My my, how fast time has gone! It seems like just yesterday I was writing my last post. Yet here we are again, on a Friday afternoon.
Normally I have to take a minute to ponder what I will write about; today, however, I have something very clear.
Last night I was privileged enough to attend a performance by the Alvin Ailey Dance Theatre. For those of you who may not be familiar with them, it was founded by Alvin Ailey, an African-American choreographer who was instrumental in providing opportunities for black dancers starting in the late 1650s. I already love dance and jazz, and the performance was a perfect mixture of the two (with a little Negro Spiritual thrown in there).
One of the things that I've always been proud of is my inclusion in a community of artists; actors, musicians, choreographers, dancers, writers, and so on. Instrumental to the growth of any artist is the experience of the art of others, and last night was a wonderful example of that.
The costumes, the choreography, the lighting, even the props all worked together in concert to create a beautiful, captivating performance. The dancers made be think back to my school days when I would dance around the house when everyone was gone, or even to college when I attended ballroom dance classes. Movement is such an important element in all types of art; even writing. I've mentioned before how I sometimes act out my character's responses in order to find the right word to capture the movement. The difference that one word or one move makes can change the whole character of the piece, whether in writing or in dance.
Even though the scenes tended to have clear arcs and storylines, I found myself creating storylines in my head as they danced. What would this character say that would match the expression of the dancer's movement? It was a thrilling exercise in imagination.
In the same manner, when I was younger I would create storylines to match the instrumental piece that I was listening to. It just goes to show you how important the collaboration between the arts is to creating new and wonderful things. Can you imagine watching Star Wars without the soundtrack? Wouldn't it be a different experience? In the same way, the dances that I saw last night helped to spark my imagination.
Though it's been a very busy week and I have not gotten to write as much as I've wanted, I'm still hopeful for what I will get to write over the weekend. My mind hasn't stopped replaying the dances from last night; hopefully some of the feelings can transfer into my words.
"The creative process is not controlled by a switch you can simply turn on or off; it's with you all the time." - Alvin Ailey
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