Choreographic Residency: Week 13, Final Post.

Out of Bounds 

Sunday, October 8, 2017 // 5pm

Photos by Andrew Mandinach

I couldn't be happier with the culminating performance from this residency.  Honestly, I don't think I've ever worked so hard.  The past 3 months, and especially the past 3 weeks, have been nonstop rehearsing, troubleshooting, organizing schedules, and fussing with props.  And after the performance, with hundreds of people watching on the beach, I'm glad it all paid off.  

I started the program by meeting the audience at the beach house courtyard.  I engaged with them as I straightened-up the space.  I overheard audiences whisper, has it started yet? I like blurring the line between performance and conversation.  I asked the audience to mindfully walk to the performance site on the shore mindfully and silent, feeling the sensation of their feet on the floor and sun on their skin.  I asked them to recall their most memorable journey, whether it is by distance or an accomplishment.  And we walked in silence toward the shore to see a sea of bodies slowly crawling to them. 

The performers rose out of the water and danced grabbed golden emergency blankets and sang the folk song 500 miles.  I walked with the performers and the audience, feeling solemn and solidarity as we walked back to the beach house.

I wanted to immerse the audience in the work so they could feel more connected with the work.  As I looked at their faces, some filled with tears, I knew I was successful. 

Moving forward, I hope to make a dance film with the footage I collected from the dress rehearsals and the performance.  I also hope this work can be performed in other sites and other locations... along shores all over the world. Please do stay in touch with all my future endeavors by subscribing to my mailing list.

I would personally like to thank the City of Santa Monica for offering such a program that could provide me with this platform.  The past year has been a creative snowball that has become greater and richer with experience.  The Annenberg Community Beach House Choreographic Residency truly helped me puzzle piece all the site-based projects I made and manifested it into this work: Out of Bounds.  I finally feel out of bounds, limitless.