The
Birthing of Muse: Part 1.
I have
decided to break this entry topic up into two smaller posts. In reading through
previous blogs, I have discovered that my background in academia has stayed
with me, as I seem to have an amusing inability to either write concisely, or
to not expound on tangents. Also my husband has begun calling my posts
dissertations:-) so I figured it's time to reign myself in a bit!
So,
moving on. Since my last post, I have had the opportunity to do some more
travel for theatrical bellydance performances (including Lumen Obscura in CA),
and am currently preparing for several more performances including the NY
Theatrical Bellydance Conference. In my travels
I have had the good fortune to study with some of the premiere instructors of
fusion and theatrical dance, and have enjoyed the camaraderie of being with
other like minded dancers. Whenever I arrived back home in Boston however, I
invariably felt a surge of disappointment and frustration. I wanted to continue
to grow, evolve, and share my knowledge and passion with other local dancers,
but there didn't seem to be an avenue for this type of immersive experience. We
were fortunate to have Waking Persephone within easy reach in 2012 and 2013,
but nothing longer term that would allow for a collective of participants to
meet regularly, experiment, discuss, and challenge each other to grow as
dancers and performers. I also noticed that in most local events that I
attended, there would usually be several theatrically oriented
performances. So, it appeared on the
surface at least, that there might be some interest in having an ongoing mini
symposium that would offer workshops, performance opportunities, discussion,
etc and focus on the many aspects of theatrical bellydance. After considering
how much I would be able to commit myself to this type of immersive experience,
I decided to create Muse: A Theatrical Bellydance Project and offer it on an
every other month basis for the remainder of 2013. Depending on the level of
interest, I am hoping to continue Muse into 2014.
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I decided
to utilize the word project to denote an ongoing, experimental, constantly
evolving type of showcase. To me the word project brings to mind possibilities,
questions, potential. In a discussion with a fellow dancer the other day, about
the Muse project, I told her how the impetus behind Muse reminds me of a
professor I had in my first graduate program at Syracuse University (in my
former life when I was an art historian). She was one of my very favorite
professors as she seemed more interested in the process of learning, than a
specific outcome. Every class she would begin by asking us a question. That was
it...no formulaic lectures, no giving us the accepted answers, just creating a
space for learning by asking a question. For the rest of the class, that
question would open up a dialogue, further opening up other questions, other
dialogues and enriching the learning process. This type of commitment to the
process of learning, and creating, was only possible because this wonderful and
wise woman had the confidence to empower us to think for ourselves. That
process of learning, and at the same time unlearning societally accepted
methods of instruction, has stayed with me, and influenced my entire way of
looking at creativity. In effect, she opened up the channel to the muses for
all of her students. She allowed us to find access to our evolution as
creators, students, art historians. Thus, my decision to name the project Muse;
in deference to the potential that lies within all of us to create, to learn,
to evolve. My hope is that Muse will allow us to open a dialogue, create a safe
and sacred space, and invite dancers to challenge themselves as performers,
artists, and community members.
*All images by RavenWolfe Photography*
