The Birthing of Muse: Part Two

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....