"Is there nothing sacred anymore...."-Amel Larrieux, Sacred

Whether you're a dancer, a singer, involved in the fine or fiber arts, or find passion within acting, it is always humbling and inspiring to find the beauty within an art form other than the one in which you practice and create. I went with the family to the Rittenhouse Square Fine Art Show in Philly today (check out the link below) and found myself immersed within another world not so far from the physical one.

Rittenhouse Square Fine Art Show

While I probably would not hang an oil painting of a vase of flowers on my wall, there were so many images and sculptures that captured motion not only within the objects that were represented, but through the textures used to abstract the images on the canvases.

This reminded me of how we create dance works. Not only can we express our ideas, point of view, and vision through the physical presence of the dancers on stage, but we need texture within the movement to futher this development. I can look at an image of dancers and understand what the artist is capturing, but the added texture of the brushstrokes gives the viewer so much more. It's the same with choreography.

On the way to view some art, I of course was thinking about some from this past year. I found myself listening to the soundtrack from The Tempest that was performed only 2 months ago at Muhlenberg, yet it seems like so much longer...and how much I miss my Tempest family.

Two art forms coming together, theater and dance, to create controversial, beautiful, and compelling work. Thanks to Charles O. Anderson and Troy Dwyer, a bunch of us got to be a part of something new, something ground-breaking that challenged ideas of "what" or "who" a person can be and the effect on which individuals have on one another. As I re-ran familiar movement in my mind and reminisced about Tempest camp, late-night rehearsals, weekend techs, and our last moments on stage, I couldn't help but think about what I have (or rather have not) created lately. What have I done to make a difference or make others realize they can and are making a difference? I know that as the festival draws near, this process will be more constant...but I shouldn't be waiting fo the opportunity. Sitting around, complaining about lack of resources and space is not really an excuse because performance spaces are everywhere. Yes, dance is about time, space, energy, but it needs only the body in order to be realized...and the body can move anywhere.

To the Tempest crew, other artists, and those that just appreciate it...today, and tomorrow, and every day after that is for you as long as you make it mean something and never forget the gifts that you behold <3.