Please forgive me for my long hiatus. The idea for this blog came from the feeling of inspiration I get from many things I am fortunate enough encounter - art, dance, film, friends.... - with the hope of being able to have a larger conversation about them (and the internet is a mighty large community). Originally, I vowed to only write about what compelled me, so I knew it was time to take a break when I realized I was generating content just for the sake of content. And who needs more chatter in the world????
Anyway, enough editorializing - on to the cool stuff....
I've been thinking a lot lately about how we move our bodies. It's something so fundamental, but often we are barely conscious of it. Everything from walking to dancing, cleaning, using a piece of equipment - there's this enormous range of movement in each of us, and a capacity for beauty that we rarely explore. I've found some interesting videos lately that have me thinking about movement in a new way....
Lil Buck and Yo-Yo Ma
I'm sure some of you have already seen this one, but I think it's really worth taking a second look at. I'm not always a fan of the high/low mash-up when it comes to the performing arts - I mean, have you ever seen a Rap opera that actually worked??? They too often rely on a level of melodrama that is supposed to speak to some human-thread-that-connects-us-all, but what ends up happening is that the 'edge' is polished off of both idioms, for the benefit of finding a boring beige middle ground that's supposed to resonate with everyone. Doesn't really do it for me. But with this Lil' Buck and Yo-Yo Ma collaboration, both parties bring their creativity and voice in equal measure - and the result is just beautiful and truly eye opening. And it's just amazing to see a body move like that.
Danny Macaskill
Now, this one is really different. Obviously he is extremely skilled at his craft, but the amazing part for me is watching the intense activity throughout his whole body while he does these crazy tricks. The way his torso contracts, his knees bend and stretch - the mechanics of the tricks are right in your face, and it's really an interesting study in human kinetic power. And grace.
Lose Control (@ 0:30 - 0:55)
When this Missy Elliot song came out it was just so ballsy - in your face, unabashed. And the music video, I think, showing some of the first evolutions of Krumping in the mainstream (?), really changed my eye. The force of the dancing (especially from 0:30 - 0:50, and around 1:50 on) is really magnetic, athletic, kinetic.........and the style of it reminds me of a modern day Harlem lindy hop, like Hellzapoppin......
Hellzapoppin
There's more of these thoughts to come - this has truly been on my mind quite a bit lately....
Let me know what you think about this - how do you move? What in your day might change your step -music, mood, high heels???
Think about it..........take a second........*ping*
