Heard often enough and yet this question always befuddles me. How do I explain what I DO? Hm.
In Medieval times this concept would seem odd. Back then there was something called ‘The Great Chain of Being’. It meant that there was a natural order to things you were born into starting with God and ending on the ‘lowliest’ plant forms.
Our modern economic system snubs its nose at this idea. What you can DO with your life is not pre-determined; we have free will to choose. Obviously there are environmental factors which can INFLUENCE your life but they are not absolute. What a wonderful development.
In the states I knew one of the Kellogg’s Cereal heiress’, worth millions, her son was a high-school graduate and a truck driver.
Alternatively (and what we hear more), are countless stories of ‘rags to riches’, young men raised in crack house who go on to run multi-nationals…. We love those.
I had a debt collection agent at my door the other day to collect my monthly payment. A nice man-Simon-spoke proudly of his son ‘who had married an Italian woman, beautiful… just had our first grandchild’ and whips out his mobile phone to show me her picture.
I tell him of my recent positive publicity about my work, dancing on the Broomielaw, refugee week performances et al….
And his response was… ‘You getting paid for that’?
Not, ‘isn’t that wonderful, good for you, hope this bodes well moving forward etc…’
Now, keeping in mind this debt- that accrued from 6 months of not ‘working’ in 2008 along with many other folks, a Bank of Scotland overdraft they decided to call in- has an agreed payment plan that I am paying, and I acknowledge I am responsible to pay it.
I reply, “Well my initiatives are always what is needed first, money second. The work I do does not always have a concrete financial value attached to it’
And he said ‘it’s a business’.
And leaves.
I know many would agree with him.
This chat of recession and cutback stresses everybody out. I am not immune. But you know, life goes on. Do you want to know why?
Because of women like Shona Lemmetti.
I am directing a couple of film and theatre projects for Falkirk Council. She’s one of the Mums. To call her a ‘volunteer’ would grossly underestimate her position, role, and importance in the organization that is Falkirk Youth Theatre.
She is the glue.
For all my energy and ideas and Falkirk Council’s directives nothing would happen without women like Shona. And we all know such women (and men).
In my instance it ranges from picking me up at the train station to make sure I arrive on time, loaning her house for filming, making costumes on the fly and countless other tasks for which she receives no payment and largely no recognition.
Laterally when industries shut down, budgets are slashed and social services fail it is the Shona’s of the world, the glue which will keep things from going, that NEED doing.
I would love to see the David Cameron’s of the world acknowledge this and be thankful for these angels who do keep the world from imploding.
And it’s interesting to note because as hardnosed as Simon, my debt collector (MY debt collector lucky me!) was about BUSINESS nothing in our engagement filled his eyes with such light as the sharing of the photo of his wee granddaughter.
I am now pulling together old photographs from the Sri Lankan community here in Glasgow for refugee week. They will be displayed at the Glasgow Film Theatre (GFT) from the 14-20 June (also our film ‘New Moves’ precedes Afghan Star on the 14th). I feel so privileged to have been entrusted with these precious family albums that are often the only remnant left from village destroyed in the war. We are reproducing the images for the exhibition titled ‘HOPE’.
You will recognize the photos. First days of school, crisp school uniforms and new notebooks clutched firmly in hand. Weddings, Bride and Groom on display anticipatory and proud. Buddha babies all smiles in diapers propped on pillows.
And not one picture of this thing ‘business’.
And if the things we collect and save are a measure of what we aspire to, then surely life is more than this business thing.
Back in Medieval times our ancestors could never have imagined anything beyond the ‘Chain of Being’ and yet we have moved on and adapted. Surely then we can aspire to the next phase of our development as a society, as a human race? I don’t know what that means exactly, but I do know that there are certain things we all agree on and that is a good place to start.
In the meantime thanks to Shona and all the angels that keep ME from imploding,
I couldn’t do it without you!
Best wishes peace and love, Kate E. xx
Photo:www.jameswilliamsonphotography.co.uk
More info on refugee week: www.scottishrefugeecouncil.org.uk
She was quiet and slight, walked by with a gentle grace and then sat still at a distance. I would say she was beautiful, in the way of a Klimt painting-something about her like that. Probably in her mid-20s.
I was dancing as per usual; it wasn’t a particularly good dance day. I was tired physically and emotionally from a tumultuous week and the tunes playing on my Ipod shuffled in an uninspired way. Sometimes despite the fact they were supposed to ‘shuffle’ the 2000 songs in there, they’d get stuck on 3 albums, or at least it felt like it (even I can only take so much of Olivia Newton John).
Since the ‘media frenzy’ I’ve gotten even more attention from passers by-be it thumbs up from walkers, honks from motorists or conversely heads turned exactly the opposite way to avoid contact with my activity, which is fair enough. (a young nice looking Muslim couple walked past, he was very clearly averting his gaze in respect to her, and she just glanced. I wonder if they talked about it at any point?). I miss a great deal of the detail. I’ve been told that people stand in the office block and watch, but I am virtually blind for distance sight, so unless you are close to me, or make a great hoo-ha, I might miss it.
That said I try and be sensitive to whether people WANT to speak to me. What started as a solitary activity, with a public anonymity to it, has transformed into a community one and I must be respectful of that as well. So this woman was walking so slowly past me and looking at my dancing so I decided to go up to her.
Me: Hiya! Did you want to dance? She looks slightly confused.
Me: Well I saw you going past so I thought I’d ask…. SHE: On no, I just like watching. I don’t think I could keep up with your moves. And I’m not an exhibitionist. I spend most of my time trying not to be noticed.
Me: Oh right. Sure. Different strokes for different folks. SHE: I just really like your dancing, it’s very pretty.
Me: Thanks…Well if you change your mind…. There was a kinda of awkward hm….
SHE: Yeah I better get back to work. Me: Have a good one! And She was gone.
Did she want to dance?
Funny some people automatically consider me to be an exhibitionist. I don’t believe that to be accurate. I have a sparkly personality, I am expressive and I like people.
I was sitting outside the level one Bharathanatyam (Tamil dance) class this morning. As the 4-6 year old girls exited the room their physical excitement could hardly contain itself, they were still in the dance, in a beautiful and natural way. Their senses are bursting with life; bodies are electrified like wee flowers in the sun after a long rain, exploding with life. I love to see this. This is how I feel when I dance. That said, I don’t mind if people watch and if it makes them happy great, but it’s not necessary.
Did she want to dance?
This week four lovely gentlemen resplendent in blue boiler suits came down for a dance surprising me. They drive past everyday in their truck, honking as they go by, and decided to park up and join me. It was great! Another very sophisticated woman in her 50’s in business gear did ‘flamenco hand’ as she walked past me. And various friends have come down to join over the weeks. (my lady dancing friends) I think this is one of most precious things. I am so thankful for that.
On the 29th February if you had asked the folks in those office buildings what they’d expect to see out their window from the 1st of March, what would they have said? Dancing? Not in a million years. Now not only do they look out their windows expecting the dance, they are dancing themselves. I think this reveals the great potential in the human experience. And thank goodness for that. I did something seemingly simple and it has given permission for others to follow.
Imagination. Wowee what a gift.
Does she want to dance. Do you want to dance? Are you afraid?
This is totally understandable in the big wide world. But challenges help us to grow. Like lifting bigger weights to let the muscles grow. This is another kind of muscle.
But if you are afraid the great thing is you don’t even need to make the dance commitment now or ever. You can imagine your dance. Imagine the most fantastical, beautiful set of circumstances your mind will allow. Let yourself fly, float, spin, by yourself – with others in whatever context you wish. No one has to know. Be proud of that. Your noggin can be filled up with as much nonsense, as many wonderful things as YOU WISH.
Then, mayhaps, you can allow your eyes to dance as the portal to that adventure.
One of the most chilling memories I have is from 1996 when I was still living in Philadelphia. I had just returned from working with kids in ‘da hood’ to witness two wee girls across the road breaking bottles on the sidewalk ‘for fun’.
So I marched right over to them, “WHAT are you doing????”
And then the scary bit-four empty, lifeless eyes stared back at me.
Not happy. Not sad. Not angry, guilty, mad. Nothing.
Who knows what horrors those girls had experienced to exorcise all feeling from their eyes? Where breaking bottles on the street corner constituted a ‘good’ activity?
I marched back to the house to fetch brush and broom and stood over them as they cleaned up the mess.
And I never saw them again. But their eyes have stayed with me.
You know when you walk down the road and your eyes meet with another, think on this. Allow your eyes to DANCE. Pull your head from your phone, ipod, the countless lists that exist in our heads. And allow that dance to travel to the other’s eyes, like a wee gift and watch it come back to you. Who knows where it will go from here….
I’ve started a Facebook Page to support (?) my morning dances, not sure what form it will take but here it is in the meantime, allows folks to comment and share their experiences!
Norman*, a 65+ year old former shipbuilder wobbles up to me on his well worn bicycle the other day on the Broomielaw.
Photo James Williamson (www.jameswilliamsonphotography.co.uk)
Norman: You exercising? See ya dancin’ a coupla times when I was riding down
Kate E.: Yes well I’m a dancer.
N: Sure. Why not. People run, why not dance- keeps the blood from congealing. K: Oh sure.
N: You see this area over here (indicating) –all this used to be shipyards, six deep. I worked here (indicating where we are standing), it was hell, hard labour. Used to be real rough. All the down and outs over there….six steam boats used to take you places from over there, only one left now. They knocked down all the shipyards and built these new buildings …. You here everyday? K: Yeah, Monday through Friday. Usually 815-945.
N: Well I should let you get back to your dancing-I’m gonna finish my cycle then go for a walk. Keeps me healthy. Tell your friends to come down to the Broomielaw Beach-that’s what we call it.
And he cycles off and I continue dancing.
Conversely this in Metro Comments Friday 14th May 2010…
HAS ANYONE SEEN THAT CRAZY WOMAN DANCING DOWN AT THE BROOMIELAW?
Isn’t it extraordinary that the sight of a woman dancing publicly is still considered obscene??? If I was 18 and breakdancing it would be cool and acceptable. Perhaps if I was playing the harp it would be considered dignified. But for a 30+ woman to be dancing????
I love the shock-horror of it, “What is she DOING???”
Like they’ve witnessed me making a pipe bomb.
I’m DANCING.
EEEK! Call in the troops!
It is true there are many nonsense, and indeed crazy, things, in the world that we take for granted. I’d like to take a few moments to name a few to put my morning dances into perspective (and this is as much for me as anyone else)
HOMELESSNESS: How can we accept people sleeping on the streets and often in dangerous circumstances when other people are building second and third homes, or even living in homes that are far bigger then they really need, let’s be honest.
WAR: We justify killing other people’s children. I find it madness that we haven’t managed to find some other solution to this.
HUNGER: We gorge ourselves on foods, throw away the excess whilst people are still dying of starvation in the world.
ANOREXIA: And related to above, and related to our self-abuse of our bodies. Anorexia does not exist in developing nations. Try explaining to a Sri Lankan or Indian or African (in those countries) that people CHOOSE to not eat.
UNKINDNESS: I see no reason for this in the world. And yet we are and often. It doesn’t mean we have to be best friends with everyone, but respectful yes.
VIOLENCE AGAINST CHILDREN: In this moment how many children are being abused and used physically, emotionally, psychologically?
I could go on and on. Homelessness, war, hunger, anorexia, unkindness, violence- we (me) have come to accept these as normal (indeed bad but still normal) in the world. I think this is madness. Shouldn’t we all be sacrificing everything we can, we own, we have to end it? It is completely within our grasp.
Why do we place Alan Sugar and Donald Trump’s accomplishments higher than Jesus, Buddha or Gandhi? I am not a religious person, but those guys they walked the walk, let’s be honest.
I dance. In the context, in the shadow, of these other things, I am relieved for a minute or two. It does not change any of them. And I am as guilty as the next of not living IT. I know that. Sigh.
It is about creating new stories on our streets. Norman agreed. He was pleased as anything I was down there. Joyful. Creative. Free.
As for the people watching we. Of course they do. I’m in the best viewing spot in all of Glasgow. Thousands of office employees peer down from their windows. Motorists stuck in traffic on the M8 can have a gander. Apartment dwellers can muse over morning coffee from their verandas. And cyclists can engage as they whiz past.
I am dancing in a shared space. This is not Saudi Arabia thankfully. I am allowed and have the right to do so.
Freedom of expression is not only about words, it’s not only about fighting against the world we don’t want, freedom of expression is also about living the world you DO want. We have the freedom to express yourself in whatever form we decide! HOORAY FOR THAT!
This is not an easy thing necessarily. It’s a muscle that needs to be developed. I’ve spent over 36 years developing mine. And although I say “I’ve been doing this forever”- the aspects of it have varied greatly and have not always been understood even by myself.
This is the tough bit. You plant a seed and you know it is under the soil but you don’t know what form it is going to take, or if it is genuinely going to emerge. So you keep tending to that spot of soil, hoping something will burst through. It is in that time of unknowing when bravery is most called for. Because you need to have a deeper resource then the brain – call it guts or spirit, or intuition. And yet the implications of that blind journey are immense, even if you never realize it fully.
I received a Facebook friend request from a former student of mine two days ago. Luis was one of my boys in North Philadelphia, when it was an absolute battlefield up there, awash with gang violence and drugs etc…. I was just 22 years old, leading drama workshops in a community centre smelling of urine with no windows. What I remember about Luis is that he was (gently) curious, respectful and ready to try things. There was quiet hope there and for that I really wanted to help him and yet felt powerless in the face of the magnitude of it all.
When the program was over we parted ways and I often thought about him and wondered how he was getting on. That time really affected me, as many will note I have often spoken of it, and it has led me to create work in Govan, the East End of Glasgow and indeed, Sri Lanka.
Turns out since my workshops he had always thought about acting but never picked it up. So he looks me up because he wants to have a go once again lo these 15 years later. I was amazed he remembered me but so pleased he was still getting on with things, and as lovely and respectful as ever. I am still eager for him to live his dreams and will help him in whatever way is possible for me. And the funny thing is his contact has helped me, realize the importance and value of what I do.
The thing is you never really know what impact you have on someone’s life – for good or bad. Best to go into all aspects of life with a spirit of quiet openness and joy, ready to see the gifts and possibility in the other – for that becomes a reflection of your own experience.
And as I say this to you, know I am repeating it to myself, for it is important to be reminded of what it’s all about….
With lots of love and good wishes
Kate E. xxoo
Ps- Women’s 10K run huge success 1 hour 4 minutes 59 seconds! 4775th out of 13,000 women! We are still accepting and NEED donations. We’ve just been turned down for another funding application, such is the climate at the moment, so your support is greatly appreciated. THANK you to your continued support! http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/KateeDeeming
PPS- I am featured in the Sunday Herald Magazine tomorrow 16th May, with another former student and neighbour the very wonderful Tharan Sivapatham. Get you own personal copy!
But if that fails (I’m not sure what the international protocol is) you are also able to donate via paypal directly to Funforlife via their site: http://www.funforlife.org.uk/support.html
Or send monies directly via post: Funforlife; 51 Godstow Road, Oxford OX2 8PE
WHOOP WHOOP! Thanks to the donors who have given so far! If you can donate, I’d really appreciate it, any amount will do and I can’t do it without you!
Thanks to everyone for their continued energetic support for all I do!
I am running the Women’s 10K on Sunday here in Glasgow. It comes to me that all my charity-ing does not come with some sort of physical strain, that my ‘earning’ of the dosh is most earnestly EARNED on every level. I must admit my “training” has been ‘limited’ to dancing and so I am not exactly sure how it will all turn out. It’s a far way away from when my rear end was featured in a Nike advert years ago (yes that is true) due to my regular running habits which were, at that time, punctuated by dancing, but mostly in my head… therefore and hence it would be great to have support of the financial and energetic variety as I strive to raise money for the most worthy charity Funforlifewhom I have been working with in Sri Lanka, who also are producing my bridge project for Refugee Week here in Glasgow who also do magnificent work for peace building (on inner and outer levels) in India and Bosnia.
Donations can also be posted directly to Funforlife – 51 Godstow Road – Oxford OX2 8PE – Charity number: 1121143
www.funforlife.org.uk
In the meantime my dancing continues to be every blessing for which I am truly grateful. My local lollipop man(school crossing guard) has taken to sending me off every morning with a ‘that’s you off for dancing then? Enjoy yourself!’ and local office workers sometimes sit and do their work in my vicinity; I get the honks from the cars and trucks going by; a Glasgow council worker passed me a candy on his way past (‘to keep up my strength’); two wee girls (8&10ish) mirrored my dancing moves in the next space to where I was dancing on Monday; and the construction workers I pass on my way home shout out ‘how was your dancing today Kate?’.
So it seems to be developing into this really lovely extended community of people connecting through this simple and yet profound act. In a crazy way I don’t feel I own it anymore, but feel quite responsible to the activity. I will not go without saying goodbye, not that it feels like something that will happen soon. And I think there are more beautiful things to emerge, in a gentle and organic way. That makes me really happy.
On the 1st March just back from doing my dancing work with the kids in Sri Lanka I went for a run and found myself at Glasgow’s Broomielaw alongside the River Clyde. It was a great big open flat space, it was alongside a river with a big wide (wet) sky above me, so I decided to start dancing. Most who know me will not be surprised by this activity. I was just back from dancing in Sri Lanka, where every morning I’d wake and dance down on the beaches in preparation for my classes, often the midst of military. Dancing for me is the most natural thing in the world, I am fortunate to have been blessed with a family of ‘dancers’- not that anyone dances professionally, it’s just part of our family expression, if there is music, sure, we’ll dance. As a ‘professional performance artist’ I have danced in many public spaces, it seems quite common sense to me- I need to dance, and the spaces that are available are public ones, they are there to be used by US, the public.
That aside this ritual was not a performance, lots of days I walk about in circles whilst I try and ‘get the vibe’; other days I am in my own private musical and yet other days I do things like a ‘tantrum dance’ (channeling the vibe of the office workers mayhaps?) or am quite flowy and balletic or have a wee boogie as if I was at a club.
I never really anticipated that I would get the attention I have. It is a joyful and free thing and I am pleased to be representing that in the world. People really love it. I get honks and waves and thumbs up. That’s really cool. For me it’s an affirmation that we all have aspirations to live and create a joyful and free world, and that freedom is within ourselves.
People do remark that it’s not normal. I am glad for this, as I do not think a large majority of things in the world that are considered normal are GOOD. We live in mad, contradictory, chaotic world. So why not dance and be in your moment and in your space with others for just a little?
That’s how I see it anyway. So I’ll keep dancing, feel free to join in – feel FREE (to join in) – DANCE!
The first Youtube video that captured the attention of folks, as filmed by one of the thousands of office workers overlooking my dancing SPOT.
From there the BBC called me and did the first major spot…..
On Thursday the 29th of April (UNESCO International Dance Day) I received an email from Anne McLaughlin MSP, who quite unbeknownst to me had submitted the following motion to the Scottish Parliament! I am honoured to have been recognized in such a way, and surprised. What can I say, thank you, and indeed I will keep dancing!
SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT
MOTION
Date of Lodging: 29 April 2010
Short Title: Glasgow’s Lone Dancer Embodies the Spirit of UNESCO International Dance Day
S3M-06232 Anne McLaughlin (Glasgow) (SNP): That the Parliament congratulates Glasgow’s lone riverside dancer, performance artist Kate E Deeming, on her unique daily dance performances on the banks of the Clyde in Glasgow city centre; believes that artists like Kate Deeming bring joy to people’s lives, particularly during times of hardship; acknowledges the wonderful work that she has done in bringing dance and drama to children in Sri Lanka; congratulates her on performing a 24-hour outdoor dance marathon in December 2009 to raise funds for the FunforLife project, and encourages everyone in Scotland, on UNESCO International Dance Day, to be inspired by Kate and take up dance for fun, for health and for life.
Photos from Funforlife’s recent Sri Lanka trip (Alison George); portraits of Scotland based Sri Lankan families (Valerie Evans); and archive photographs collected from Scotland based Sri Lankan families. Linked into the performance at the Tron the landscape of faces represent the shared history and aspiration of the Sri Lankan community as they embark to create lives in a post-war setting.
Produced by Kate E. Deeming in association with Funforlife. www.funforlife.org.uk
Glasgow Film Theatre
12 Rose Street, Glasgow G3 6RB, 0141 332 6535
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