As we waited to make our last appearance at the Building Museum, we were able to hear David Rockwell, founder and CEO of his namesake cross-disciplinary design practice, give his keynote address. In his speech, he talked about architectural projects, commissions, and how such tasks involve one essential thing—play. Rockwell explained play through four elements—inspiration, risk, temporary, and exploration—and I realized that Rockwell’s approach to his projects and the approach to my improvisational experience that night—and to dance in general—were not so different.
Inspiration shows up whether we know it or not, for all forms of art. Of course in choreography, inspiration leads us to create movement, spacing, picking music, and so on. In an improvisational situation, however, inspiration is much more immediate. In the Building Museum, we drew on the shapes we saw and created in the space to create movement. It was a constant conversation of bodies to bodies, bodies to corners, bodies to walls, and so on. What we saw and felt there at that time was what instigated thoughts and movements—and that constant search for inspiration kept us moving.
Risk exists particularly strongly in improvisation, for so much of it is in the unknown. At the Museum, I felt as though the stakes of risk were the highest I had ever experienced. Not only was I in an unfamiliar space with people I had not danced with before, but the environment was full of surprises. I shared dancing space in very close proximity with fragile elements—glasses, noses, fancy clothes. Thus, I found my spacial awareness as well as my awareness of my own clumsiness on high alert, careful not to knock over a tray of mini quiches or step on the trail of an $800 gown. Definitely not the usual concerns I have during a performance, but it was a fascinating challenge as it unfolded. (And yes, I made it through without injuring any party guests or their spiffy attire!).
As Rockwell elaborated on the temporary nature of his projects that moved from place to place, I thought of dance in context of as a performing art. Dance is temporary in its essence as a performing art. Like music or theater, dance exists when it is physically being created and practiced. When the practice ends, the art ends. As opposed to visual arts like painting and ceramics, which creates a product that is visitable, preservable, and tangible, no one can hold dance in their hands to keep forever. I think that’s part of what makes it so organic and authentic, and why so many people can experience such emotional reactions to it. When it is present, we can enjoy it fully in. And, as was reiterated for me that night at the Building Museum, dance can happen anywhere, at anytime, with anyone.
Exploration is at the core of modern dance and improvisation. We explore the possibilities of our bodies, the space, and the interactions that come about by bringing all these elements into our dance as a whole. And it’s at the core of every art form—creating something is a never ending journey of discovery and questioning.
I love that Rockwell used the word “play”—it reminded me that freedom and happiness are a huge part of creating anything. And that we don’t have to take everything seriously all the time. Realizing how interchangeable these elements are between two seemingly separated approaches to art was one of my favorite parts of the night. It gave me a big surge of happiness and a desire to play with my creativity. So, with his conclusion, it was off to energize the dance floor with party guests—and play we did.
This was originally posted on SparkAction.org, a journalism and youth advocacy online site. Please follow this link to leave comments. Thank you to all the websites, Twitter-ers, and blogs that picked this up!
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"The Millennial Generation (born 1980-2000) is the largest, most diverse, most open-minded, most tech-savvy, most eco-conscious generation in American history..."
We are?! Golly gee, thanks! I'm blushing.
When I first read that quote from Van Jones & Lindsay McCluskey's Huffington Post article Graduating Off a Cliff: The Millenial Generation's Fight for Its Future, I gave myself a little pat on the back. It was nice to hear my generation summed up with such compliments. So I kept reading:
"... Millennials are also the most unemployed, in debt and generally screwed over. Despite their desire to contribute to this country's greatness, Millennials may be the first generation in decades to face worse economic prospects than our parents and even grandparents."
Oh yeah, that. Well, at least I have some bragging rights, right? Do you think I could put my status as a Millennial on my resume? But no, really.
I must admit, it was refreshing to read about my generation's dilemma right there in black and white for everybody to see in this article. Take it from me: things are cut-throat out here in the job market. More than ever, where you end up relies more on luck of timing, place, and who you know than the degree and experience on your resume.
Considering the years of academic butt-kicking I have behind me, that is quite discouraging. And this is coming from a girl who was privileged to go to a decent public school district and then immediately to a four-year, private, prestigious university, so I know that my struggles only chip the tip of this massive iceberg. That's what worries me the most about this whole thing.
My mother usually has advice for everything, but even she couldn't help me out much with this "real world" crisis. I think this is true for many Millennials—our moms, dads, mentors, teachers,etc., entered the job market in an almost incomparably different market; even those older peers who graduated during past recessions or the dot com crash haven't seen it this bad, as recent data shows.
This crisis isn't just about income. Sure, we Millennials dream of the days we can be financially independent, and we'd love to see some money for investing and spending start to accumulate in our bank accounts. But our ambitions go beyond the dollars—they extend to a desire to contribute to the economy and help make America the strong, pride-worthy country that we once were. Amid the deficit, war and constant political battles, fundamental and physical infrastructures are falling slowly to pieces. Without jobs, we can't help our country rebuild.
As Jones and McCluskey say:
"Young people and students aren't asking for any special favors or handouts. They just want the same opportunities that the Baby Boomers and other previous generations had: The opportunity to work hard, get an education, make a living and give their kids a better life. In short, a chance to live the American Dream."
Okay, so, we're "screwed over" as Van Jones put it.
What now, then? What do we do about it?
In part, Millennials, we gotta take this on ourselves. This is new territory for everybody, and we have no choice but to charge into it. And when things don't work out, dust yourself off and try again (if you immediately started hearing Aaliyah's "Try Again" in your head after you read that, you're definitely a Millennial!) As Jones and McCluskey brag on our behalf (thanks, guys), this economic crisis has revealed the Millennials' steadfast attitude—and that we know how to persevere.
Young people have been speaking out more than ever, and it feels like the powers that be are really starting to listen. The Obama administration in particular has been taking young voices seriously, and allowing them a platform to interact with high-level officials who can actually get things done. I saw thisfirsthand at the National Youth Summit, an event run by the US Department of Education, which brought over 300 middle- and high-school students to Washington D.C. to share their concerns about education with White House and Department of Education staff, including the Secretary of Education Arne Duncan.
At the Summit, Duncan praised the proactive approach that students across the country are taking and said he hoped that we'll continue to mobilize to get our voices heard in a grassroots fashion (watch Alberto Retana, organizer of the Summit and Director of Community Outreach in the Department of Education, talk more about the White House's hopes for young voices in action here).
To keep the Summit from being a one-off, the White House has launched a "100 Youth Roundtables" initiative, which encourages young people to get together to talk about relevant issues with a promise that a White House official (maybe even President Obama himself) will make an appearance. They also regularly hold online town halls and live discussions on social media sites like Facebook.
This is not only in line with the technology-driven times; these are also actions that make participation accessible and appealing to my generation, tech-savvy (and tech-dependent) as we are. Screens, in all shapes and sizes, are how my generation gets our information and how we interact with each other. Whether or not you agree with what they're saying, the fact that our country's leadership—in the administration and in Congress—is using technology in innvoative ways is both refreshing and much-needed.
Heads Up: Briefcase Brigades!
So, we're putting our smarts to action and are ready to be taken seriously. The "perfect storm" of technology, economic crisis and young talent is leading to, among other things, some pretty creative protest.
Now, Millennials can't get the credit for the whole idea of the Briefcase Brigades—an event in 1970 in which lawyers stormed Washington to argue President Nixon's decisions on the Vietnam War was coined with the same name. However, this is the first time that a Briefcase Brigade will take the form of a demonstration, and the suits will be worn by cleaned-up, young, unemployed Americans as a symbol of their readiness to be employed but disappointment that jobs are being cut.
I can just imagine how it will look: Millennials looking all fancy and professional as they demonstrate for jobs. It'll be a powerful a visual representation of what the economy is missing out on by having an under-employed Millennial generation.
And while the Brigade won't solve the fiscal problems that our nation is facing, it will make a statement and help ambitious, energetic young people make connections and get information to stay actively involved. It can spark some fresh new thought about what we need to do legislatively to invest in jobs and the future. Because guess what, America? We're all going to have to take action. The Millennial generation IS your future. Ready or not, here we come. And we're armed ... with briefcases.
Get all the details on the Briefcase Brigade on the official website and prepare to get super excited about the event from this "trailer":
Note: If you've been paying attention to the date, The Briefcase Brigades are tomorrow. I'll be there looking fancy with camcorder in hand, in hopes of talking to some fellow Millennials about their plans to attack this job crisis with grace and smarts. Here's my follow-up!
Since I last wrote, I've gotten my first pedicure, taken two weekend trips to the Big Apple, gotten my nose pierced, had my first ever experience shopping at TJMaxx, and been offered an internship in Washington, DC. Talk about life changes!
For the curious: Besides the few moments of excruciating ticklishness that I tried my hardest to mask with a face of relaxation, my pedicure was lovely and I am thrilled with the color I picked-- a deep, beautiful "Catherine the Grape" purple by OPI.
NYC was a blast, I enjoyed using public transportation (what can I say? I'm a suburban gal), stopping to take photos like a first-time tourist, Central Park, meeting and taking a photo with Cookie Monster on the street (the best dollar we spent), and walking hand-in-hand with a handsome fellow. Teehehe.
My nose is a little numb from the piercing, which I hope is normal ... I'm liking the new style. However, I'm constantly feeling like the left side of my face doesn't get completely dry because I have to avoid my left nose with my towel so it doesn't get snagged. Left nose? Yeah.
I scored at TJMaxx and am confused as how I've never shopped there before. 3 colorful satiny, ruffly tops, work pants from The Limited, sweater dress. $85! I have no shame.
And for the biggest piece of news, that whole moving to DC thing. Yeah. I'm excited and terrified all at the same time, since I know nothing about DC, besides the fact that my many friends who live there already love it. That's been encouraging. However, I'm at appx. T-8 days to moving and have yet to have a definite place to live. Eek. To live on the edge ... Once I get my living situation figured out, I will stop freaking out, which is something my friends and family have been experiencing from me quite a lot these days. But DC will be an adventure, and I'm excited to start this new phase in my life that could launch me into something even more exciting! Imagine that! And I get to live the city lifestyle (I get to ride a bus! And a metro!).
I also feel compelled to share an incredible piece of art discovered on Youtube. Oh, 'tubey, how you have been a friend to me. From mindless entertainment to full Disney movies (in 10 parts!) and moving pieces, you will never cease to have a place in my bookmarks bar. But this 3-minute video may be my favorite thing, like, ever. It is music meets choreography meets dance meets drawing meets animation. I think what I love so much about this is that it's a wonderful example of collaboration. I'm really curious what people's interpretations of the piece are. I've read the comments on youtube and discussed it with friends, but there is so much there. Every time I watch it, I find something new to help me understand it more deeply-- tiny little details in every movement and every frame. I'm going to wait a few days to give my share-- I hope you watch it first, and I would love to hear thoughts.
It's been a tough couple of days over here, with a slew of bad news and tragedy happening to friends and classmates. I've found that a big, heartfelt hug is the best thing I can do for my friends and peers and for myself. I've been hugging and squeezing a lot over the past few days. The affection within them is so strong--an affection that is healing and needed in times of mourning and hope, but also just as welcome when all is well and good. People forget that sometimes. I am lucky to have many incredible friends who will give and take a hug at at anytime, and for that I am grateful. (If any of you guys are reading this, thank you!).
I encourage anybody who comes across this post to go out and give somebody a hug today. It can be anybody. You can even follow this guy's lead, who started the Free Hugs Campaign.
(edit: I removed the video box because it was freezing up my page. Apologies if that happened to anyone else.)
It's November? What?! When did this happen? I'm not complaining, though. I find November to be quite the mediocre month. A pretty solid balance between the happy and the sad. Happy November = big sister's birthday, the prime time of crunchy and colorful leaves, leftover Halloween candy, the end of obnoxious political ads on TV, killer sales on fall clothing, primetime Facebook material of Halloween photos, and the anticipation of Grandma's Thanksgiving mashed potatoes. Not so happy November = Black Friday is forecasted to come WAY early and this year I'm working in retail, Republicans are looking likely to take over the New York political scene, and snow tires. And really, Mother Nature, you couldn't hold back the half-hour of sharp sleet until the kiddies were done trick-or-treating last night? Cruel.
Guster. My hands down favorite band since 9th grade. Why do I love them? Because they make videos and songs like this and people use their songs to make videos like this. Last weekend marked my 5th time seeing the boys play live. And on this monumental occasion was the opportunity to get up close and personal with Ryan, Brian the ThunderGod (he plays with his hands!), Adam, and their newest member Luke Reynolds! Thanks to familial connections (through marriage, Luke Reynolds and I are related!) and a coincidental run-in in downtown Ithaca, I got the chance to hang out with Luke a little bit and meet Ryan and Brian after the show, get autographs and pictures, and even taping a video message for my twin sis, a fellow Gusterrhoid who missed the show since she's doing awesomewaycool things like teaching English in South Korea. To put it lightly, I flipped. After running into Luke Reynolds in front of the State Theater the afternoon of the show and introducing myself (despite the fact we're family, we hadn't met yet) and making plans to have a meet-and-greet after the concert, I was on a crazy high for the rest of the day. Shaking and heart pumping and all that. ```Not only was I still psyched that I had a personal connection, but I get crazy star-struck. This was probably the equivalent of any 13-18 year-old girl meeting Robert Pattinson (sleezeball) or my friend's mom meeting Bruce Springsteen.
Jammin' on the State Theater Stage
Luke Reynolds!
Sup Ryan Miller
It was also a balmy 70 degrees all weekend, making for a perfect day for idol musican meet-and-greets and thrift-store shopping for my Halloween costumes. A kick-butt weekend indeed!
Less materialistic highlights of the weekend: photographing my grandma's house and the incredibly eco-friendly community where my one of my sisters lives. There's nothing like Ithaca in the falltime, I'm telling you:
On Thursday, I tuned into Oprah's talk show specifically to watch her full-episode special on The Sound of Music. SCORE! This gathering of Christopher Plummer, the always-elegant Julie Andrews, and all seven of the Von Trapp children (well, they are not children anymore) marked the first time the entire Von Trapp actor-family has reunited and interviewed together since the filming of the movie 45 years ago. 45 years--can you believe that?! And it's still one of the most classic, well-loved, and happily-sung movie-musicals of all time. Considering I am only 22, I still can't really know what 1965 was, which makes it even more amazing for me. It occurred to me how amazing it is that I have so much love and connection to something that, in reality, is so beyond me.
One segment of the show gave people of all ages an opportunity to share what the movie means to them. Listening to a deaf woman whose first hearing experience after receiving a cochlear implant was Julie Andrew's famous opening lines "the hills are aliiiiiiiiive with the sound of muuuuuusiiiiic", a nun whose inspiration came from Julie Andrew's interpretation of Maria Von Trapp, and a war veteran who watched the movie 120-something times when overseas to experience "wonderful, splendid peace"gave me a knot in my stomach of shared love and meaning for the movie. Rosie O'Donnell even made an appearance to share how the movie truly changed her life--she explained how how watching The Sound of Music helped her get over the loss of her mother--how she would imagine that the "singing, wonderful angel" would show up at her doorstep, fall in love with her father, and heal the sadness in her life. She thanked Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer for helping to save her life. I mean, how incredible is that?!
My affinity for The Sound of Music comes from my childhood experiences of the event of watching the film. It was something I shared with my three sisters-- which is why my sister called me to be sure that I knew to watch the hour-long tribute. When growing up, we curled up (usually with a honkin' bowl of ice cream) to watch our VHS taped recording of The Sound of Music from a TV broadcast in the early 90's together every Chanukah time, no doubt singing (and sometimes dancing) along, mimicking Julie Andrew's clumsy running with her guitar case in hand during "Confidence" and the famous hand-on-the-head at the closing note of "Do Re Mi". The few times I have tried to watch the film without them, it just hasn't seemed right. I can't help but think that my sisters' and my love for the music and singing came from the movie. We surprisingly didn't even have the soundtrack at home-- we had just seen the movie so many times that we knew everything by heart. And when it came time for high school voice class, we, like so many others, were already well-studied in the solfege (do re mi fa so la ti do!).
As a heartfelt fan, I can't help but think about how so many people grow to have a true attachment to movies. As I listened to the Von Trapp children singers (the real ones--great-grandchildren of the Maria Von Trapp) sing "Edelweiss" on Oprah over a slow-motion montage of clips from the movie, and chills ran up and down my arms, my stomach turned in nostalgic knots, and what's that? ... A tear or two welling up?, it hit home. Ha, wow. It's quite something, isn't it? How a film made so long ago about a time I did not live through can still hold so much meaning to a person and to a family? We all have our "favorites" for different reasons, which is I am learning is such a special thing. People can connect to the same "thing"-- a song, a movie, a book-- but for their own personal reasons. I think that is what helps make the world go 'round. It's what makes us each our own person, but gives us an outreach into something shared, beyond the people we know or have met. If you know me at all (or have been reading this here blog), you may notice a pattern of my favorite movies. 90% movie-musicals. Proclaimed (and classified as) in high school and proudly continued, I am a music geek. I know there are lots more of you out there, which gives me no shame. And which is why I dedicate today's entry to one of my favorites.
"Oh YES, that's it-- god bless Kurt!"
The reunited cast on Oprah, Thursday 10/28/10.
(Oprah.com)
*NOTE: I totally wrote this back in November, and for some reason it has remained a draft. Better late than never-- sorry, Guster!
I guess it's fan-based week for me. It's only appropriate to follow up Newsies with another entertainment loves of my life, in my hopes to introduce them to those who have not yet been fortunate enough to stumble upon them. Their names are Brian Rosenworcel, Adam Gardner, and Ryan Miller. They are Guster.
It's funny how the whole music fan thing works, isn't it? You find a band who you like for one reason or another--delightful harmonies, creative and relatable lyrics, hot bass player, your friends like them-- and then at some point, they become your "favorite" band. You know every single lyric, own every single version of every song they've ever recorded, seen them in concert as many times as you possibly can, and be sure to include at least one track on every mix you make. And you never get sick of them. For me, this band is Guster.
I can't really explain it. There's just something about them. I never even understood all of their lyrics--things went over my head when I was younger, and even now some of their stuff I just listen to and think, "what the hell?" Despite their off-the-wallness, their music always brings me a sense of comfort. Maybe it's because I've followed them since I was about 13, and seen them 5 (going on 6 in October!) times.
I've been attached to their music for what feels like my whole life. So when I listen in my car, when I'm chilling at home, or in concert, it makes me feel whole and comfortable. Like I'm right where I am supposed to be. Certain songs remind me of moments and people in my life and everything just settles in my mind. I stop worrying about the little things and just remember that everything is going to be okay. And to me, that's exactly what music is supposed to do. So, thanks, G-Dog.
Never heard of them? Let me introduce you. This is from their newly released album. Enjoy it in all its quirky glory.
Here I sit, reporting from a table for one at Panera. What can I say ...a broccoli & cheddar breadbowl and free public wifi are acceptable company when a big ol' gust of wind knocks out the power at your place when you're hungry, alone, and mid-entry. It's an occasion that calls for blogging!
This past weekend, I discovered what may be the best thing on Youtube since the Numa Numa guy: Audio/Video mash-ups of today's best (and worst) pop music with dance numbers from one of my absolute favorite movies of all time. I've known every single line and the note to every single instrumental number and every single lyric since I was about 10. I used to watch it constantly with my sisters, and when we weren't watching it, we were listening to the soundtrack and frolicking around the family room while pretending to be part of Jack Kelly's crew. That's right, I'm talking about the 1992 Disney musical classic Newsies.
When I began perusing the Newsies mash-up merchandise, there were a lot of promising ones to choose from: "Seize The Day" and "King of New York" dancing to Backstreet Boys, Kesha, Miley Cyrus, and Lady Gaga. However, thanks to some expert searching and some hints from fellow Newsies fans, I found the two winners:
And in second place, I am sorry to say, is the newsies flawlessly backing up Justin Bieber. Though the Biebmeister reminds me of a scrawy, scruffy, pig-nosed mouse who is constantly drowning in cargo and has the personality of a piece of mulch, I must admit that his songs are a liiiiitle bit catchy. I have been known to be caught humming a chorus or two. Especially after finding this video, which I've since been watching about 2-3 times an hour ...
Needless to say, I'm on a bit of Newsies kick since finding these vids. Not only did I watch the movie again and remember that it is the sole reason why I've always had an obsession with Christian Bale (despite his questionable behavior), but I also found out that a stage version is at last! in the woiks. Praise the musical heavens above! Gather up the cutest, most talented 20-something men, dress them in newsboy slacks and unbuttoned blouses and put them on stage to sing and dance for us. Yes please :).
As I conclude here with my soup and my meal, I pose this question: how do I eat this soup-soaked breadbowl without looking like a caveman?
"Oh, you mean JACK Kelly. Yeah, he was heah. But he put an egg in his shoe and ... beat it."
