narrative moves forward but there are thought bubble (thanks Nicole) moments. THese take place spatially to let us know that they are thought bubbles on the narrative line.

We all seem to like the idea of cell phone text message instructions coming at us.

Celeste: (voice)
Mary was on the roof ready to jump...

Alexandra, Ann and Shawn appear
Fully present. Each thinks they are alone in the spotlight. They begin a movement phrase specific to their dance style.

They realize there are other people in the space.
Then they look at each other


Their voices Overlapping:
I thought I was playing Mary - I thought I was - She told me I could - No, I'm Mary, you're someone else

Discomfort

Alexandra: well I’m fourteen

Ann: Yes, but I’m catholic….well former I mean

Shawn: Me too, I mean, catholic, former

Ann and Shawn get caught up in that conversation,
“really, me too…. Etc” and also talking about the work they have created out of their relationship to their catholic-ness

Alexandra (stepping away from their conversation, hoping that she can now take the star role since the other two are busy in conversation:
Start again mom, I’m ready:

Celeste:
Mary is on the roof ready to jump


All three begin to
Go into the Mary on the roof movement sequence using their different movement styles.