The Birthing of Muse: Part Two
Apologies for the very delayed second part of
this post. Life, travel, and dance have kept me very busy over the past few
months. Pleased that I now have a bit more time to push away distractions, hear
the thoughts in my head, and share them with you.
The positive side of so much time since my last
post is that there have now been two sessions of Muse: A Theatrical Bellydance
Project, and more concrete ground on which to assess the concept. For those who
might be unaware of the protocol for dancers applying to Muse, I have a fairly
comprehensive set of questions that applicants respond to when submitting
their proposal to perform. These questions are meant to elicit a deeper
foundation of understanding for each dancer and illustrate depth of narrative,
construct, character, inspiration for the piece, and stagecraft. For each
session of Muse, I have been really honored, appreciative and impressed by the
amount of time and dedication demonstrated by the performers who apply to each
session of Muse, showcasing variety, and bringing a unique vision for each
work.
I think that the main difference between Muse
and other dance events is the emphasis on experimentation, and honoring the
creative process.This begins with the comprehensive template of questions for
the application, continues in the workshops designed to stimulate creativity,
and is strongly emphasized in the performance part of the session, as the
audience is encouraged to dialogue with the dancer in real time, immediately
after their performance. The feedback that I have received from the performers
Indicates that they truly enjoy having a safe and responsive sounding board to
discuss their work. The feedback that I have received from the audience is that they have been impressed by the quality of performances. As Muse is held in a large dance studio, with a fairly
small audience sitting right up close to the dancers, the intimacy of the
experience allows for a really wonderful conversation about creation.
I am excited by the possibilities offered by
the Muse project including a choreography called Rara Avis that will be
specifically created for the Gala Muse event to be scheduled for spring 2014.
More on that in an upcoming post....
