Great artists who are "constantly reinventing themselves" (could we please never hear that phrase again?) are doing so via lots of behind-the-scenes splashing, throwing out 70-90% of what's generated, and keeping the awesome bits. They look like geniuses because we don't see them splashing and getting frustrated and wondering WHEN IS THE NEXT AWESOME BIT COMING FOR PETE'S SAKE. We see the result, and it's all awesome bits.
Studying the history of your discipline might lead you to believe that GREAT ARTISTS WORTH REMEMBERING generate nothing but awesome bits while TINY TINY YOU sits there splashing around (wasting time and resources that could be applied to re-creating the works of the aforementioned GAWRs). Don't believe it for a second.
Two really fun pools I've splashed around in: the one that generated Easy Worship Operator (that pool was in the spare room of a house in Tempe, AZ where Josh Carro was teaching me to use Ableton Live, and then Josh Bennett joined us because he was a cool guy), and the one with me, Jason Little, Tracy Pattison, Jenita McGowan, and Sabatino Verlezza. That pool lived in one of the Phys Ed buildings at the University of Akron in 2004, and it generated the movement piece Points on a Curve and my accompanying score Katharnae. It was the first time I was asked to perform movement onstage, with dancers, in a dancerly fashion (in foot-high platform boots, no less). Totally scared. Totally worth it.
Verlezza Dance continues to do wonderful work. I'll be going to see their winter concert in a few weeks.
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Oh splashing....I feel like my life sometimes revolves around splashing. I am always (whether I want to or not) testing waters around me, whether it be in or out of the studio. I believe our improvisation class is an excellent environment to splash around!
ReplyDeleteHowever, it can be come quite frustration at times. Having worked with my father in the rehearsal setting there is a TON of splashing. Spending hours and hours developing something that in the end never gets used. It is difficult at times being the puppet to someone else's splashing exploration.
I've had a great time this semester playing around in improv classes. I feel like I have been able to develop a new way in which I approach creative movement or choreography. I have learned so much (thanks to Alicia!!!!)..... and information I can carry with me throughout my creative endeavors.
Being able to "splash" around in improv allows me to think about the week. In Alicia Improvisation class we are allowed to let our guard down and express. And I am a person that is all for expressing myself rather its in the studio or in the front living room of my house when I have a "splash" of an idea I go straight to my thinking space and create. Thinking of different ideas of how can I bring something new to the table of dance or recreating my style.So i feel that having the opprotunity of being able to do that every week is relieving and resourceful.
ReplyDelete"GREAT ARTISTS WORTH REMEMBERING generate nothing but awesome bits while TINY TINY YOU sits there splashing around (wasting time and resources that could be applied to re-creating the works of the aforementioned GAWRs)."
ReplyDeleteguilty =[
splashing...
ReplyDeletewow what a visual. i think about my two young 2 and 5 year old boys in the bathtub. they don't know how they're going to play they just like the fact that they 'get' to play. if i leave them in the tub for a few seconds i see the remnants of their play all over the bathroom floor. but as i look at their soaked heads and faces, and as i am cleaning the floor, i know that the boys enjoyed the time they had splashing around.
i feel the same way when i have the opportunity to improvise. i don't care who or what is around, if i'm drenched with expression beyond my norm, or about the remnants i leave behind that day, i'm just glad for another moment, i had a chance to play.