Journey with an Image (Day 4)

Hey There Out There!

Class tomorrow :) Open to seeing what happens. Interested to see how the dance party warm up sets the tone for the class.  I am sure it will be SENSATIONal. Something tells me this group is a pandora box begging to be opened. I hope you all thought about/made a connection with each other. If not, there's still time even if you get up tomorrow morning and meditate on a classmate's face. Did you journey with an image or do something entirely different? Can't wait to hear about it.

To you who can't or won't be joining us tomorrow, anything strike your fancy this week? Did you write about a memory or get down with your bad selves in your living rooms? Talk to me, people. I am all ears.  Everyone, make some song suggestions. My play list is next to empty.

Back to my image:

Sun: Hot, yellow sunburn of hope. Rise and fall. Reset the day and make all things new again. Way up high in the sky. Firery pale. Translucent retinas. Nature. Always there for me. Planatary mass verses shining star. Making circles. Orange and red. Clear and white

Water: ripples in the deep. Calm, cool, clean. Sunscreen reapplied. Drip. Drop drip: both fat and tiny. Full. Sustainable- life renew. Consistent and true. Floating support. Thin, mighty. Wet. Cold. Warm. Freedom. Falling into. Plunging. Skimming. Collected. Flooding. Swimming. Kids laughing. Grandma's pool. Blue. Green. Black. Clear. Muddy puddles. Umbrellas. Beaches.

Clouds: Puffy marshmallows. Frothy. Thin. Moving. Cover me. Shade. Animal shapes. Black clouds and silver linings. Specs in the sky. Where angels sit. Pink silky smooth. Airy. Airplanes. Traveling destinations. Atmosphere. Rain. Heavy. Light.

See you tomorrow, folks!

Journey with an Image (Day 3 continued)

Hey Folks,

Surprise! This song started to play off my playlist at work and I saw my image in my mind. Check it out. Is there a song that sparks a memory for you? Share the song and tell me about it :)

http://open.spotify.com/track/1MKBPEUW9UuJzN2DR23HAs

Journey with an Image (Day 3)

Hey There My Budding Choreographers and Friends!

How's your journey with your image going? Are you seeing any patterns in your writing? Let me know if anything is surprising you? Make sure you are documenting these surprises and patterns. My image seems to be reflecting my desire to be stranded on a tropical island. Rest assured your journal entries do not have to tell a story. Just write down anything that comes to mind. It can be single words or even phrases that make no sense. Remember try not to judge your thoughts. Every word has a value. Saturday will be here before we know it :)

Don't forget we will be enjoying a dance party warm up Saturday/your request. I'd like to make up a playlist of your favorite songs. Please leave your requests (artist name and song title) in the comment section or email me before class on Saturday. Anyone is welcome to leave a song request even if you can't come to class.

And now back to my image journaling:

Walk swiftly across this island. Booming crashes of feet with sticks in hand I go. My eyes can see forever. The water here is so glass like it's as if I could walk straight across it and shake hands with the sun. Pale blue skies and peaceful thoughts interrupted with anxiety and hopes of rescue come. My feet enjoy the cool damp soil of this place. No trees in sight just big grandmother rocks and waves of water.

Diving deep into the water. It's colder than I expected. As the water consumes my body, I feel like a paint brush being rinsed in a paper cup. I am tiny now. Salt water taste and tiny bubbles of oxygen float up. I have to return to the surface breaking through the glass ceiling like a dolphin. Searching. Sun, high up in the sky. Pulling my belly up on banks of mudd. Tiny pebbles make their home between my toes. Reflections, random thoughts and wet hair are my companions as I stand up, turn around and face the water. Yes, I need to take a drink. My mouth leads the charge as I dip my face into the sea for a taste...

Journey with an Image (Day 2)

Dipping my toes in calm, clean water. Stillness looming over me like a 50 ton weight. Baring witness to the sun in all it's big, bright glory. I am but a painter. My body the brush. Making gigantic steady movements I create the islands in the distance. Brown, deep and earthy are their peaks. Tiny little pinprick motions with my finger tips create the clouds. Piano keys begin to tickle out a tune. I humm and spin in circles. Glory to this place! I hold my head high. I am an almighty lion and this is my domain. Swimming in blues, grays, kissed by pale yellow rays of sunshine. Smooth waves if any at all. I go beyond. Dementions carry me softly. Change is good. Consistency shattered. I am. I can. I know all. Peace be with me as my toes begin to spasm They slowly rise above the water. Where to go next? I am in search of people. 

Journey with an Image (Day 1)

Hello Out there!

As I stated in Sunday's  (7/26/15) post, here is my image study or "assignment" you might say. Please see my image below and stay tuned over the next 5 days as I will write a little bit about this image each day:

Day 1:

For what seems like days I've been floating on this raft. The sun is so hot all I can smell is sunscreen mixed with polyurethane and a hint of perspiration. What a wouldn't give for pinacolada right now. The wind is slowing carrying me across the water. I am a feather blowing across a sidewalk on a crisp fall day. Relaxed and full of possibility. The water is so blue or is it black? Wait...it might be green. I am laying on my back staring at frothy cappuccino like clouds. I raise my arms up over my head and breath in the salty sea air. There is nothing but stillness. All consuming nothingness as far as my eyes can see. My mind is quietly reeling in the background sifting through memories. I see old friends and family. New friends with their awkward smiles and blank stares. My desk at work mixed with images of traffic and other random acts of chaos. I am wearing a white linen short set and classic Raybans. I can feel my chapstick in my pocket as it rubs against my hip. I am just floating and hoping asking every kind wave for a little knudge forward...

Stay tuned for day two folks. I hope you'll join me on your own journey with an image. Tell me how your journey is going by posting a comment or two.

Take care until next time :)

Inspiration or Food for Thought

Hello Friends,

* Anyone and everyone is encouraged to try this*

Just a little reminder to try and contact a classmate before we meet again. If any thoughts or pictures come up from last class, talk to them about it or write it down. Remember there is no judgement or right/wrong. Be good to yourselves and let the thoughts flow. If you prefer to do something else entirely, here's a little something to try and share with the group on Saturday:

I attached several images below. Some represent human connection according to Google. Others are random pictures I like.
Please choose an image that stands out to you and write in your journal or on a piece of paper for at least 5 minutes once a day between now and Saturday. Please use the same image everytime you write/talk. You may also choose an image on your own.  If you have difficulty writing use a audio recorder or talk to a fellow classmate or friend about it. If you choose to talk to a friend/classmate, make sure they know their role is to listen to your thoughts and not to influence them for the full 5 minutes. Maybe they could help you take notes/record your thoughts.

Here are some things to consider as you are writing/talking: What do you like/dislike about the image? What's the first thing you notice about the image? Does this image make you want to jump for joy or take a nap? Does the image inspire you to draw something or make a movement? If so, draw/make the movement. What does the image make you think about? Does the image make you recall a memory? If so, describe it. What emotions does it make you feel? Can you see yourself in the image? If so, describe what you are doing in the image/what role are you playing? Is there a sound, color, song, or smell that comes to your mind as you look at the image? Is there anything about the image you don't want to look at? If so, explain why?

I hope this is helpful. I look forward to hearing everyone's experiences :)

Stretching the Point

What exactly is that thing that brings us together and how do we know when it's time to part? Today's gathering was all about exploring connection. It started with a touch and grew into threads of orange and purple. Sometimes our threads were viscous and strong. Other times we floated on cotton candy. We cherished the nearness but strived for distance. Surprised by temperature and texture. Yet, never losing sight of what brought us together.

Beautiful work today ladies! The conversation after class was very lovely too :) I was so jazzed when I got home, I made this drawing. I can feel the connections already. I can't wait to see what happens next week. Don't forget to journal and make some kind of connection with each other during the week ;) On the agenda for next week the dance party warm up, exploring space, and how to gather material.

It's About to Begin...

Friends!

Have I told you how excited I am to be teaching Body Shift's first ever choreography lab?!  No.  Well, let me say it now.  I AM SO EXCITED and hopeful!  Not to mention, slightly nervous :)  I really can't wait to see what happens.  We have a small but mighty talented group of folks.  I will be blogging through the entire process so stay tuned and take the journey with me.  It will be wonderful to have you join us.  I better get to writing that welcome email so people know what to bring to class ;)

With gratitude,

Tanya