Change

Growing up in rural western Pennsylvania, and then living in suburban Philadelphia for 10 years, I miss the changing of the leave during fall in Florida. In fact, I think Florida doesn't have much seasonal change at all. But, since I've been going to the arboretum regularly, about every 2 weeks, I've discovered that I am wrong! With these frequent visits with nature, I am brought into awareness of change: new blooms, dropping blossoms and leaves, ripening fruit. 

I took my advanced modern class to the arboretum on 10/28, to explore ecosomatic connections. While we were there, I documented all the things that had changed since I was there the last time, 3 weeks before, because of fall break. 

Being aware of our more than human kin can highlight change and progress. Even when we feel stuck, or like nothing is happening, nature reminds us that, as Irmgard Bartenieff liked to say "the only constant is change". 

The Chenille Plant was flowering. I call this one "Muppet Fingers". It's incredibly soft. 

Dicots fruiting. 

Pinball blossoms. 

The Seek app couldn't identify this one, but it definitely wasn't in bloom when I was there before. 

Update!

 A rainy weekend means that not much work has happened in movement. It does give me pause to think about creating an outdoor performance! Will it rain? Will rain keep people away? Will the dancers be comfortable? What happens to work on the ground if it rains? Many things to consider!

We hope to announce our date and location by November 1, so stay tuned!

Rough Sketches of the Starts of 2 solos

 It was so rewarding to get to dance with dancers this weekend! Here are rough sketches in Laban Motif of the solos to be performed by Yasmin Llevada and Ricky Morriseau. The movement and Motif still need to be edited.  

I love documenting movement after we've created it, because it gives me a chance to see the whole from the parts, and to consider the Western psychological influences that we "read" in movement. 

This is Yasmin's piece. Working title: "Mother Earth- Pain".

This is Ricky's piece. Working title: "Tree of Life- Legacy". 

Octopus Tree

 Our neighbors did yard work, and had branches of this tree at the curb when I was taking a walk. I thought they were cool, so I used the Seek app to learn more about them. 

A native of Australia, this plant is also sometimes called the Australian Umbrella Tree. But Octopus Tree is much more imagistic. 

But seeing these, and the Calabash Tree last week brings up an interesting question. What is native to Florida? According to the Florida Dept. of Agriculture, at least 1/3 of the uncultivated plants in Florida are not from here. And that doesn't count things like the Calabash and Octopus Trees I've pictured- because they've been purposefully planted. What changes are we making to our ecosystems by adding these living beings in? 

Calabash Tree

 Originally from India, this tree with spherical fruit is now the national tree of St. Lucia and found in the Caribbean and US South. The fruit is poisonous to humans but the shells can be used to make musical instruments!

I had never seen a Calabash tree with fruit before, and they are really pretty incredible. 

Movement phrase 1 below is based on the spherical shape of the fruit. They remind me of the playground balls from elementary school. Phrase 2 is exploring some ideas around poison and danger in nature. 

Excited to be part of the Broward County Cultural Division Artist Support Program.

 

Check out all the other great artists that also received funding this cycle and support the arts in South Florida!

Personal Essay from Nicole re: Relationship to Land

 Earth is so much a part of my childhood. 

Oil City. The earth as a resource. Not like connecting again to the source of life. Unless crude oil is the source of life. Which, maybe a case could be made…..

As a child, and even young adult, being from Oil City seemed important, a source of historic pride. The first, the hub.

Now, it’s sad. What has oil been a source for, for that community? Anyone who had wealth from it moved out long ago. They are no longer part of that community. I suppose some folks still have residuals from wells on their property. 

What has oil been a resource for? Pain. Poverty. Sickness. Stench. Ghosts. 

Earth as a child meant work. Pick rocks. Pick and snap beans. Pick and pit cherries. Be hot. Get up early. 

Hunting. Be cold. Get up early. Necessary to protect the garden and orchard. Necessary to save money on meat. 

Actually, the garden and orchard were necessary, too. To save money on veggies and fruits, especially in the winter. 

Why could these things not have been joyful? Why did we not talk about the land? The process? Our connections to our family history? Why was it just another chore? Maybe for a bookish kid like me, it always would have been. But I’d like to think I’d see it differently, if it was presented differently. 

Maybe that’s why it all felt like work. It came from necessity, not curiosity, joy, connection, desire. But from fear and need. 

The Creative Team

 Choreographer/Conceptualizer: Nicole Perry

Dancers/Choreographers/Collaborators: Joanna Asch, Yasmin Llevada, Ricky Morisseau

Stay tuned for performance dates and location!

Welcome to KINesphere!

 This blog will document the creative process of the development of KINesphere, a dance/dance-theatre piece exploring the connections between humans and the world around them. 

Summary of the Project

The concept for this project is the development of a dance piece like a moveable feast.

This performance would include professional dancers in outdoor settings,

with the audiences moving between locations.

In each new place, audiences would be confronted by the dancer’s relationship to nature-

as a backdrop, as a partner, as an obstacle or an inspiration, etc. 

The purpose of this piece is to encourage audiences to reflect on

how they encounter their natural world.

Is it something to be subdued? Tolerated? Enjoyed? Protected?

The title of KINesphere emphasizes our “personal space” or “bubble”,

something we are all very aware of with COVID-19 social distancing measures,

as well as the idea of relating as kin, rather than simply “other”.

This idea of kinship comes from my readings of Robin Wall-Kimmerer & Donna J. Haraway.

Both of these scientists/writers/teachers/activists encourage us to encounter

the natural world as kinfolk, rather than species removed from ourselves.

After all, we do all share the same kinesphere of the Earth. 

This idea also came from personal explorations in the arboretum at the University of Miami

while teaching there in the Spring Semester of 2021.

I found the outdoor setting to inspire new movement choices for me,

as well as new ways of seeing the plants, lizards, rocks I encountered every day. 

Earlier Movement Explorations

 Bamboo

Encroaching