SECOND STORY REHEARSAL #2

August 2, 2016

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• After the first session, Jonathan and one of the dancers discussed on the phone several ideas for the upcoming second session.  Jonathan felt he had to prune these ideas, but at the same time he didn’t want to disappoint anyone; as usual, he wants to make sure everyone’s expectations are met.  In essence, he feels compelled to say “yes” to everyone and everything.  Consequently, he felt a bit nervous going into today’s session.
• Each group member arrives at a different time.
• A babysitter is watching Jonathan’s children.
• Mandy dropped off her sons at camp.
• Lorena brings Sebastian, and Jonathan finds himself holding the baby for part of the session.
• Jonathan is excited about the great chemistry of the group and wants to foster collective decision-making.
• Group members talk for a bit, then decide on a plan to collectively warm-up and work on pieces that Jonathan and Lorena started in the first session. 
• Warm-up becomes a delightful collaborative experience.  Lorena tosses out ideas “on the fly” and chooses music “in the moment.”  Mandy and Jonathan then take turns leading exercises as if in class.  Everyone is laughing and feeling joyful about dancing.  Jonathan describes the atmosphere as feeling like a “club of professionals hanging out.”
• Because Jonathan is used to being prepared for any class or rehearsal he leads, he has to remind himself that, in this context, no one is coming in ready to teach or produce.
• As the group begins to work on Jonathan’s piece, the three dancers feel as if they are “playing together.”  There is great synergy between them. 
• Jonathan had a few goals planned for this session, but did not prepare any material.  Instead, he allows himself to “trust the process” = being together, responding to and enjoying one another.  He realizes that what emerges is truly beautiful.  Lorena and Mandy ask great questions, trying to discern the “meat” of the movements.  They offer creative suggestions with regard to timing, texture, specificity of gestures, transitions, and phrasing to the music.  It is wonderful to see both Mandy and Lorena willing to wrestle with something and find answers together.
• The group doesn’t have time to video their work.
• Lorena shows a phrase she would like to use in her work moving forward.
• Lorena expresses a desire to create a piece for Jonathan.  The idea of dancing hasn’t crossed his mind in a while, so he needs time to think about it.
• As he reflects upon the two dance projects he is currently involved with, Jonathan perceives a different energy working in a group environment vs. working on a solo.  He also notes that he and Maggie tend to talk about the solo in intellectual terms whereas Mandy and Lorena delve more into physicality when communicating about their work.