Moving in outdoor spaces 2

Over the weekend I got to experience moving on the beach in a variety of different ways and forms. I hope to add some photos and video from this day to this blog soon. Above is just one of the many images captured.

Playing with elements was so exhilarating! The wind, ocean, and sand inspired me immensely. Also, some man-made elements too: cement walls covered with graffiti.

On the beach, surrounded by sand, water, concrete, mountains, people, and animals, I danced for my Nana. It's the 1 year anniversary of her passing, so I felt the need to acknowledge and honor that. As the wind pushed and penetrated me, I embodied my Nana's qualities as I remembered. I allowed my body to move with those memories and experiences of her as a person, woman, and spirit. I really love the concept of embodiment with movement, especially with butoh. What are some ways one unites the mind and body in the performance arts? I would love to read more about this. Those who are reading this, if you have any recommendations, do share!

After my dance "For Nana", my dance partner and I began to embody the dogs in the area. I'm not sure where to begin in describing this, so I'll just go for it. We began mirroring a dog nearby, that was hysterically digging into the sand and jumping around, probably to get his owners' attention (they were laying on a blanket). So we began digging in the sand like wild animals. The energy and work involved in this was so much, my dance partner said, "it's tiring to be a dog." Then we began playing "stick." Literally, throwing the stick out to a point and the other going after it; however, in our case, we were leaping for it. There was a lot of belly laughing in between leaps during this time, which went on for 15 minutes. When do you decide and say to your friend/companion, "Let's play stick." What a concept. In fact, what a great time! Everyone should do this.

Our final spot, was the concrete wall of graffiti, which had a steep hill of sand directly in front it, creating a dip formation. We played with this construction by jumping and hopping from sand to wall. The wall had a slight curve to it, so you felt like a skateboarder, only without the skateboard. Running, jumping, hopping, turning, pausing, and embodying. Embodying the energy from the concrete and graffiti. One could inquire what the purpose was for a particular piece of the graffiti; when it was created there; etc. I love how the sand intersected with it, bringing this natural element into the play.

Moving in the outdoors gives so much possibility and inspiration, I want more......

Just physical

This is my intention I want to create this Saturday for my movement practice. I want my movement to just be physical, and then see where it transforms. Tracking my thoughts and imagination will be very interesting.

I tend to put meaning into my movement all the time. In other words, there's some chatter that says, "your movement HAS to have meaning" and "if it doesn't have meaning, it's boring." I just blogged about this in detail on my other blog HERE if you're interested.

Although my intuition and heart says that isn't true, it's just my ego again looking to sabotage. You're so clever, ego!

Anyway, I'm interested in the movement itself and how my body/mind/spirit reacts to it. I do want to teach movement more, but at this point, I just want to move. Experience the physical. Watch, observe, and witness the body as this movable, expressive vehicle, and not get stuck in the head about what it means! Sometimes ya need a break from that.

Why do we tend to put meaning into everything, especially movement? Can we just appreciate it for what it presents?

Unleashing energy

My butoh/movement practice was truly engaging this past weekend. A lot of great exercises that warmed up and released some energy that was stored up in my body. Although, I had an energy session prior to practice, it was no accident I did some of these exercises.

One of them was about resistance. You pick a point across the room, and another person creates resistance with your body as you try to walk towards it. My partner grasped my ankles, while I moved toward the point using my core. I felt a struggle and my edge. I allowed myself to safely fall forward when I lost balance, but I kept pressing on. All of a sudden, guttural sound escaped me and I was grunting, yelling, roaring and screaming. It was like a fire was set within and I was unleashing it in any possible way I could. Afterward, my whole abdomen (power center) was humming. There was so much energy going through me I felt dizzy and almost nauseous. I got some air, sat down, and drank some water. As I took some deep breaths, I released some more emotion and I felt this very calm, sense of relief. I have been doing a lot of work on re-tuning my sense of power, will and intuition (also chakra 3). It's wonderful to be able to feel and acknowledge it!

The rest of the exercises were grounding and less intense ;-) I realized that I put a lot of meaning into the movement I do, and sometimes, it's okay to be "just physical" with movement. One of the exercises was playing with gravity; allowing yourself to fall and roll on the floor. Very playful! The other one was moving along your axis. You stand in a spot in a space and close your eyes, visualizing your body's axis. With a soft gaze, you move in a circle along your axis, while taking in the world around you. A big difference than looking out, but rather receiving what comes into your field of vision. There are more things you can add to it, which can make it engaging in different ways. One can make contact with another or not. It depends on the intention of the exercise.

What does energy mean to you? How do you unleash your energy when you feel you can't contain it anymore? What are some ways you contain it? i.e. stimulate acupressure points, sing, chant, dance, etc.

I feel we all have a fire within us.

Teaching movement

I had the opportunity to guide a movement exercise over the weekend. It was nice to be the guide/teacher/witness for a change. I'm always the one following and moving from what someone else is saying. I really got to hone in on my teaching chops and this inspired me more and MORE! Although being a yoga teacher helped, I know my strengths are voice projection, being present, and holding the space and group involved. I got feedback from my group of movers, but I want more constructive feedback. What worked and didn't work.

I'm totally down with going for it. Ya have to start somewhere, right? There are going to be things that don't work, but how do you know, unless you try?

For all movement teachers, what obstacles did you run into in the beginning? What are your strengths as a teacher? What works well? Did you ever have a bad experience?

I would really LOVE to hear your experiences. If you want to respond privately, feel free to email me, lizsfilippone@gmail.com. Thank you for sharing!

Intentions for movement practice

• Continue meetings every 2 weeks with group
• Free-write once a week about ideas, inspirations, thoughts, emotions, etc.
  
• Obtain small notebook to carry around with me everywhere to jot down ideas and inspirations
• Practice butoh/movement exercise once a week for 15 minutes
• Complete group intention questions by the end of April

I think these are doable for me at this point. I tend to overload my schedule; however I've been doing a brilliant job of keeping it quite open for myself. As movement and creating performance work is important to my well-being, creating and writing down intentions is very grounding. It brings you home and reminds you of your purpose. For instance, why you do what you do; what do you love about it; how it feeds you mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually.

Do you have a movement practice? If so, why do you do it? What are your intentions for that practice? How does movement feed your whole being?

Outdoor inspirations

It's been a few weeks since I've written in this blog, and I honestly have felt a little guilty about it.

A week and a half ago, I had the opportunity to dance outside within the UC Berkeley campus. It was raining very lightly, and it was chilly. We found an area that was covered by beautiful, tall redwood trees to protect us a little from the rain; there were many bushes, and a loud, gushing stream nearby.

My dance partner and I began an exercise called seaweed and current, an exercise I've done in many butoh and movement workshops. One person is the seaweed; representing and posing as a piece of seaweed attached to the ocean floor and then eventually detached. The other person is the current; acting as the movement of the water, affecting the seaweed body and also holding space for the seaweed. For both participants, it's important to breathe and be as fluid in the body as possible.

Eventually, we both broke away into improvisation; playing with the elements all around us: earth, wind, rain, the sounds of the water and people that would pass by. We also would connect at times, playing with each others' energy and mirroring one another. At first, it took me some time to focus and ground myself to begin to embody everything. I think it was a little overwhelming. After about 15-20 minutes, we became apart of that space. Time escaped us.

For the last 10 or 15 minutes, a church bell sounded off. It wasn't your average church bell. It was a harpsichord instrument. I began to embody this music, transforming into a Lady of the Victorian age. I imagined myself (and other women) dressed in bodices, huge, puffy hoop skirts; and then those wigs of the wealthy. The music was quite playful and, afterward, I told myself I must find some music like this! I was inspired to do a period piece, which I've never imagined doing. I felt playful, sensual, powerful, and oppressed all at the same time.

What elements of the outdoors inspire you? It doesn't have to be from dancing. If could be from an area you were walking, running, picnicking, driving, hiking, etc. What emotions arise from those inspirations, and do you express them? How do you express those emotions?

Moving in outdoor spaces

I had the wonderful opportunity to move in the outdoors this weekend. I don't mean just walk or run somewhere in the park or city. I got to experiment with some butoh exercises with another mover as well. We checked out areas in the embarcadero and financial district. What I found so cool about this area of San Francisco (which I hardly visit) is that's it's practically empty on the weekend. Like most financial districts in cities, every business closes for the weekend, including Starbucks.

The area (pictured above) we practiced was a wide, open concrete space in front of a huge high-rise building. There were various potted plants, flowers, huge wide steps for sitting at different levels, tables and chairs and glass windows. We each took turns blindfolded, moving within the space. First the blindfolded is guided by a partner throughout the space. This allows the other senses to kick in. It's amazing how we go throughout our days and lives relying on sight the majority of the time. In this exercise, our other senses--smell, sound, touch, taste--are awakened and enlivened.

When I was blindfolded, my sense of trust kicked in as well! Although, I knew my guide wouldn't allow anything or anyone to harm me, I had to trust myself. I reminded myself to soften, in my mind and body. When I would feel the wind blow, I felt it in a way I've never felt before, like a prisoner, who had not been outside for year and had not felt the wind that whole time. The feel of the concrete planters and the smell of the flowers and plants within them. The whole experience was so primitive.

Then my guide let me go to move within the space, but also making sure I don't run into anything and hurt myself. What was so unnerving about this experience was letting go of my guide as well as a concrete object I was holding onto. Emerging into the open space was liberating, fun, scary, and exciting. Then the blindfold was removed by my guide and I moved and danced a little longer. I felt more exposed and seen without the blindfold. Not the way one feels in front of an audience, but more exposed by the world and my surroundings. By the flowers, plants, the tree, the concrete, the concrete planters, the high-rise buildings, the wind, the sky, and the other elements that were present, and that I had connected with.

What a wonderful way to exercise your senses and challenge yourself. Why don't we do this more often? This exercise is very playful and awakening. Wouldn't it be nice if everyone did this exercise? Wouldn't it be nice to have a group of people witness this exercise?