Vive L'Art!!!!!

Works of choreography are like your children; something created through blood, sweat, and tears.  They are pieces of your psyche that show the raw, inner flesh of your dreams, desires, and vulnerabilities; on display for the sole purpose of being expressive.  It is sometimes painful, and sometimes glorious.  Regardless, I adore creating choreography!!!!!!!

I'm always intrigued however by other people's reactions to choreography.  Why is it that some choreography is appealing to some and not others?  I admit, there are choreographers I adore, and those that bore me to tears... but I try and be supportive and open-minded when viewing.  I often think of the infamous Paul Taylor work in which the man stands on stage for something like 5 min. doing absolutely nothing...how would I have felt as an audience member viewing such a work?  I've been told that half the audience got up and walked out.  I am now convinced of the mastery and bravery of Paul Taylor.  To put something so controversial on stage and to stand behind the thought process of creating such work so adamantly, blows my mind.

 

Paul Taylor

In the twenty years that I've studied and taught choreography, I've had both successes and failures.  But the question I'm pondering is to whose ideals were those successes or failures?  Truthfully, I very much cared at the time what my audience thought...call me the jazz girl for wanting to be entertaining.  But my mood is shifting of late...truth be told, I'm feeling a little bit pissy.  Who the hell cares whether I create some big statement or not?  Or whether the dancers are all in unison, or whether it's a "masterpiece".  Or whether I'm smart enough, or have had enough education, or if I've studied with this popular choreographer or been to this convention?  Or toured with this company?  Or whatever?????   It's fucking ART!!!!!  It doesn't matter if you're Chopin or my son plinking away on the piano, it's still just black and white keys moving in a rhythm or pattern.  Why do we as artists have to be so high brow????  Watch what dance you enjoy, and be open to broadening your mind for those that you don't.  Enough said.

So as I move forward in the process of creating choreography, I'm channeling the spirit of Paul Taylor....And sticking by my convictions, If you don't like it, you can leave half way through the piece...I will rest assured that I have accomplished my goal, as I still got your money when you walked through the door....Vive l'Art!!!