My MUSE is in the HOUSE!

It's been a very nice week, in terms of getting some creative juices flowing!  I love it when I hook in to the tide of inspiration and the instincts that I have start to get affirmed in the external world.  That's when I know my MUSE is in the HOUSE! (The Beach House, that is).

For example...little things.  I'll have an image of a dance scene, and for some reason, a song will pop into my head.  The title of the song is somewhat reflective of the theme that I'm working with, but the song is so old, I can't really remember the words.  Could it really be the right song to use?  I'm not poring through catalogues of songs to find the right one...I just have the name of this song in my head...could it really be right?  I check it out on YouTube, and...it's perfect.  They lyrics give a different perspective on the theme that I'm working with, which is...?
DUALITY.  I don't have a title for the piece yet.  It will come.  But for now, here's a little about what I'm exploring:

The theme of the work is on the nature of “Duality”.  The piece has poetic and spiritual undertones and is an exploration of the conflict between the Soul and the Personality, the Spirit and the Flesh. That we are ultimately striving to be in tune with our “selves”, to find harmony between the eternal and the physical, the mind and the body, thoughts and feelings, fact and faith - between that part of us that knows everything and the part that is still learning.  From the time we are born, we experience duality in our separation from our mother’s womb. The piece explores the joy in union and the pain in separation, and the inevitable duality of earthly human existence.  The poetry of Rumi may serve as textual and/or imagistic inspiration.  The general theme of Rumi's thought. like that of other mystic and Sufi poets of Persian literature, is essentially that of the concept of tawhīd - union with his beloved (the primal root) from which/whom he has been cut off and become aloof  - and his longing and desire to restore it.

And have I told you who I am primarily working with as my dance/performer collaborator? Meena Murugesan! You'll get to know her more in time as well.  We'll be posting some fun videos of our work together.

So, is this piece a duet?  Yes...and no.  It is a duet, but there is a community aspect to this piece.

Here's the part where I ask YOU, yes, YOU, reader, to be part of this event, this site-specific dance-theater piece!

First of all,  You do not need to be a performer!  

You may also invite your friends or family, if you think they would be interested.  In other words, feel free to pass along this notice, invite others to this blog, email me with questions, etc.!

Before I go into the specifics of how I would like to work with you, I want you to first just imagine yourself on the beach with many others you know and love, and some new folks that you may not know, but who are obviously awesome...

Imagine the particular lightness of being experienced when your routine is unexpectedly broken, add to that the high you get from being outdoors, multiply that by a game of volleyball, a burger at Back To The Beach Cafe (veggie burger offered as well) and a few laps in the outdoor pool, and divide that all by an assurance that your involvement will add a great deal to the success of this performance!

Here's how I plan on working with YOU:

I want the community performers (that's you) to represent "humanity"; the world that we are born into; this earthly existence.  You will carry red umbrellas and at times, move as a group in unison, and at other times, break off as individuals or "families".  You create the visual architecture that frames the piece.  There will be simple choreography, possibly some text or song (if it's appropriate) and improvisation.

Of course, there is a rehearsal schedule and some commitment needed from you.  So PLEASE think it over carefully before you reply with a YES!

REHEARSAL TIME REQUIREMENTS:

Saturday September 8th from 10am-5pm (to learn material)

Sunday September 16th from 12pm-4pm (only if needed)

Tech Rehearsal: Wednesday THURSDAY September 27th, Time T.B.D. (2-3 hours to remember and refine)

PERFORMANCES

Friday September 27th 28th, 6pm (call time is 5pm)

Saturday September 28th 29th, 1pm (call time is 12pm)

Sunday September 29th 30th, 1pm (call time is 12pm)

I need to get RSVP's by August 10th.  Please email me if you're interested at: sheetal@sheetalgandhi.com

JOIN ME ON THE BEACH!!!

Till the next,

Sheetal