Well, we finally had a bigger show here at CHAC, close to 50 people and all the energy and excitement, opportunities and challenges that presents. Its funny how our thoughts shifted after a small first weekend when the word had not yet spread. We turned to thoughts of intimacy, dealing with smallness, and forgot our initial concerns of dealing with larger groups. Those came rushing back for me last night, and the concern I found to be the most serious was bringing people into the space. With a big line I felt a pressure to rush and a pressure to bring in larger groups of people. Both will probably be mitigated some by experience, but bringing in larger groups of people seems a larger concern. I like to have a moment of intimacy right upon arrival into the space, a sort of shedding of the everyday and donning of the cloak of potential for the night, a registering of the initial image of the space. Anyway, with more than 4 people it feels watered down to me, frantic, hampered by common denomonator mathematics as some people want a drink and others to hang up their coat. Perhaps I just need to get better at corralling everyone together.
Once everyone was in it felt great. 50 was a very watchable size. It didn't feel like people had to chase us around the space to see like happenned at the big show in Oberlin, but there was a complexity of formations to see in addition to us as performers. Also, I was able to interact with different people all the time, spreading the wealth as it were.
It is so exciting to me how my little glitter moments, the ones that stand out and feel special to me, are different every night. I had a playful solo in the preshow last night where a guest was interacting with me through the food cart, I had a nice bird duet with a woman in red shoes, it was constrained beautifully by her sitting on the floor. I felt acutely the presence of dancers, improvisers and friends, granting me support and pushing my expectations both. I had one unique jump that I almost would have forgotten if not for writing this. It was during a little duet with KT where she does set material and I improvise off of it but we meet up for bookends of set unison. I jumped up crossed my legs fast as I sometimes do and landed in a KTish bird crouch, very balanced, sticking it you might say, but since it was improv I hadn't been trying to stick it, I just landed in a way that encouraged me to freeze rather than keep flowing, and it was a delicious moment of marvel at unique moments.
Onwards towards tonights kid show, with my son Kaveh to be one of the babies in attendance. I can hardly wait and hope my focus is intact.
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I too was overwhelmed by the pile up in the lobby. And yet what a gift to see and perform in back to back evenings that were so different! From 14 guests and all the wonderful intamacy of rivers braiding to 52 guests and all the wonderful energy of people and space and energy! Even though so much of our choreographed dancing is set every night has it's own unique flavor. It's like going out to your favorite restaraunt 4 nights a week and never having to eat the same thing twice... Hmm... That last sentance is kind of an inside joke.
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