I heard the tantrum blocks before our meeting. The calls of rebellion merged with Stevie Wonder’s “We can work it out” emerging from my ipod. The sky was all a-blue and me in stylish art-opening gear with my flash red shoes and silk scarf streaming behind ready to enjoy the offerings from the Merchant City Festival, hustling along so as not to be late.
As I drew closer the sounds were clearly not dissipating but gathering in insistence.
“No Daddy no”
“You’re going to stay here you can’t go in the store with Mom”
A man was attempting to hold his child down; the wee blonde girl was thrashing about trying to be free, wearing a harness. A harness?
I removed the ipod from my ears, stopping in my tracks to observe the scene.
Sunny Glagow Street. Typical late night shopping-people breezing about as if this man and his child did not exist. But clearly they did, the drama was gaining in momentum.
“You’re going to stay here”
He shouted as pinning her down on the sidewalk.
No one nothing. Women sitting on the adjoining bench looking ahead as if this moment didn’t exist.
I walked over quickly and calming, kneeling down by both and saying in soothing tones,
“Hello there. Oh look you all upset. Mommy will be here soon”
She stopped. He stopped.
Obviously on drugs or not far off, fingers stained. Eyes vacant. Familiar vocals of…heroin? She was dressed but with familiar signs of neglect, not clean enough, something just off.
“Well look at you aren’t you a gorgeous girl” I continued and not losing eye contact with her sad eyes as they slowly got up and sat on the bench I kept on with soothing voice, soothing words.
“How old are you lovely?”
“Four” her barely audible response.
“Oh FOUR, that’s my favourite age. I teach in nurseries to 4 year olds. I’m a dance teacher my name is Kate E….”
Her eyes locked on mine with a wee light still, her father held her fast to his lap but barely on this planet as his eyes moved in and out of reality.
“This is your sister?” I said indicating the wee one on the pram next to us.
She nodded.
And so we continued for about 5 minutes my eyes not leaving hers telling her how lovely and special she was and she calmed.
I knew her mother was emerging from the store as the distress immediately crept back into her eyes and the tension of the father on his grip.
“I told her she couldn’t go into the store after you… she just ran in without me…” in loud tones for the whole of Argyle Street to hear.
And the mother equally haggard with the effects of drugs, anorexic, hunched and stained methodically and forcefully attached the harness strap back onto the wee girl to lead her away.
I disappeared to them immediately.
“okay sweetheart goodbye” I said in parting
Her father as an afterthought “say goodbye to Kate E.” but they were already yards away caught up in their chaotic bubble.
I was left standing there.
Three women sat on the adjoining bench. Grandmothers no doubt, bags from John Lewis and Mothercare at their sides.
We exchanged a look.
“That was awfully good of you hen”
“I always do that” was my reply “I read that for every child who grows up in a challenged environment the one determining factor that can ‘save’ them is kindness. She can at least have that memory.”
They clucked nodding their heads and I walked away.
There are those scenes you replay in your head. I should have addressed all those people who sat there in non-action as a defenceless child was distressed right next to them.
“Shame on you – how can this world get any better when we don’t share kindness when kindness is so needed right in front of us?? We are so afraid what that might mean. But what does that mean for that 4 year old and her sister? What does that teach them by our inaction? Or for her parents? If we don’t care why should they?”
That’s what I wanted to say to scream. OH.
I’ve recently been challenged as to ‘why I write these blogs’. It’s been a good reflection for me. I’ve been writing since I was seven. Have 30 years of journals I can return to. Words help me to work through the various idiosyncrasies of life. Some I keep to myself, but sometimes I need to share them. Like today I am so conflicted by this event, I cannot keep it to myself because of what has happened but also because of what it seems to represent in the world.
I often think if I had been born in another time, or even as a man, I might have considered a religious life. But given that no organized religion is particularly partial to women priests that option never presented itself. And I have a natural proclivity to speak on higher truths as matched by worldly experience.
There was a two-year period in my adult life when I created things (art/performance/writing) anonymously. After having been involved in the media world and being fed up with fame driven mentality with no substance, I wished to create work that existed for it’s own sake.
That needed to come to an end, as I was not gifted with a naturally sparkly personality and presence meant to be hid under a bushel as it were. So I share my journey in all its imperfection and questioning and creativity.
And when things happen as yesterday’s with the wee girl… I want to shout out to the world “WHY??? Please wake up. Please everyone let’s be kinder. Let’s be brave. Please please please.”
For my heart does break for that girl and for a world that is not yet ready to help her.
New Moves tracks the inspiring work of the educational theatre charity Funforlife in Sri Lanka.
Peace has officially been declared but still there is fear – and orphaned children.
A group of talented professional artists bring together Sinhala and Tamil; Hindu, Muslim, and Christian young people in a glorious riot of creativity and energy.
I am running 10K for the Great Scottish Run to raise money for Funforlife on the 5th September. If you would like to join my team please email or phone!
As many are aware in December 2009 I danced for 24 hours (in the rain and sleet) on Argyle Street in Glasgow to raise money for Funforlife’s work in Sri Lanka. I am THRILLED to announce that I will be repeating the exercise this December 2010 to raise money for their projects on Sri Lanka, India and Haiti!
To add to the experience I am also calling out for SIX LEAD DANCERS (worldwide) to direct their own DANCE PEACE simultaneously. That’s seven dancers (and helpers) dancing 24 hours for PEACE. I will be raising money for Funforlife. The other dancers can also raise money for Funforlife or another charity as long as that charity supports Peace in the world. If you would like to BE that dancer, or know someone who would please contact me.
This is a very exciting thing happening. To that end I am also looking for Scottish based helpers to organize and facilitate the event – so that it is even more successful then last year! Email/phone me if you’d like to be involved on ANY LEVEL. I’ll be organizing a meeting in August for planning etc…
MERCHANT CITY FESTIVAL PERFORMANCES! I will be performing at TWO events during Glasgow’s FABULOUS Merchant City Festival. Book tickets today to avoid disappointment.
Dance performance with live music! Hundreds of carved figures and pieces of old scrap perform an incredible choreography to haunting music and synchronized light, telling funny and tragic stories of the human spirit as it struggles against the relentless circles of life and death. Booking information click HERE.
Celebrate the end of the festival with artists performers and crew. Curry and performances from Roger (The Devils Chauffeur) Ely, Ian ( Mischief La Bas) Smith and a galaxy of surprise appearances (ie. Kate E. Deeming ) in the glorious surroundings of Sloans Ballroom.Ticket price includes 2 course meal. Booking information click HERE.
Sunday marked my 37th Birthday. Birthdays can be a powder keg; to some they represent this strange marker of ‘growing older’. What an odd concept ‘to grow older’; an oxymoron of sorts. In our commodified world we are obsessed both with growth and youth. No wonder so much confusion. And yet these markers of LIFE are a good time to reflect on the all not to mention champagne!
I remember the first time I tried proper champagne- I was living the high life (ha ha) as a film executive, swanning about on a yacht in Cannes and yes, the champagne flowed like water. Up to that point I’d only had what I can now term ‘gasoline’, previously named ‘sparkling wine’; ‘champagne food’ (like ‘cheese food’ which has no remnant of dairy product in it). But if you don’t know any better, yeah it seems ok. But once you try the real stuff – all that artifice is blown out of the water, pointless to drink gasoline (especially in our oil dependent economies ha ha) when you know somewhere out there champagne does exist and it is good.
Life can be like that. Oh I am so glad to ‘evolve with time’ (as noted by a good friend of mine this week) in lieu of this stupid concept ‘grow older’ ick what am I supposed to do with THAT??? But evolving means we recognize that good champers can be just around the corner when seemingly we are in a muck pit…
Thinking back on the 36th year it’s been punctuated by a glorious sort of chaos I somehow managed to dance with (literally). I am so proud of being able to create meaningful artistic work in this supposed horrific economic climate (yawn). I am pleased I am able to know so many lovely large-hearted compassionate souls who’ve helped and joined me on the way. Nietzsche said ‘One must have chaos within to give birth to a dancing star’ (thanks Mom). How true it is.
I was noting this aspect to my wonderful Godmother (what a wonderful thing to have like in fairy tales and indeed she is everything a godmother should be!) that often we end up spending time on things we don’t anticipate. My cousin recently got bitten by a tic and had to cope with the repercussions of that. What do you do? You have to deal with tic for goodness sake, or just let it continue to feast on you into oblivion. But somehow, somewhere in there we can find grace. Grace in dealing with the ugly, annoying, pestilent and natural aspects of life and get on with it.
My last day of dancing was quiet to end as it was to begin- appropriately grey, cold, empty (mostly). I was dressed red to mark a celebratory exit, the final ritual contained more nostalgia then sadness. As is often the case, the brilliance of the Broomielaw experience was in the passing, in the past. I admit I made some beautiful dances down there, temporal, maybe witnessed by one, or none. Exquisite moments of truth. These were balanced more often by spirited bopping – gorgeous in it’s own way. The sense of something happening. But as with births and life, there is progression and evolving. Some of my regulars sadly said their goodbyes and thanks. My lovely artist friend Moira Buchanan came down for a final boogie, as did Ian one of the local office workers. Not bad, no dancers to three, maybe next year six, or maybe not.
Many things only exist for a season in our lives that is why it is important to embrace their preciousness, for this moment will not come again. Embrace with all your heart those things you love and admire. Celebrate peace; sing to the simplicity of kindness in the everyday. Dance. Laugh. Enjoy one another. Evolve.
And happy birthday to ME for goodness sake!
Lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and LOTs of love to you forever,
LAST DANCE AT THE BROOMIELAW – Thursday, 8 JULY 2010 – 815-10am
It’s been a fantastic time these past four months but it’s time to move and groove on….This Thursday will be my last dance (for now) at the Broomielaw. Feel free to come down for that Boogie you always wanted to, or to say hello or goodbye. I am moving to new dancing shores and currently am in the process of scouting new dancing spaces. Who knows you might look out your window one day and I’LL BE THERE
I will be performing at TWO events during Glasgow’s FABULOUS Merchant City Festival. Book tickets today to avoid disappointment.
Dance performance with live music! Hundreds of carved figures and pieces of old scrap perform an incredible choreography to haunting music and synchronized light, telling funny and tragic stories of the human spirit as it struggles against the relentless circles of life and death. Booking information click HERE.
Celebrate the end of the festival with artists performers and crew. Curry and performances from Roger (The Devils Chauffeur) Ely, Ian ( Mischief La Bas) Smith and a galaxy of surprise appearances (ie. Kate E. Deeming ) in the glorious surroundings of Sloans Ballroom.Ticket price includes 2 course meal. Booking information click HERE.
EDITOR SECURED FOR ‘HOPE’ FILM
I am pleased to announce that photographer/filmmaker Chris McNulty has stepped forward to piece together the film footage from the HOPE performance. We’ll start pulling that together in the next month well in advance to our return to Sri Lanka! Thanks to Chris for his volunteering to do that!
PRODUCER STILL NEEDED!!!!
I am still in the desperate position of having loads of creative opportunities and work coming my way, loads of people viewing my website, and positive response to the burgeoning artistic practice matched with an abyssmal business practice marked by missed opportunities in funding and expansion which I recognize but am unable to tackle on my own. I can’t make the work and expand the business, otherwise the creative side melts and consequently, me. Do you know someone who might be interested in building and strengthening the practical sides of what I do? Are you that person? It might just be a curiosity right now, or a ‘maybe’ but if so, please let’s have a chat about it, no commitment!
e: deemingdreaming@yahoo.co.uk; m: 07815 733135
PERFORMANCES AT NORTH GLASGOW FESTIVAL
I am pleased to announce that I have been commissioned to perform at the North Glasgow Festival in August. Stay tuned for further details….
Thanks very much for your time, your life and just YOU! Peace and blessings and joy,
Kate E.xx
If you’d like to donate to my work/life/mission please follow this LINK (this month I REALLY need it) as always THANK YOU:
Well we knew this day would come. When folks asked how long I was planning on being down there my reply was ‘well until it stops being right’.
It’s not right.
1st of March bundled in dozens of layers of clothing I found myself in a grey space. The dreich environment was emotional as well as physical having just returned from Sri Lanka and being all a bit uncertain to what the future would hold. Was it like a womb? I’m not sure. But it contained me; held my hopes and fears as I danced my way towards answers and to just being. Although it was public it felt decidedly solitary, maybe that’s what the office workers responded to my lone act reflected their reality? And everyday brought a new surprise, a connection, not because I was “Kate E. Deeming” but because there was a humanity that was found in the chance meetings. I loved that.
In my brain I thought the Refugee Week program would be an end point. To be sure I have expended HUGE energy these past six months. Now is time to retreat and regroup.
The Broomielaw doesn’t need me anymore it is buzzing these days, a marked difference to 4 months ago. Maybe with my departure it leaves the space for others to come in and try other things. New possibilities, how exciting! I can’t thank people enough for the exceptional experience that has been afforded to me these past four months. The office workers, the seniors out on their morning strolls, the students, construction crews, dog walkers, tourists, young people, old people, etc etc… How beautiful, extraordinary, and precious to have shared my dancing space, my life with you.
Because, of course, I need to keep dancing I am returning to my running ritual till I find somewhere ‘right’ to dance. I still don’t have regular access to studio space, but I am sure out there somewhere…
I shall let you know.
My last day of Broomielaw dancing, to allow for you to say hello, or goodbye- as a final hoo ha will be Thursday 8th July 2010 from 815-10ish. (you know what I’m like!). I might be down before that but definitely on Thursday.
Thanks again Many blessings and good grooves to you and yours,
Kate E. xx
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You are currently viewing the archives for July, 2010 at Deeming Dreaming.
I heard the tantrum blocks before our meeting. The calls of rebellion merged with Stevie Wonder’s “We can work it out” emerging from my ipod. The sky was all a-blue and me in stylish art-opening gear with my flash red shoes and silk scarf streaming behind ready to enjoy the offerings from the Merchant City Festival, hustling along so as not to be late.
“Four” her barely audible response.
In loving kindness and with hope for us all
) in the glorious surroundings of Sloans Ballroom.Ticket price includes 2 course meal. 
