the mixed media joy of modern dance as witnessed by (me!) ~topps
public "thank you!" here to the georges for treating us to this evening of dance.. and it was shared also with the wilson's.. so, 3 couples, and the mrs. of each of us has dance experience, and therefore a high appreciation
fancy nancy is currently dancing with joy of dance, and i have had the great pleasure of being wow'd by their dance recital -her lyrical and jazz performances
and awesome elva, she currently participates in both samba and latin dance classes, -and i had the great pleasure of being wow'd by a video i got to see of her dancing with her troupe 'through the sonic runway in san jose!' -which you know i love, love, love
if the sonic runway is not currently hosting public dance nights on the weekends; it should..
there should be more dancing in the world in general.. and i will get off track here, i can feel it, but samantha brown just took us to shanghai, china, and there was a great deal of dancing in the local parks by people of all ages..
and they look very happy, healthy and the positive social/fellowship.. the community factor
well, there should be much more dancing in the world in general. and many more flash mobs. the georges were sharing that flash mobs are very common in the UK..
-come on USA.. come on California.. bump it up
anyway, back to the dance recital at SJSU.. well, first off, it was not a dance recital. entirely different format; it was a dance students senior portfolio, where they are performing with faculty in the audience who will be judging, grading, etc.
essentially, their finals, -on stage. and very smart, to open this to the general public, and share these amazing performances with a larger audience
the biggest take away for me personally, -has to do with how i recently wrote about how lucky i feel, how blessed, to be a mixed media artist
especially in comparison to other, more specific artistries.. watercolor artist, sketch artist, oil painter, -you get the idea
and the reason i feel luckier, is because our options for what canvas we will use, for even what we turn into a canvas, and our options for what paints, for what tools, what materials, for the where, when, why of any given creative manifestation, -well, the options for a mixed media artist are the greatest of them all
and as i watching the modern dancers perform, this seems quite the same to me
the show opened with a tap dancer, and you know i LOVE our tap dancers..
-wait; 'show' is the not the correct word
the senior finals on stage, opened with..
and the senior finals on stage, included a group jazz-ish performance
but the greatest majority of dances; modern dances back to back to back
and speaking of! some of the ways we could witness the human back, arms, shoulder blades move to music..
and there are just ways modern dancers get to use, literally, every part of their body to express..
every limb, every finger, the spectrum of gesture, the poetry of movement, with such a variety of cadences, -and they use their facial expressions, and they just move in ways, new ways, fresh ways, -in all ways, -every way..
so, where as i love dance, and i have affinity toward all dancers in general
i wonder if modern dancers feel like the luckiest ones? they not only use their bodies in the widest range of possibilities, but they can add in props -incorporate objects into the expression; into the choreography itself
its just so limitless.. and i would love to see modern fused more with every other type of dance existing. it is the natural evolution to borrow from here, mix it there, a small sample of this, a large dose of that.. but always incorporating; -discovering the shades and hues of purple from reds and blues
and because us mrs. of the group, each with a dancing background of one kind or another, well, none of us are in our 20's, -know what i mean,
so, we look with such admiration at all a young, healthy, dancing body can do
and we are all so glad you are not wasting this athleticism, but you are wisely, creatively, remarkably dancing your hearts out; leaving it on the stage;
but let me use that as a segue.. because, my hope and prayer, and my big birthday wish for the world, is that 'the stage' itself will continue to grow and expand
parking lots can be your stage..
green belts..
farmers markets..
the landscaped areas in business districts.. inside a mall, or department store; up and down staircases..
-this is why flash mobs are so exciting -they surprise! they delight!
you did not pay for a ticket, a seat, and watch a dancer perform on a stage
dance just suddenly shows up where you are and makes the whole world a better place to live.
share your gift liberally dancers!
lastly, i made a conscious effort not to identify 'favorites' when watching these performances, but darn it, if it doesnt seem to happen every time anyway
and i spotted my favorites, my personal favorites, last night
and without saying what song, what dance(s), what performances specifically,
-and especially because i did not personally know even one of the students in this senior portfolio, so, i am without any bias created through relationship, friendship, etc.
exactly because i had no attachment to anything, except my own truth,
i can tell you, my favorites, are the ones who i can tell are lost in their own performance -they are not thinking about what they are doing; they are not self-conscious in any way, they don't have to think, they just have done the number so many times, they can perform it all instinct; all joy
and then mix that joy with a little fire, and a lot of confidence
-it's very exciting to witness this magical combination "thank you!"
*****
so, more dancing in general, by everyday people, in public parks.. this will yield greater health and happiness and strengthen community; more flash mobs; this will yield greater health and happiness and make the world a better place to live; more fusion of dance styles; this creativity will yield greater health and happiness; make the world a better place, and keep us interested and engaged..
speaking of! what choreographer will make my dreams come true?
-well, i have seen one of my dreams come true, and it is just as awesome as i thought it would be! and that is, a dance floor, filled with dancers, but each one is listening to their own favorite dance music with ear phones; so, to the witness/spectator, it is entirely quiet, but with a great variety of dance styles, each at a different rythm/ryme/pace; style, etc. fun! to watch
the dream i havent seen come true YET is this: -currently we are conditioned through years, years and years of dance to see a specfic costume, cultural dress, and then project immediately what dance we will see next.. Irish Dancer (in your imagination, you can see the costume.. you know the fundamental moves; Ballet -same, African.. Latin.. on and on.. etc. and! we know, through conditioning, what music goes with what costume goes with what dance moves..
mix this up! Irish dance moves, to African music, in a ballet costume.. then reverse.. on and on, and have some fun
new magical moves and choreography will come from it..
*****
related content:
it's like Christmas
santa clara convention center
took place behind my back
genius
and there's more of course...
hallelujah & amen
Brain spill, aisle 7... By (me!) Sandra, tvgp #MAGICofMACYS
-clean up crew please.. what happen was.. too much.. and it was on the edge of the shelf, and then.. when i reached for just one thing..
avalanche. -natural disaster of the mind.
***
its when.. its when there's more things to write about than time to write them.. and not enough time to more write; than to process..
so unless i point a few bullets.. messy is everywhere.
know what i mean?
***
# i once read.. and I don't know when or where, I only remember what: -that when scientists studied on the molecular level, human tears, it turned out there is a distinct, measurable, quantifiably provable difference in the chemical make-up of sad tears vs. happy tears.. vs. hayfever tears.. and I've always wondered
but never researched, -whether that is true. and!
-i forgot whatelse.. which is why we have to clean up this spill..
now: I wish, -but it is already too late.. that I would have thought to capture all my tears in test tubes this past.. one or two or 5 weeks, because..
I would love to donate my tears to science. -they all fell for different reasons.. and now nor can I remember exact anything but..
* i cried in awe, when i watched the genius tap dancer on Stephen Colbert. -trust me, I have never before cried at any tap dance... I've been entertained; I've been delighted; I've been inspired.. etc, etc. -but when I watched her... I was moved; -to tears. Not sad tears.. -I wonder the chemical make up of those..
Vs
when my sister and I went shopping together.. "Thank you mom!". and we shared a dressing room.. and when I was trying on a big, fluffy winter sweater.. the two strap loops that help keep it on a hanger.. well BOTH of them got caught on BOTH sides of the sunglasses I had proped up on my head.. the result is that the sweater got stuck only half way on.. and both of my arms were stuck suspended in the air like a bird in flight.. and my stomach was all bare hanging out... and my sister just went into one... I mean she laughed so hard she was doubled over and peed her pants.. and her laughing so hard, made me laugh really hard.. but then when I finally got unstuck and untangled, there is still a new strap in some sweaters across the back... or the front? no one even knows what the hell you are supposed to do with that one.. but it got caught across my face and couldn't get past my nose..
well, my sister was already in the middle of a laughing fit.. and so when she saw this... -she literally fell to the dressing room floor...
it was just one fiasco after another for me in the dressing room.. and I can't remember the last time I laughed that hard..
I would have loved to have captured a few of those laugh-so-hard-i-cried tears in a test tube.. -just to see if its true, you know.. a different chemical make up.. #MAGICofMACYS
because then.. i was talking to my coworker artist friend, julie, at work.. they way only coworker, slash, moms, slash friends do.. and the conversation led me to talk about my pregnancy when i was 15.. and even though its been 35! years.. i couldn't really talk about it without crying... but that singular life experience itself resulted in its own variety of lots of tears at different times for different reasons.. there were fear/overwhelm tears; there were sad tears; there were tears of love and joy; tears from physical pain; tears in prayers.. goodbye tears when i became suicidal... and tears of i don't even know what, when I miscarried... but when I was talking to julie.. the tears were in gratitude and overwhelm.. because it swooped up like a memory tidal wave.. all that has happened, that would not have happened, -had I taken my own, and my unborn baby's life... all i could muster to say was.. God sure has been faithful... and that realization makes me cry too..
oh! if we could catch just one of each tear type in a test tube...
and then i already do have a long list of people and circumstances I pray for and about every morning, throughout the day, and at night.. and add on.. the terror attacks in Paris, which unfold many more issues, and.. a 17 year old was just struck by a car and killed not too far from where i work.. and see, -there is more still, but..
but.. I've done a lot of crying ... and I'd like to end, with just how awe struck I am by human tears... -that we cry.
that computers, and robots, and rocks, and machines, and cell phones, and iphones, and.. i wonder how many living species on earth shed tears? and under what spectrum of circumstances?
when we are told, 'you are a masterpiece'. -I get it.. we laugh, we cry, we bleed, we think, we evolve, we love, we make mistakes, we grow.. and the key ingredient for the making of any masterpiece: love.
In Jesus faithful name, -amen.
THE WEATHER OF WORDS, by mark strand
ORIGINAL POST 12/21/2006:
pg 64/65: then the phone rang. it was my mother calling to ask what i was doing. i told her i was working on a negative narrative poem, one that refuses to begin because beginning is meaningless in an infinite universe, and refuses to end for the same reason. it is all a suppressed middle, an inexhaustible conjunction. "and, mom," i said, "it refuses to mask the essential and universal stillness, and so confines its remarks to what never happens."
and i thought to myself: "what the fuck does that mean?"
and it made me feel better about two things 1) chit-chatting with my mom and 2) not having a formal education when it comes to poetry; just a real life emotional one. and i was just shy of dumping the book, but related quite well to what he had to say on the next page, which is the next chapter also, titled: notes on the craft of poetry.pg 67: .... each poem demands that i treat it differently from the rest, come to terms with it, seek out its own best beginning and ending.
and not only does that ring true for me; but it sounds english.
in my mind, emotion is to poetry as music is to dance.
i see an irish dancer, watch her arms relax while her legs tap dance all over the place. and i cannot picture as well, this same choreography to say, country, jazz or heavy metal.
or a ballet dancer - and the elegant, graceful and regal movements performed to rap or rag time.
music dictates the dance. and when the two are in artistic harmony you know it.
it's beautiful.
it is emotion (for me), that dictates the poem. when i experiment with fitting my poems, my words, my emotional experiences, inside pre-determined poetic formulas
this feels like to me - putting african dance movements to light classical music. it's interesting but it doesn't work as well.and then sometimes for me, predictability dillutes the beauty. the real joy always come from complete freedom of expression; the surprise.
like when i taught children's creative dance classes
it was great to listen to a familar song and then create movements to match; but greater still, to create unfamiliar movements first and then compose new music to match.
the organic emotional experience dictating an equally organic poetry form.
and then in keeping this relationship true
i believe fonts are to words as costumes are to dancers. it is so much fun to dress them up, make them fit the part and look pretty.
and page layout, the stage.~sandra, ttgp
3 times in 10 years.. best guess for (me!) sandra, tvgp
ive mentioned before, it is the exception and not the rule, that people ask me about my tattoo. and only one time so far has this happened:
him: "i have that same tattoo on my leg."
(me!): "well, what do you tell people it means?"
him: "why... what do you tell people it means?"
(me!): "i tell people.. 'it means conquer the world with kindness.' -unless, like you, they know what it means, in which case, I say, 'because that takes quite a bit of courage, doesn't it."
and he liked that.
***
and I think over the past 10 years plus that ive had my tattoo, only 3 times -and I'm guessing, I never wrote it down or documented it, but perhaps 3 times, ive encountered people who just can't seem to let it go.. how much they detest my tattoo.. they want to go on and on about how much they hate them.. would never get one... cant stand the way... etc., etc.,
I am a good listener and a good sport for a while.. but, I feel compelled at some point to remind such people
with as much politeness and respect as I can muster,
"yes.. I understand you don't like tattoos. I hear you... but, your liking it was not part of my criteria for getting it... -I understand they are not for everyone..."
-and they don't like that. people who want their opinions to control/dictate other people's opinions/decisions/behavior.. they are not so sure what to do with themselves when it doesn't work.
***
false labor: not uncommon for a first time pregnant mom to show up at the hospital and learn she had 'false labor' pains.. and the only way she knows/learns the difference/distinction is when she has had the real actual labor pains to compare it to... yes.
I am not a first time writer.. but! I think I have had.. and only because write now I believe I have a real/actual true start -only in comparison with what I am writing now, everything else feels like a false start.. to a real memoir. my argument/plea/proposal if you will, has been for an advance.. so I can buy myself the time/space to organize the overwhelming amount of material that already exists on my blog.. but not in a reader-friendly format... it takes time/energy.. but, all efforts for an advance have been unsuccessful. -when I prayed on it.. and Joyce Meyer, will know immediately of what I speak.. I did not have my prayer answered in the form of an advance... I had my prayer answered in the form of being provided -verve in extra doses, and determination.. -so as time allows.. the writing continues.
**
label me suspicious: in a conversation with my co-worker friend kurt.. my coworker friend and fellow Warriors fan.. he said to (me!).. I never wanted to think so.. not in professional sports.. but.. did you see the game yet? -and I knew in advance what he was eluding to.. I said, 'without specifically suggesting corruption... I already planned on writing about it. -and, he shared his concerns, and I was sorry, but could only mostly validate his concerns... in my 5 decades on the planet, I have learned.. that almost anywhere you have that kind of money on the line.. -so, yes.. I am also suspicious. but!
and light-heartedly, I joked/apologized I was not able to watch the game, and always joke that is why they lost...
and offer the spiritual perspective 'it didn't happen to them... it happened for them... so they can win at home in Oakland!"
-and since I will be able to give that game my undivided attention... we know with great certainty!
and can't you just feel the celebration in the air...
***
and the reason I could not give my undivided attention to the potentially history makin' 4th game of the NBA World Championship FINALS, is because
I was giving my undivided attention to the dancers/performers at the Dublin High School Center for Performing Arts where Jazz n Taps was presenting their annual show..
and, I say it every year... because every year it's true... but, THIS YEAR!! best of the already best..
the theater itself; wonderful, spacious..
best seat I ever did have! I could see the facial expressions of any dancer I focused on..
and, I focused quite a bit on my beautiful mom friend's daughter.. my reason for going..
-watching her evolve year after year.. and master tap, jazz, lyrical, musical theatre.. modern..
/I'm not sure how many different genres'... but EXCEPTIONAL in any number she participated/contributed..
-to see young children evolve into young adults... always brings love tears from my eyes.. and to see young children/young adults discover their God given gifts/talents and to put such time, effort, energy, dedication and heart into developing, challenging, growing, improving...
and, -to witness the consistent level of excellence for the duration of the performance: lighting, costumes, music, choreography.. back to back fantastic dancers -what a great job jazz n taps does .and what an honor it must be to be a part of the JnT family..
"Congratulations!!"
***
much going on/to look forward to at alden lane.. berry festival, art under the oaks, quilt show.. to name a few, but the official -spring season- is reaching its end. I have been educated. the spring season in the nursery industry is analogous to Christmas season in regular retail... only longer by a number of weeks.. -but how exciting! the pace, the volume, the variety of flower, plant and trees that have crossed my visual path over the past several months.. learned more than I have time to write about.. but want to remember the level of happiness from all the gardening customers -so many people -excited- again, to plant what the long drought had prevented them from planting and enjoying..
and, I want to remember one of the silver lines: that as a result of the drought, many people purchased/experimented with succulents for the first time.. and almost across the board, this introduction
a direct result of the drought, and probably not happening otherwise...
started a bran new love affair with succulents/cacti that I have no doubt will last for life times.
and there is quite an analogy there also, isn't there..
when in drought...
***
I am fascinated by things I don't think medicine/science can measure/see yet, by x-rays, or fmri, or blood samples, or dna, or urine, etc.
like, -verve.. quantify/measure; report. love. peace. ... bonds .... like, if I went to a doctors office, or scientist.. do you have tools which can show you my friendship bond with sue-sue? because we just got together again, and its been a good long while, and I just love her to pieces, and our conversations pick write up.. and we share and enjoy each other's company so much..
I know these friendship visits have incredible value.. on my heart health. not monetary, not..
my friends mean the world to me.. do we have tools which can show/measure/quantify? -because I don't think if you used number of calls, texts, or time of actual visits..
it really is a quality over quantity experience... such a number of my friends are people I see/visit infrequently... but very beloved friends they are! I'm blessed. blessed and grateful...
and again.. fascinated by what can/cannot be seen/known by doctors or science..
LOOK -today, so popular, we have two things: 1. genealogy. 2. dna.
that is, we have ways to look back, and learn about our ancestry. and we have ways to spit in test tubes, and learn about potential health risks, physical factors we may face in the future..
I will not go on, write now, about the legitimacy/integrity/credibility of either/or,
my point, is we can -theoretically/practically look way back, and look way forward
but in my own life -would any of this have been valuable to (me!) ?
If I had an ancestry report in my left hand, and a DNA in my write.. would either prepare me for a predator breaking into my home? Jumping out from behind bushes with a gun?
-what would let me know I would have evil, wicked kidnappers/rapists to deal with? PTSD does not show up in ancestory/DNA reports...
it is -post- TRAUMA. so, unless you can predict... TRAUMAS...
violent attacks; sudden death; kidnapping/rape; human trafficking; terrorist attacks; domestic abuse, car-jackings, murder..
so, i'm saying this so you can see... with all the information we (potentially) have at our fingertips..
none of it is as valuable to me.. if you are using knowledge to prevent...
what good to know my aunt/uncles name from 1542? or that I might one day battle alzheimers..
when what I had to worry about between then, my birth, and my unknown future were RAPISTS.
so, my interest is not as it seems to be with others -genealogy; dna reports... looking back/looking forward
my interests are toward good and evil and spiritual warfare and helping humans evolve -spiritually.
any reports where science can quantify the fruits of the spirit? how evil/how holy.. the soil of the mind/heart..
/am I being productive write now... or procrastinating on the memoir God has gifted me the verve to...
let me not waste...
In Jesus name... "Thank You!" -hallelujah, yes and amen.
