Evening of Duets

I've been hesitant to talk, privately and publicly, about my dreams and work for HomeFrontLines. 

I've been pushed and prodded by the Universe to get this project in motion and more information will be forthcoming. 

But for now...

I'm honored to be presenting part of the project at Philly's annual "An Evening of Duets" presented by Melissa Chisena. This particular program has a(n) unique line-up of artists from Philadelphia, NYC, and DC. (Grammar side note - an extensive Google search couldn't answer my inquiry of "does 'unique' need 'an' or 'a'?" to personal satisfaction... So, readers, you choose.)

Melissa has invited me to share "Unspoken". This is a new work featuring the artistry of Katherine Kiefer Stark and Melissa McCarten. With it, I'm still exploring what it means to be on the other side of the military and how families (more specifically women) negotiate persistence, courage, fear, isolation, and connection. 

Read more about the other companies in the Evening of Duets Press Release

Get your tickets here

And check out more information about the companies and the performance: Evening of Duets website

Thank you, Veterans!

Art has the power to heal.

To transform. 

To change. 

To challenge. 

Art has the power to build community and create shared experiences despite time, space, race, religion...

Thank you, Veterans, for protecting this right to make and experience art. In doing so, we are participating in one of the beautiful (and painful) ways we are human. 

"When Winston Churchill was asked to cut arts funding 

in favour of the war effort, 

he simply replied, 

'then what are we fighting for?'" 

Thank you!

Because music is such a powerful way to connect and share experiences, I'm including a few links to some of my personal favorites to celebrate and honor our Veterans. 

In no particular order... (click on the links to see the video. There are also links to purchase the songs on ITunes).

Carrington Kay's "Smokestack Ashes" 

Keith Urban's "For You" from the 'Act of Valor' soundtrack 

The Dixie Chicks' "Traveling Soldier" 

Toby Keith's "American Soldier"

Darryl Worley's "I Just Got Back from a War" 

I'm struggling with saying more... these songs and many others speak for themselves. 

Thank you for allowing us to be free and to create and challenge and question, Veterans. It is my hope and dream that we can create an American for you to be proud, of again. 

"Let America be American again..." ~Langston Hughes

The Protected - more questions

For the Dance Journal, Gregory King wrote, "Athletic and nuanced in its presentation, The Protected revealed King in positions of defiance and strength when she stood in an open stance with her chest listed and arms raised above her head and bent at the elbows. She was unapologetic in her demeanor as she overpowered the space with her deliberate musculature. King danced fearlessly..."

Read the whole review here: Artists at Home

A "performance" is like a "publication". What is shown (through the stage or through text) is fully developed, thought out, and researched. But the action of "putting it out there" (read: the work for performance and/or publication) also proves to be influential in the choreographer's/ author's research.

Because the creative process is organic, it's never "really" finished.
~Should the work be left to gestate, it might produce different results.
~Should the audience experience the work at a different time or place, he/she/they might have different interpretations of the work, based upon his/her/their lived experiences and what they bring to the work.
~What would happen if the creator could re-visit the work:
       ~ with his/her new lived and researched experiences?
        ~ with feedback from other professionals in the field?
         ~ with feedback from audiences who are not experienced in the field?

How do lived experiences change with time? How do the memories of lived experiences change with time?

A moment from "The Protected" caught by Bill Hebert. 

Who will you remember?

For many Americans, "Memorial Day" means:

1. The beginning of summer

2. A day off

3. Sales!

4. Bar-b-ques and picnics

5. Parades

For many Americans, "Memorial Day" is every day. 

Everyday is remembering friends and family oversees. 

Everyday is remembering friends and family that never returned. 

Everyday is remembering friends and family that returned, with the stain of war. 

Everyday is remembering the struggle that those who served faced - from our government, from employers, from heath care professionals, from us who don't know or understand what they endured...

Everyday is remembering the struggle that those who love and support those who serve face. How do we help those who protected us and protect them from the challenges they face from government? From bad employers who don't understand or aren't willing to work with the challenges of their service? From health care professionals who won't or don't accept insurance for their injuries and are too costly for the veterans (who often struggle with "normal jobs") to provide on their own?

What are you/we really doing on this Memorial Day? What can we do?

As an artist, I create.

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B4XJXJnEXyX2MGowT293UFhHWWs/edit?usp=docslist_api  

What will you do to support our military? 

What will you do to support those who support the people in their families who are in themitary?

What will you do today to remember? 

Who will you remember? 

The Protected - May 8th is Military Spouses' Day

The Veterans' Health Association posted on their Facebook page that today, May 8th, was "Military Spouse Appreciation Day."

Thank you!

I didn't realize there was a special day for military spouses, but I'm glad there is. And I'm grateful for all of the military and their spouses. Thank you for supporting and protecting those who protect our freedom as U.S. citizens. 

I performed "The Protected" for the second time today. Yesterday, after the performance, a young friend inquired about the piece. "I'm still in the process and it's really personal so I'm not quite sure how to talk about it, yet," I responded. As an artist, herself, she seemed to understand.

But then, I saw the VHA posting and thought about gathering the courage to talk a bit more. 

"The Protected" is inspired by those who are left behind during war. The ones who love the soliders, the protectors of our freedom and American values (a term, I realize is currently up for debate.) HOWEVER, the debate does not deminish the value of the work being done by those who put their lives on the line everyday - military, police, firefighters... In fact, the debate IS ALLOWED because of the work of these individuals. 

Personally, I am grateful to have the freedom to be an artist in this dynamic culture, of the U.S. 

These "protectors" are also people who also need protecting. 

Who protects the protectors? 

Military spouses and parents are so patient with their protecting. They wait. Pray. Don't watch the news. Watch the news. Lose sleep worrying and waiting for a phone call. Pray for a phone call. Pray not to receive a certain type of a phone call. Write letters and notes not knowing if they'll be received. Cry. Pray. Wait. Continue with life as normal -whatever that means. Cry. Pray. Wait. Yell where no one can hear. Hide. Smile. Pretend. Breathe. Wait. And when the time comes, they fight. Fight to understand. Fight to help. Fight to provide health insurance and care, mental and emotional support. Fight not to bring back what was lost but to provide protection for those who have already lost so much in protecting. Fight for what is and what could be. 

I don't ask questions but I know the role of the protector is one of challenge and sacrifice. As is the role of the protected.

The images below are from a second piece created for me by my collaborator in the process of "The Protected". Jessica Hardinger wrote and performed the music for this work. I deeply appreciate her own roles as a protected and protector, as an artist and educator, and as a friend. 

The Protected - a new work

I sit in the lobby of CHI MAC with one of my dancers as she's preparing to run to another engagement after our showing/ rehearsal. She, also, exists under the space of wearing many different hats (costumes?).

"I'm so sorry I can't stay to see your piece," she apologizes as if she needs to. (I choose my dancers precisely BECAUSE of who they are and the stories their bodies contain. Despite the technique or the direction that I might give them as a choreographer, these stories always will bleed through onto the stage and into the creative process. I invite them to.)

Then comes the hard question.

"What is is about?"

Gulp.

I smile. I look away from her supportive gaze. I look at the floor. I look out the window. I take a deep breath. A moment to procrastinate as I gather the truth - no, as I gather the courage to say the truth.

"It's about being on the other side of the military."

*  *  *  *  *

As I write, I don't know what more to say. As I cannot understand that challenges that our veterans and current military experience on a day-to-day basis, I don't expect anyone to fully understand what it means to be on the other side of that (insert word here - experience? trauma? loss? pain? lifestyle? culture?).

Dance is abstract and I don't expect that my audience will see what the work is "about," but feedback from showings suggests that something about the feeling is being communicated.

"Fear?"

"I see you as a very protective person. In this, it looks like you're struggling. Who protects the protector?"

"From what is 'the protected' being protected? Or are they?"

May through September at Sunset Beach in Cape May, NJ,
the flag that draped the coffin of a veteran is flown.
This is the flag that draped my grandfather's coffin.
Thank you, to all those who serve.
Sunset Beach flag Ceremony