Isolation 2020

Well... 2020 is turning out to bring some interesting times into our homes, and lives... I am now into week 9 of stay-at-home, and self isolating myself from my friends, family and many of my work and creative dudes and mates. The only people I see on a regular basis are my support team who help me to eat, live and play.  So what have I been doing do survive the 2020 pandemic period?  Practising my camera techniques, studying video editing and making short fun films - that i keep posting for my followers and friends, in the light of the moment, it helps to lift my spirit and i hope it does, theirs.  My creative juices are flowing beautifully at this time - without one hint of boredom, I am filled with images to paint, draw and write - I seriously don't know how to stop!  I am eager to dance, even in small spaces and find myself leaping out of corners, looking through creaks in my back porch, hanging over the fence, falling into an empty space/s - tapping into emotions, sometimes strange echos of people's voices come from nearby... making other shifts of movement in my "dance" w/chair only to hear my own laughter tickle me hysterically ...  I also find time spaces to be wild, free, explore my inner being that wants to explode, bust the bubbles - and I am so enjoying the self permission to let go, completely let go, to delve deeper into my creative mind.

Click on the link below to preview one of my recent video edit....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qz5Iydl4gNEhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qz5Iydl4gNE

I have been writing Mindfulness scripts for about 12 months now and using them to run my Mindfulness sessions for some of the students I work with.  I started doing these by using ready-made scripts from the internet, but realised these were pretty limited for students with a disability. So this inspired me to write my own.   I wanted to explore with my imagination and bring to life what any student, including one with a disability could relate to.  The responses from students and parents have been very positive, particularly in terms of feeling relax and comfortable in their body. Also many have said, they recall the images throughout their day when things get tough and it helps to soothe things to a better mindset ..

This is another little experiment i did this week, using visual effects and my artwork in the mix. please click on the link below and enjoy the meditation.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FBc3JMH2jUM&list=UUvAbZBjtUQ8wfFJnowXHlsA&index=1

"Life is being and doing..."

Well, my last post was April, really? It has been a busy few months of speaking engagements, writing for presentations, mentoring a number of gorgeous individuals and so for...  But, also there has been some wonderful explorations at the Women's circus and of course my camera learning and editing some of my work is beginning to shape.

In the last 2 or 3 months i have also been focussing on my artwork - i am working specifically on animals at the moment.  I have included my "sketches" for you to see how I begin to shape then let  the work take it place...

Montrose 19 - a collaboration of 2 bodies and 2 cameras

Dianne and I have had some wonderful meet-ups on her recent visit to Melbourne. (Dianne resides in Adelaide now)  Yesterday we did a revisit to the Montrose Public Hall and it immediately took our senses back into our dance collaboration which of course is always full of wonderfulness... It was also exciting to bring my camera into the mix of what could happen might happen, and if it happens let it happen....  Such a fantastic afternoon of creative juices flowing between bodies and cameras.

enjoy the peep of the outcome...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYU7F260t6I&feature=youtu.be

The Creative Travel & Beyond

Nothing compares to my recent trip to South Africa in March 2019.  It inspires my creative path significantly as i begin my own journey with the camera -  Three weeks before my trip i decided to bite the bullet, do some serious research to find a camera i could use, comfortably, creatively and to be able to explore some deeper learnings of movement with it.  I have had many "moments" of using other peoples cameras over the years and seeing the amazing work of others, which i'm grateful for the experiences and learning so much through my camera partners and partnerships... The urge to have a go myself, became so passionate that i finally saw it, loud and clear - Do it and make it my creative investment.  I walked out of the camera shop, absolutely beaming with excitement - but also a little nervous that I had bought something seemingly complex and heavy to cart around on my travels.  Prior to my trip I spent every waking moment thinking about the camera, studying manuals, asking typical questions to those the knew answers - but mostly I used it, pressed buttons, made up little activities with my cat, moved myself with the camera in as many variations as i could.  Finally there I was - in the middle of a safari at Kruger National Park - bouncing around with the camera around my neck...  I very quickly cottoned onto a few tips, as no animal was going to stand still and wait for me to focus and gear up my hand to act - so i soon learned to relate to my camera, unite with it in what ever style, way it took in that WONDERFUL moment of CAPTURE...  i also worked on the idea to have other bodies as human tripods - my travel buddy Jo T became an amazing expert at allowing me to use her shoulder as a chin support while i used my hand to shift her hand from side to side. Inbetween my camera moments of capture, I became obsessed with body movements and using various body parts to help me get the view, perspective of the animal or that landscape.  There were many feelings attached, emotions that sprung on giggles and tears of joys...  Being absorbed by nature, the music of the birds, trees in the breeze and the safari truck hopping in its stop start way... the smell of the elephants and being in the presence, oddly gave me a sense of pride and confident in myself...

Cape Town

Cecil Street Studio... The Last Breath

Cecil Street Studio

Back to… 2010,

I made my first entry,

Laughing with my newest dance dude,

As my feet tangled themselves

I had no idea what was coming next,

An improvised dance performance

Known as the Little Con;

Keen to watch, but wary to participate.

I had so much to learn.

So much

So much to learn…

Since that night, one single night…

Much has happened, in my life

In the Cecil street space,

Pink walls, uneven floors –

It all helped to shift my confident

To be bold, beautiful and hilarious

In my relationship to dance,

Making connections with people I never imagined to meet:

Wow… Anne O’Keefe, Andrew Morrish, Al Wunder, Alice Cummins….

And many more on my list of bodies to have,

Rubbed shoulders

Exchanged eye contact

Controlled falls

Risky landings…

From watching  many performances in awe,

To practicing improvised scores,

Duos, Trios, Groupos,… To Solos,

Yes…. Solos…. I have performed

Solos at  Cecil Street (Andrew Morrish your last word to me:

“look at them, connect with them and  you have them so  begin Your journey with them invite them”)

Life goes on after Cecil Street studio closes the door;

The community exist

I exist

Dance,

   Dance

       Dance

Back into the harness & silk

 Back at the Women's Circus - there is something about this place - it lets me hang out, swing and fly...  There are a few refresher sessions with Franca Stadler to define and refine my harness and silk skills - then to move on to something new.