In Exchange

   My last two days in the studio have been idyllic. It's a combination of things that amounts to this gift of abundance and joy in a studio. First off, it is the people. It always comes down to who is in that room with you, doing what. I count myself extremely lucky to be working with two young talented dancers. They are so open, so committed to the vision and story to run with it. They are willing to try things. Ready to take a risk, try again if it doesn't work, try again even when it does work. They are willing to try. To push me and to be pushed choreographically and physically. That alone is a gift.
   The other genius of studio time is the quiet. No distractions. No other people milling about, no one lurking and watching the rehearsal to judge what you are attempting to create in there.... Just free open space, we left our judgement and cynicism at the door. And the big part of bliss.... NO MONEY EXCHANGING HANDS WHATSOEVER. It was the free exchange of my time for your time. We come because we want to be here, not because we have to be. Not because there are bills to be paid, tuition to afford, shoes to buy. We come for the art, for the process. To experience the art for what we create with a singular focus, we come. We dance. We live. There is laughter, tears, awkwardness, lightbulb moments, all sorts of moments. Triumphs and tragedies all within a three hour rehearsal session. Who knows what will fly and what won't? We don't until we try. And we try again. And again. Tweak. And try. The key is always to try. For what is success without all the failures that proceed it?

     Because of all this recent joy in rehearsal the reel is set to completion in about a month and a half. For primary filming anyways. I have thrashed, bled, cried, edited and re-edited this down to what it is. Some things have been added, others taken away. I feel it is now on the right track. It feels right. I am more than excited to see it in its entirety, as the finished product. And then the hard part. The sending it out into the world to see if it stands on its own two feet. Like me. To see if I stand on my own two feet.