SECOND STORY REHEARSAL #6

August 30, 2016

Leading into the 6th session

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• Lorena contacted Jonathan expressing her satisfaction with the duet she is choreographing.  However, after hearing another piece of music, she imagined choreographing a new piece featuring a sextet of dancers.  Of course, she recognized that this would require bringing more dancers into the group.  Jonathan suggested that, in the meantime, a duet might take shape from Lorena’s new visions.
• This exchange prompted Jonathan to focus more intently on outlining an artistic vision for Second Story’s first year.  He wrote a preliminary artistic statement featuring themes he would like to explore and his desire to ensure that all the material produced creates a cohesive narrative arc.

 
“I’d like to produce a program that is intimate, personal, and taps into our maturity.  Whether the pieces are joyful, tense or cathartic, for example, they need to be honest and deeply felt.  I imagine a cohesive program of works exploring common themes and aesthetics, curated to have an arc of its own. 
 
My life at this point in time is ALL about overcoming obstacles.  I think this is a dynamic all of our group members continually experience.  I would like to explore themes that permeate my life in its present context:  parenting, mature relationships/marriage, depression, the pressure of social media, dealing with loss, the fight to produce work, the fight to dance, the fight to remain true to myself, and the joy and struggle to find balance, harmony, and peace for me and for my kids.  I would also like to examine themes of birth, rebirth, collaboration, reaching out for help, solidarity, support, giving and receiving, soulful play, ying and yang, and the attempt to embrace quality over quantity.”
 

• Jonathan sent this vision statement to Lorena and asked her to write about her visions, inspirations, and aspects of her life she would like to explore in her work.
• Ultimately, Lorena decided to continue working on her original duet.
• Coincidentally, Mandy investigated possible performance venues and realized she needed materials to use in discussions with proprietors that include a mission statement.  Jonathan then sent Mandy the statement he shared with Lorena.
• Mandy responded with her own statement describing her vision.  She sees the group as a collaboration among former professional dancers who chose to put careers on hold to have families – but soon realize the need for artistic engagement.  These dancers come together to create mature work that reflects the current context of their lives.
• Jonathan found art on the internet that he feels poignantly depicts his struggles with depression.  These beautiful images spoke to him and relate to the work he is choreographing for Second Story.  The most resonant image for Jonathan conveys how he feels when having a horrible day.  His emotions feel like fingers of tar coming up the back of his head, then over the front of his face, obscuring his vision.  Another powerful image shows dead tree branches emanating out of a hunched over male body.  Jonathan and Sherri discussed how a lot of the tree imagery he saw is associated with sadness, depression, pain, death, and dying.  Even certain images of angels with wings look sorrowful.  Sherri noted that trees are typically used to represent life, growth, and vitality.  Perhaps tree images can visually represent the continuum between life and death…a real process in which life – one’s inner, authentic being -- can be contorted, perverted, choked off by an environment that is not resonating, accepting, and nurturing.

6th Session

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• The group opens the session with a discussion about their mission, reviewing the statements each had written/verbalized.  They are all on the same page.  The dancers note that since they are all Westchester residents, they would like to reach out and share their work with the Westchester community. 
• Jonathan, Mandy and Lorena are excited by these possibilities.  Jonathan later discusses with Sherri having Second Story operate on multiple levels: non-professional dance classes/performing ensemble + professional performing ensemble and company classes + a mixed professional and non-professional performing ensemble.  With this broad array of offerings, adult dancers of all levels would be able to find outlets they feel good about and be successful with.
• The group members acknowledge the many obstacles they face while constantly navigating the contextual challenges of creating as artists while parenting full-time.  Their environments are fluid and ever-shifting, demanding constant flexibility.  However, the one element that does not change is their commitment to continuing to make Second Story a reality.
• Jonathan teaches “class’ for warm-up.  He uses movements he incorporated into his class at Purchase College the day before.  Jonathan finished feeling exhausted.  Caring for her son prevented Lorena from attending a portion of the warm-up.
• Lorena and Jonathan split choreographic time today, as usual.
• Jonathan first discusses the stunning images he found on the internet that have inspired his vision and its expression.  He confesses that he has been dealing with depression for a long time, a struggle that informs his present work.  He feels compelled to convey in his piece the internal experience represented by the image of “tar” creeping over a man’s head.
• Lorena then shares her own similar struggles.  While she has been making changes in her life to deal with her issues, she concedes that it is a step-by-step process toward long-term goals. 
• Jonathan notes that the trajectory of their group is also comprised of baby steps.
• Jonathan then works with Lorena and Mandy on his piece, suggesting tiny changes to make gestures more specific.  For example, a clawing movement for one dancer becomes a softer caress; it is more of a “floating” gesture that conveys the lighter side of this particular character.  The choreographic change makes this segment more cohesive with the subsequent flowing choreography.  Lorena and Mandy agree with Jonathan’s analysis.
• Jonathan explains that he now sees Mandy’s character as a person who is sorrowful and filled with angst as she is going through a difficult time.
• He views Lorena’s character as an angelic, comforting figure standing over Mandy.  But Lorena’s character will also descend into depression.  Jonathan does not yet know whether their roles will flip flop, but will allow this decision to unfold organically as the piece evolves.  For now, he wants to be sure that the roles at this point are clear.
• Jonathan incorporates the tree image into the choreography and adds 30 to 45 seconds of new material.  Only then does he share with Mandy and Lorena the actual visual image.
• Lorena can only spend 20 minutes on her piece as she has to attend to Sebastian’s needs.  She clarifies various aspects of her work.  The changes result in a better partnering flow and ideas communicated more clearly.

Following 6th Session

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• Jonathan confirms rehearsal timing change with Steffi Nossen studio.
• He speaks with Steffi Nossen’s new executive director who wants to increase traffic during “off” hours and add classes for adults.  She asks Jonathan if he can teach one or more adult classes.  Jonathan proposes possibly doing a company class open to the public in conjunction with a Second Story dancer warm-up.  The executive director and Jonathan will continue to brainstorm about new initiatives.  Jonathan’s wheels are turning, and he is excited by the potential opportunities.  He feels a lot of “ripe energy.”