Happy 4th of July!
Today is always bittersweet.
Today, I celebrate my anniversary.
Today, the country celebrates her independence.
Today, we as citizens of the United States, celebrate our freedoms to disagree, challenge, and question without persecution. (or do we...?)
......
Today, I read stories about children and adults put into challenging situations because of their hopes and dreams for a better life.
Today, I watch demonstrations of material power.
Today, I remember an embodied collective of joy and love.
......
Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood is modeled after the famed Mr. Rodger's show. In one particular episode, Daniel is reminded (and reminds those watching) to "Enjoy the WOW that's happening NOW."
We watched that episode today.
And as I watch my wedding video - and the news feeds, I can't help but hear Daniel's, and Ms. Tiger's voices ringing in my head, singing, "Enjoy the WOW that's happening NOW!".
The NOW of the moment of my wedding.
The NOW of the folks who are in my wedding video but are no longer physically present.
The NOW of the possibilities of many years ago and the NOW that exists in this moment (both personally and nationally).
The WOW of memories that have been captured in this video. And the WOW of the memories that I can only hold in my heart.
......
In 2016 I began the process of exploring Grief in LEFT BEHIND.
I don't think that I'll ever understand this phenomenon, no matter how many different ways I embody and experience it. But, in this post, I feel it's important to acknowledge that there's a WOW in reflecting on the NOW.
The WOW is painful and heartbreaking and capable of collapsing the human form. And yet, that WOW withstands the impossible pain of loss and grief.
The WOW is in the resilience of the human form to keep moving in face of the unbearable.
Enjoy the WOW that's happening NOW.
Damn...!
.... Happy 4th.
Thank you to those who have served (including our/ your families) and those who continue to serve, in whatever form that manifests.
and...in the words of Daniel Tiger, "Ugga mugga....!"
Thursday, July 4, 2019
Tuesday, July 2, 2019
HOMEostasis
Homeostasis (hoe-mee-oh-say-sis):
Noun.
1. "The tendency of a system, especially the physiological system of higher animals, to maintain internal stability, owing to the coordinated response of its parts to any situation or stimulus that would tend to disturb its normal condition or function.
2. (from psychology) a state of psychological equilibrium obtained when tension or a drive has been reduced or eliminated.
3. (from entomology) the ability of members of a colony of social insects to behave cooperatively to produce a desired result, as when bees coordinate the fanning of their wings to cool the hive."
~from dictionary.com
or, from dance artist and Doctor of Physical Therapy Laura Baehr, "it's the constant shifting that our bodies are doing to maintain a sense of normalcy. That normalcy is never stable and the parts that work to keep a sense of stability are in constant flux and change. We have this illusion of stability in our bodies (and in our lives) that there is a constant, almost flat line "normal" but in fact, from a medical perspective (and a dance perspective, and a mental health perspective), we're constantly making negotiations to maintain that sense of equilibrium."
..........
We're in the process of unfolding what HOME means.
Is it a place?
How do we as dancers experience it in our bodies?
How do we as people who work with other bodies, as educators and healers, hear how other people manifest HOME in their bodies - or not?
What can we learn about looking at how we define HOME and how we are drawn to or repulsed by certain notions of HOME? How does digging into and sharing our HOMES provide more information about us and the way we interact with our world?
..........
As in the case of homeostasis.
..........
Language is interesting. The latin "Homeo" means "like or similar to". But, HOME can be very complicated.
Stay tuned as we negotiate our own way of maintaining a sense of stability in this journey.
Noun.
1. "The tendency of a system, especially the physiological system of higher animals, to maintain internal stability, owing to the coordinated response of its parts to any situation or stimulus that would tend to disturb its normal condition or function.
2. (from psychology) a state of psychological equilibrium obtained when tension or a drive has been reduced or eliminated.
3. (from entomology) the ability of members of a colony of social insects to behave cooperatively to produce a desired result, as when bees coordinate the fanning of their wings to cool the hive."
~from dictionary.com
or, from dance artist and Doctor of Physical Therapy Laura Baehr, "it's the constant shifting that our bodies are doing to maintain a sense of normalcy. That normalcy is never stable and the parts that work to keep a sense of stability are in constant flux and change. We have this illusion of stability in our bodies (and in our lives) that there is a constant, almost flat line "normal" but in fact, from a medical perspective (and a dance perspective, and a mental health perspective), we're constantly making negotiations to maintain that sense of equilibrium."
..........
We're in the process of unfolding what HOME means.
Is it a place?
How do we as dancers experience it in our bodies?
How do we as people who work with other bodies, as educators and healers, hear how other people manifest HOME in their bodies - or not?
What can we learn about looking at how we define HOME and how we are drawn to or repulsed by certain notions of HOME? How does digging into and sharing our HOMES provide more information about us and the way we interact with our world?
..........
As in the case of homeostasis.
..........
Language is interesting. The latin "Homeo" means "like or similar to". But, HOME can be very complicated.
Stay tuned as we negotiate our own way of maintaining a sense of stability in this journey.
Tuesday, June 11, 2019
Butterflies
Have you ever had butterflies in your stomach?
Not just the "am I nervous or could this be calmed with a digestive supplement?" butterflies.
I mean the "I really should cancel everything and spend the day in the bathroom throwing up" butterflies.
Because of nerves... (which is a real thing).
Me too.
I had a mentor tell me once that we get nervous because it (whatever it is) matters to us.
...
On this particular day, I was invited to present some of my research in conjunction with other scholars and academics as part of a professional symposium. I wasn't the only artist, but I was the only dancer.
And so often, as I dancer I hear things like:
"I don't get dance"
"It's cool to watch, but I could never do it"
"I had a really bad experience with dance when I was growing up"
"Um... I don't really have a great relationship with my body..."
I especially hear this in places outside of Philly and NYC (which maybe have more exposure to different types of dance or movement experiences? I have a strong tendency to doubt this, but I'm still doing research on dance in rural settings).
But, I also choose to be in these (not Philly or NYC) places and spaces because I believe in the power of dance to empower individuals to engage creatively and physically.
Dance is important.
So, on this particular day, when I wanted to hide under my covers, I still went to my class. I asked my class to hold space for me as I shared my fears of being judged and of not being enough. Of putting my headspace and heartspace on display through my bodyspace. I told my students that I was afraid of not being understood, or of being ridiculed because of what I looked like or what I presented.
But, I told them, it's because of my own fears that I really, really need to do this presentation/ performance. It's because I don't have the "perfect" body that I need to allow my body to be seen. It's because I'm afraid of being vulnerable that I need to put that vulnerability on display. There's power in being true to oneself and power in being authentic. There's power in the female form - whatever that looks like. There's power in taking ownership of one's voice, whatever shape that voice takes.
And it was because I was so scared of all of these elements that I needed to share this experience -because I'm probably not the only one. But I might be the only one to speak up.
And... that's exactly what my students said.
"Wow... I'm totally scared to do this solo that you assigned to us, and exactly because of all the things you just said. But I never thought you'd be scared. I'm terrified. I don't want to do this. But I do want to say something... and hearing you say that you're scared too makes me feel not too alone"
And...
"Dance is the only place where I feel comfortable - as myself and in my body. This class and this work is so important"
And...
"You tell us everyday that you trust us to trust ourselves. I trust that you'll be awesome! I trust you!"
And, a message later in the day...
"Thinking of you and your performance. Don't worry about what anyone else thinks! How did you think it went?"
....
Do you know that story about how the flap of a butterfly's wings in one part of the world can cause a hurricane halfway around the world? Yeah... I totally believe that too...
Not just the "am I nervous or could this be calmed with a digestive supplement?" butterflies.
I mean the "I really should cancel everything and spend the day in the bathroom throwing up" butterflies.
Because of nerves... (which is a real thing).
Me too.
I had a mentor tell me once that we get nervous because it (whatever it is) matters to us.
...
On this particular day, I was invited to present some of my research in conjunction with other scholars and academics as part of a professional symposium. I wasn't the only artist, but I was the only dancer.
And so often, as I dancer I hear things like:
"I don't get dance"
"It's cool to watch, but I could never do it"
"I had a really bad experience with dance when I was growing up"
"Um... I don't really have a great relationship with my body..."
I especially hear this in places outside of Philly and NYC (which maybe have more exposure to different types of dance or movement experiences? I have a strong tendency to doubt this, but I'm still doing research on dance in rural settings).
But, I also choose to be in these (not Philly or NYC) places and spaces because I believe in the power of dance to empower individuals to engage creatively and physically.
Dance is important.
So, on this particular day, when I wanted to hide under my covers, I still went to my class. I asked my class to hold space for me as I shared my fears of being judged and of not being enough. Of putting my headspace and heartspace on display through my bodyspace. I told my students that I was afraid of not being understood, or of being ridiculed because of what I looked like or what I presented.
But, I told them, it's because of my own fears that I really, really need to do this presentation/ performance. It's because I don't have the "perfect" body that I need to allow my body to be seen. It's because I'm afraid of being vulnerable that I need to put that vulnerability on display. There's power in being true to oneself and power in being authentic. There's power in the female form - whatever that looks like. There's power in taking ownership of one's voice, whatever shape that voice takes.
And it was because I was so scared of all of these elements that I needed to share this experience -because I'm probably not the only one. But I might be the only one to speak up.
And... that's exactly what my students said.
"Wow... I'm totally scared to do this solo that you assigned to us, and exactly because of all the things you just said. But I never thought you'd be scared. I'm terrified. I don't want to do this. But I do want to say something... and hearing you say that you're scared too makes me feel not too alone"
And...
"Dance is the only place where I feel comfortable - as myself and in my body. This class and this work is so important"
And...
"You tell us everyday that you trust us to trust ourselves. I trust that you'll be awesome! I trust you!"
And, a message later in the day...
"Thinking of you and your performance. Don't worry about what anyone else thinks! How did you think it went?"
....
Do you know that story about how the flap of a butterfly's wings in one part of the world can cause a hurricane halfway around the world? Yeah... I totally believe that too...
Wednesday, March 20, 2019
Leave no one behind - World Water Day 2019
I've initiated and am facilitating/ co-directing a celebration of World Water Day at Alvernia University.
This year's theme - Leaving No One Behind - struck a significant chord. 2016-2017 was a time rich in investigation for my own "Left Behind" projects.
This performance continues looking into how dance can be performed in non-traditional performance spaces, bridge disciplines, and build community through creating conversation - both in the process of creating the work and in/ around the performance itself.
Personally, I'm sharing a piece called "Ripples". The work embodies cause and effect over time and reveals how concentrated effort can result in joy and release.
This year's theme - Leaving No One Behind - struck a significant chord. 2016-2017 was a time rich in investigation for my own "Left Behind" projects.
This performance continues looking into how dance can be performed in non-traditional performance spaces, bridge disciplines, and build community through creating conversation - both in the process of creating the work and in/ around the performance itself.
Personally, I'm sharing a piece called "Ripples". The work embodies cause and effect over time and reveals how concentrated effort can result in joy and release.
Tuesday, March 12, 2019
Local Inspiration, Creative Collaboration
“Celebrating the Fabric of America from a Woman’s Perspective: In Motion” is a dance movement meditation on Michele Byrne’s artwork. Performed and choreographed by dancers from the Alvernia community, they weave personal narratives in communication with the stories presented by Michele Byrne.
Where: Alvernia University’s Miller Gallery in Francis Hall
When: Tuesday, March 12 at 4pm
1. Michele Byrne's "Celebrating the Fabric of America from a Woman's Perspective". In a program in the gallery, describing some of the work, Ms. Byrne discussed her subjects. Each of them are women with whom she's familiar and many of them local. Each woman also provided a reflection of their process in working with Ms. Byrne, which included reflections on their own background and stories.
2. Musical selections from Jill Haley's National Park Series. These pieces are Ms. Haley's creative reflections on national treasures throughout the United States.
3. White costumes. White light is the absorption of all colors. White as a fabric, when worn by women, has become a symbol of women's rights, in the US.
4. Female performers of various ages and backgrounds from the Greater Reading area.
5. The audience. Our audience is witness to this collaboration and becomes part of the performance - the seeing of, sharing, and embodying stories of local women.
Friday, March 8, 2019
International Women's Day - thanks, Press!
Thanks to Susan Pena and the Reading Eagle for featuring this article (on the front page AND the lead for their Lifestyle section). This is recogination is particularly important on International Women's Day...
Thank you to all of the folks who have allowed me to stand on their shoulder... and thank you to all of the folks who will stand on mine. There's lots of work to be done...
Dance, Joy, Connection, and Wellness
Thank you to all of the folks who have allowed me to stand on their shoulder... and thank you to all of the folks who will stand on mine. There's lots of work to be done...
Dance, Joy, Connection, and Wellness
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| Pic from the Reading Eagle |
Thursday, February 28, 2019
InHale 39 times
KYL/D's 39th InHale Performance Series is this weekend.
Whew... that's over 10 years that I've curated and organized this excitement of performance work.
Here are some of the amazing artists sharing their voices this weekend:
KYL/D's InHale Performance Series March 1 2019 from Kun-Yang Lin/Dancers on Vimeo.
Get your tickets at the Dance Box Office.
Whew... that's over 10 years that I've curated and organized this excitement of performance work.
Here are some of the amazing artists sharing their voices this weekend:
KYL/D's InHale Performance Series March 1 2019 from Kun-Yang Lin/Dancers on Vimeo.
Get your tickets at the Dance Box Office.
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