Arts Education Program Showing this week

The end of the semester means shows and more shows for many of us in the dance field. This week the company's outreach program of creative movement classes at Allison Elementary School in Montopolis concludes with a performance by a group of 3rd graders. I have all girls this spring, and they are a very active group so preparing for the show has required a lot of focus and concentration on their part. They are getting really excited about the performance, but are still nervous and a little scared about performing for an audience.

What is so wonderful about these performances is how they bring out the best in the kids, and I think that has a lot to do with how they have the complete and undivided attention of the adults (teachers, parents, extended family) in the room. I know as a parent how hard it is to just sit down for more than a few minutes and really pay attention to my daughter. There is always so much to do and not enough time to get it all done.

These performances allow the parents, grandparents, friends and teachers to really appreciate what is so wonderful about each of the children. Creative movement is a great form because it highlights each child's unique skills and creativity. By the end of show, the children are beaming with pride in all they have accomplished. That is when I feel blessed to just get to be part of the process.

Attached is a photo from last year's showing!

Making Lists, seeing lots of art

This week I have been lucky enough to see now 5 Fusebox Performances. I don't get to see live performance a whole lot- and what a gift to be seeing so much. I believe making good work means you have to see good work, and a lot of it. I also re-connect with the power of that single creative thought when I see other artists get behind their ideas and go for it. And I am scheduled to see at least 3 more shows this weekend. This is heaven for me!

And, I am beginning to choreograph for the Trash Project. I have a beginning, I think. I am not going to write it all down here, but I will list some of the basic ideas I am considering. I wrote down about 30 ideas on individual note cards that I am tomorrow going to discuss with one of my SWS contacts- Jesse Muñoz. His job is to tell me what will work and what won't. And he has some ideas of his own!

Note card list so far...(in no particular order)
opening sound collage
radio dispatch
dead animal pick-up (tie to Greek myth of river Styx)
bucket truck
street sweepers
blower solo (skates?)
crane solo
quintet for fully-automated trash trucks
recycle trucks tipping section
history/MLK/dangers of job
projections onto trucks- words
doing the job- what's great, what's not so good
employee playing harmonica
passing balls from truck to truck

more to come!

recent photos from the Trash Project

Beautiful photos taken by lighting designer Stephen Pruitt during our visit last Monday am to the SWS service center.

Flickr

This is a test post from , a fancy photo sharing thing.

getting my blog back on

It is so time for me to get my blog back on. I think trying to get back to blogging is like turning in that late library book. You feel so bad that the book is late that you just can't turn it in. I have been feeling like there is just SO MUCH to say that I don't know where to start. Maybe a short list of my top 10 thoughts will get me started.

1. Reading all about trash in a Solid Waste Services manual. Fascinating.
2. SKATE! rolled in and rolled out in March. Sold-out shows and very enthusiastic audiences. I miss skating all ready.
3. Working on little details for the trash show- like reserving the Burger Center Parking lot. Bigger deal than it might seem...
4. Fundraising like a mad woman
5. Grant writing like a made woman with amazing helper Nicole Gurgel- thank you, Nicole!
6. Talking trash with the Mayor. I cornered him last night at the Texas Medal of Arts- he couldn't say no.
7. Planning for 80s Prom 09. It is almost here! Save the date coming soon.
8. Summer is around the corner- yes. Looking forward to more time with Genevieve- swimming lessons and story time.
9. Starting to plan choreography and will meet with composer Graham Reynolds and designer Stephen Pruitt Monday at 5:30am at the Service Center. I am actually liking getting up early.
10. Love this short video by doc filmmaker Andrew Garrison. Beautiful footage I think...

landfill visit, #1

Today was a big day. Not even just because it is Elvis' b-day- but also because I made a momentous visit. My 1st visit to the TDS landfill- the final resting place of all (and all other Austinites) trash.

It was actually pretty beautiful, at least the ride up there. It smelled- that ammonia-like trash smell that I keep smelling on my ride out's. But, the landscape was pretty awe-inspiring in a weird way. (see photos and video!)

It was huge...that was my first impression. And hiding so much underneath its hugeness.

This morning began early- 6am (up at 5am). I rode out with two long-time SWS employees, Charles and Will, who very graciously welcomed me to work along with them. We had an easy route- mostly condos in northwest hills. Not a lot of trash to pick up. We were done by 10am. So we headed up to the landfill. Since their truck was only a 2-seater, I followed along with filmmaker Andy Garrison and his son, Sam, who was our driver.

Once we got to the landfill, I got in their truck with them and rode up to the face where they were to dump their load. Once we got up to the top, we got out and I watched Charles tip our load. We were directed by a man who works up on the active face directing traffic. Landfills can be very dangerous places. A SWS was actually killed at the landfill not that long ago when he was hit by a vehicle.

And then we tipped our load, weighed out on the exit scale, and were done. That easy. No big ceremony. No big sadness about burying all of this waste (much of I noticed while we were collecting it that could be recycled!) into precious earth. Just that.

I asked Charles today if it ever depressed him- all the trash people make that he collects. "yes and no", he said. He needs the job, and he wouldn't have it without all the trash. But there could be less going there, for sure.

Check out the attached photos and video- the video shows Andy the filmmaker shooting Charles tipping the truck.

Too bad you can't get the smell from the video and photos. That is a big piece missing!

happy elvis' b-day to you...

I was thinking that night about Elvis
Day that he died, day that he died
I was thinking that night about Elvis
Day that he died, day that he died
Just a country boy that combed his hair
And put on a shirt his mother made and went on the air
And he shook it like a chorus girl
And he shook it like a Harlem queen
He shook it like a midnight rambler, baby
Like you never seen

Gillian Welch, Elvis Presley Blues

Elvis Aaron Presley was born 74 years ago today. Can you believe that if he were still alive he would have been only 74 today? Crazy...

As many of you who read this blog know, I have spent a good portion of my recent artistic life thinking about Elvis. I found him such a compelling subject to explore- as an artist. Someone so big, so over-the-top famous, who lost his way so tragically. Could I feel any connection to him?

I heard this Gillian Welch song today and it reminded me of why I love Elvis and all that is Elvis so much. There is just real feeling there. He certainly was an emotional person- and brings out so much emotion in so many people. I think that is really why he has such a cult following- because it, in many circles, is ok to really feel something for the man. Most of time it isn't cool to feel much- except maybe a little happieness- right? But with Elvis, you can really let those feelings go!

Here's Gillian Welch singing her tribute to Elvis. I think she is spot on.