bump bruise tear sore strain break sore pain no pain no gain stiff neck leg knee ankle back ache pain sore blister blood scrape burn pain sore cry me a river....

a ballerina is perfect...
she straps a block of cement to her toes,
plasters on a smile,
and packages pain with a pretty pink satin bow.

five six seven eight
and one...
lift
present
turn out
extend
show me your jewels
hold it
be great
point your feet
stretch your leg
spot
beat
faster
listen to your music
get it up!
you sound like an elephant
land softly
again
the floor is your friend
take a chance
do it better
get up and try it again
i shouldn't see any sweat
no pain, no gain
open your back
find your center
turn out
lift
again!
hold it
lift it
stretch
smile
push harder
plie!!!
quick turn turn turn leap
slow breathe extend
turn out!!!
AGAIN!!!
perform
command attention
dancer's don't hurt
dancer's don't cry
dancer's don't sweat
dancer's are everything unrealistic

be beautiful

my art is not exclusive
my expression has no bounds

- yet -

my body's bounds persist
and my limitations loom before me

they grow exponentially,
performing with perfection
the leaps and bounds
i wish i could

When a character, idea, melody inhabits my body, I can safely lose control. I use my body to voice things I can't say. Or that I don't know how to or even that I want to say.

The essence of me was alive and well the moment my mother bore me into this world, with all my potential successes and blunders. And though it's shell took a number of years to develop, it has taken much longer for me to even begin to like the physical representation of myself.

ian. your last post could possibly evolve into an extension of the musician portion of my theme.

let me grab your ears
and stear you brothers and sisters
to our spot over here

we got words flowin forth
tryin to set your minds on the course
to recognize the tension
and unsettling force

looming everyday gaining power in any way
getting us all to turn our heads,
lock our lips
and shrink away

peace to you. peace to them
let's bring on the Peace Zen

listen for a moment
to put some action after "then"

there could be a dance (and a corresponding song) where you are center stage on a stool with an acoustic guitar. you are in the process of writing this song. in bits and pieces it evolves into something you are happy with. and in the middle perhaps there could be a break of frustration... or an interjection of your monologue's sentiments.

what you think?

calling all crazy cats

hey.

i'm doing this dance show.
i need some creative catharsis in my life.
and i need all the help i can get from yall!

assignment: write some words about being an artist in the middle of things - things specific to your craft or not. the four monologues/poems are going to stand alone and also be intertwined with eachother by the end of the show.

the only stipulations (as of now): write truthfully. try for some vivid language, interesting sounds, and power (even if it's a gentle power).

please do this soon so lizzi and i can look at it and arrange them together somehow. i'm going to try and start rehearsals in a couple weeks. i'm going to try to have the performance the second week in august. and again, i can't emphasize enough... i'm going to need your help.

loves.