May 31st, 2011 §
After a beautiful April with blue skies and warmth to justify vest tops, skirts and sandals (even to my Philly gal sensibility) we are thrown back into winds that could inspire even the Wicked Witch of the West to hunker down for a wee while. And we bemoan its changes, ‘oooooooo the weeeeathhheeer..’ we say, as if it’s normally predictable.
One thing I’ve learned about Scottish weather forecasters after 11 years; they’re all comedians. No one ever regularly can ‘predict’ the weather in Scotland, except that we’ll have it- and usually quite a good selection.
Watching a talk by Malcolm McLaren yesterday and I am reminded of this. He speaks on how we need to cultivate a culture where failure is expected, or as he puts it,
‘it is better to be a flamboyant failure then a benign success’.
To try and be unaffected by the weather, to only ever make plans when the sun is shining is severely limiting and often not possible. It is how we weather the storms when we develop our characters and discover the unexpected and the unexpected can be the biggest gift of them all.
On Saturday I was commissioned to dance at the Southside Festival here in Glasgow. Originally it was proposed that I would lead dance workshops in the ‘I Love Dance Tent’ but when windy conditions blew down the market stalls forcing sellers into the activity tents and I was asked ‘If I could dance outside’ – of course I said YES YES YES.
So whilst the winds gusted dramatically across the multi-coloured skies and market sellers in their dark anoraks hustled back and forth the ‘boulevard’ to stow their wares safely, I danced. I rode the wind in my Isadora Duncan inspired red and pink costume, conversing in the moment in movement. A space that previous was thought of as ‘dead’ was brought to life and I was told the dance was ‘epic’.
But it’s not only about dancing, it’s about being able to be in our moment and live in an AUTHENTIC way, to author our lives based upon what we feel, and to support and celebrate others who do the same.
Recent laws in America make ‘silent dancing’ illegal. It seems insane to me, that in my home country that prides itself on individualism and freedom of expression that such a thing is possible.
One of the extraordinary things to come out of this however is the outcry from left, right, and centre as to the lunacy of this ruling. Yet again dance unites. And mayhaps this ‘blip’ of legal insanity will create unity where there is division. Only time will tell.
For now, I continue to ride the winds, embrace the rain, and catch the rays of the sun when I can…
UPDATES
Hope Dances: After raising over £2500 my parents have taken a loan for the remainder of the arrears that I am now paying back (through them). Although this is not ideal (I haven’t cleared the debt and my parents have taken it on for me), it keeps me safe in my home for the moment. I am absolutely committed to finishing the book. I aim to finish the manuscript by 1 September to release the finished book for November 2011. I shall keep you posted.
Work: I had a great and busy month for work, from the Festival of Museums at St. Mungo’s to the Southside Festival last weekend. I also gave a presentation at Gray’s School of Art in Aberdeen and will be reprising the Green Faerie this weekend at the Ready Steady Grow Festival in Pollokshields! I am keen to gain more freelance contracts for the summer, so if you know of anything at all, please do pass it along!
Daily Dancing! Still doing my morning boogie down at the Broomielaw – but if you’d like a dance visitor or wish me to dance FOR something let me know!
Thanking you for you continued wonderful support and good wishes
Lots of love and sunshine to your soul!
Kate E. xxxx
May 5th, 2011 §
The word ‘election‘ derives from an Anglo-French word meaning ‘to pick out’.
Today is Election Day in the UK, and many will be ‘picking out’ the candidates they feel best represent their interests. It is extraordinary the breath and width to choose from, which demonstrates the exceptional diversity of human experience. How we can choose democratically leaders who will facilitate the growth and development of our world can be a challenge indeed.
I am participating in a ‘artist exchange’ with students at Gray’s School of Art later this month. Some of the questions that have been posed are ‘what is an artist FOR’ and ‘why be an artist’? The artists who have had the most impact on my life whether the dance of Pina Bausch or the physical practice of Jacques Le Coq, upon greater study also share a tremendous humanism. Their art was a reflection of their desire not just to ‘make art’ but to ‘make life better’, whether by seeking answers to life’s questions or by creating connections between people and communities in the context of their work.
Interestingly this ‘compassionate leadership’ is what I seek in politics.
In today’s world where we are facing challenges on every level of the scale, it is important to remember this is not the first, nor the last time we will face challenge and to remember those individuals who braved even greater storms in a continuous sea of change to create real, lasting and positive change.
We can easily remember greats like Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King and Nelson Mandela, single souls who believed and believed and believed and created peace, love and connection when everyone said it was not possible. Or we can call up the memories of teachers and family members past and present who continue to inspire, to bring breath, to our lives. And in the remembrance we can recognize our own power. So let’s not be fearful, let’s not settle for the ‘next best thing’, let’s believe believe and believe and LIVE that world.
Once the polling is complete and life moves on continue VOTE with your feet, your voices, your life.
May 4th, 2011 §
You know when you are near to someone and they start to fall down and without thought you ‘jerk’ to save them from injuring themselves? I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately. It’s like you can’t stop yourself from aiding someone in trouble.
When I was in Peru, Willaru, the Inca priest I was learning from spoke of ‘shock’. We were walking the Inca trail that was very difficult, and designed to be difficult. You had no choice but to be absolutely present in the physical moment, or you’d drop off into the abyss of the Rainforest to be eaten by wild beasties.
But something quite extraordinary happened in that time. By the time we reached the summit, all seemed clear, all the worries I had put credence in, inconsequential. Willaru said this was like a personal MOT/Tune up, getting us back in alignment with our true nature. The same often happens with people who experience extreme trauma. You frequently hear of individuals who after a car accident or heart attack ‘turn their lives around’. They make a decision to live life with meaning, cut back- get down to basics.
In the past two weeks or so my kitchen ceiling has fallen down, the washing machine has broken, the gutters in the back have flooded, and the hot-water heater has broken. Add this to the woes of my mortgage and it would be easy to bemoan ‘life is shit’. But quite conversely as I have ‘fallen’ countless ‘hands’ have reached out to save me.
My amazing neighbours, reminding me what community is all about; Mihai for fixing my washing machine; Mircai for putting up my ceiling; Loredana for feeding me and general care; Lexi & Moira for helping with clean up; Rachel & Jane for providing ‘homes away from home’; Misters Saeed, Javaid & Qayuum for unclogging the drains; Donald for the loan of an extension cable; Tim for the loan of a power drill; Mister Ebrahim for the loan of a ladder; and Shaka for extra plaster-board. Not to mention the 99 people who have donated to ‘Hope Dances’ validating the importance of what I am doing and saving my home. And of course the countless calls, emails and general messages for my well-being. These are priceless.
It is true, had things been different and I had gotten those grants, or I had gotten those jobs I applied for (and as expected) I would not be in this position, the path would have been different. But then as a result of this I am held by the hearts of others and that is a wonderful, a beautiful thing, a reminder of life’s shared experiences. And I am happy for it. And these reminders come with stories and connections. So the lives of others also resonates in me.
I think that’s the important thing to remember in life… ‘good times’ happen AND ‘bad times’ happen.
It’s not a question of whether you will face them on an individual or a global level, but what you choose to do with them. How do we move forward in the face of it ALL?
That’s why I’m making ‘Hope Dances’. As much as it’s a creative way of getting myself out of a tricky situation, I also believe that these are important stories to share. In the face of all the chaos, and crap we’re told ‘this is the way it is’ I think (looking at my experiences) ‘this is ALSO the way it is’, and I choose that.
I’ve written 20 stories, you can see here. The last ‘Still Waters’ is quite an extraordinary tale and particularly resonant in our time… Feel free to read and share.
I spoke to the Mortgage company on Thursday. The court date has not been assigned yet, looks like it will be in June. (there was a backlog of cases and with holidays has given me more time). If I can raise a further £8636.19 (I’ve raised £2464.81) they will not take it to court. So please continue to share Hope Dances links.. I’ve done exceptionally well so far! One pound will make all the difference!
In the meantime I am continuing to pursue paying work and have quite a few things in the pipeline. I am performing on the 14th May at St. Mungo’s Museum as part of the Museums Festival, I will be dancing in the Cathedral Precinct for people’s prayers in the day and giving a talk on Prayer & Dance at 4pm. I will send reminders of this next week, but as always if you have anything you’d like me to dance for or need a wee dance visitor, do send me a message!
As I have been ‘doing the DIY’ this past week I haven’t been able to dance down at the Broomielaw (!), rest assured I’ll be back there tomorrow and as I am recently inspired by the film on choreographer/visionary Pina Bausch, I probably will be upping the game in terms of costuming…. And I welcome visitors and chat on your way, so do stop by!
Thanking you as always for your extraordinary well wishes, with love and sunshine to your very soul, zap zap zap!
Kate E. xx
Thanking you for you continued wonderful support and good wishes
