Strutting and fretting again

Image copyright Pamula Furness

I mentioned briefly on Monday that this evening I shall be involved in a performance. We're calling it a 'sharing', because that's what it is. We (that is, Deep Roots Tall Trees Dancetheatre) have been working on a piece we have devised ourselves under the guidance of our choreographer Neil Paris and we have invited friends and family to come and see what we've been up to all this time.

The project began in September when we visited a local redundant church. We explored the space (as we say in showbusiness), and devised movements and storylines based on the architecture and the history of the building. We also created some fictional characters. I was intrigued by the harmonium in the corner of the church and wondered if the person who played it realised that the church was going to close. One thing led to another and some of this woman's tale has been incorporated into the performance.

'Harmonium' will be performed at the Rooftop Arts Centre in Corby for one night only. I have written a little about the background to the project and an extended version of Catherine's story and popped it up as an e-booklet in the Amazon store here.

Tomorrow I shall be mostly lying in a darkened room.

Celebrating the small things again

Today I'm celebrating the end of my pastels course. Not because I'm glad it's over: just the contrary. I'm celebrating that I managed to stick with it and produce something reasonable. I'm planning to keep going at home and try to refine my skills.

Seeking inspiration

The other thing I'm celebrating is learning a new way of working. The choreographer we've been working with at the dance-theatre group sessions has introduced us to the idea of moving, then writing, then moving again. To explain: we visited a disused church, which we explored in our own time and plotted a route around, connecting elements that struck a  chord. Later, we re-created our route in the school hall where we rehearse. Next we had to write down a list of words that came to mind when we followed that route, then we took some of those key words and turned them back into movement. Honestly: I've never felt such a luvvie!

My task for the weekend is to review the proofs for Nine Lives. What are you up to? I'd love to hear from you.

If you would like to join this bloghop, send your details to laura.6eg@gmail.com  and she will do the necessary.

The bear facts

Yogi Bear

There was much hilarity at yoga yesterday. The room in which we hold our class is upstairs in the Methodist Church. Meanwhile, downstairs the Ladies' Fellowship meets for prayers and music, conversation and discussion, and sometimes a guest speaker. We have grown used to the gentle accompaniment of music floating up to us and they don't seem to mind us doing our thing in the Upper Room.

Of course, it's not always blissful. Sometimes the visiting speaker is a man with a deep, booming voice, and on one memorable occasion we were treated to the strident tones of the Duchess of Devonshire describing the wonders of Chatsworth at full volume - via a film, of course, not in the flesh.

Usually the ladies have a pianist, but yesterday's music was recorded - and loud. It began with a stirring rendition of 'Keep Me Travelling Along,' which was fine and made us smile. There was a pause, and some low murmuring before 'Teddy Bears' Picnic' filled the air, closely followed by 'Me and My Teddy Bear'. I'd been encouraging my ladies to focus on 'undisturbed calmness', but this was just too much. We just had to laugh. I can only guess at the theme of the afternoon!