Just a little Magic

Photograph by: Marie

We celebrated a birthday in the studio yesterday. I though it was wonderful that my dancer would rehearse till so late on her birthday, and so I knew celebrations were definitely in order. We had a time of showing and discussion today. It didn't go quite according to plan but our studio environment was a relaxed atmosphere of gaining ground. It was amazing to have time with my adviser, and he helped bring new insights and understanding to my dancers about performance quality as well as chisel on my choreographic edge. It was good to get past the initial waves of nervousness before an audience as this was the group's first live performance. Given the limited rehearsal time I need to now tighten my own core ideas to define with only the most imporatnt scenes I want to create and say. This is not a movie though I wish sometimes it was. Smiles, more adventures in another season.

The Next Thing

Photograph by: How Chen

It's been an interesting month, sometimes less brings more and in the theatre less is more. I've found a defining sense of joy as pieces start to fit together. It feels like even though we are moving ahead slowly there is a gathering momentum and a deepening pathway. I see the image of walking into a mine, except it's a deep ravine that's formed, wider and deeper carving the walls of the rock faces on either side...the dimensions of change are more than one and that excites me. It's again the process that matters to me and the things which are gained in the journey. I will emerge on the new choreography for the last dance today, it's the trio piece. Last week I integrated a new dancer, it went well. Abstracts and music scores are almost ready, they just might need a bit of editing. Vision is unfolding beautifully. Above is one of the art cards I gifted to the dancers, a Christmas wish and an honouring message for great studio work. Encouragement fuels many things. It's turning point time, a new year a new leaf, the bells and chimes are ringing. Less than two months to the oral exam, we are faithfully moving forward.

December Joy~

Staying happy seems to be key in being creative and making this journey. I've had some more changes with dancers and so the trio piece will have somebody new join us for the first time in the studio tomorrow. Up above is a photograph of the only graduate student who is dancing in this performance. His English name is 'How Chen' and he has quite the accomplished background for a dancer majoring in choreography.

It has been a pleasure to work with those as keenly curious as myself to break into dry ground and find oil wells. I'm excited for his solo piece that is based on the painting 'Heroes'. What is beautiful to see is how the dances are lifting out of the realm of art, poetic and song improvisations to take on an idenetity of their own. It's like we are looking at the same concept from the vantage point of a higher place. The group piece has already stepped into this realm. I'm using simple titles for the dances this time. I'm fascinated with the depth that simplicity carries and a sort of pure inncoence that is transferrable in this state. We each have such a great capacity to create, I'm so glad we don't limit ourselves to what we know to do well but carry a heart for discovery and adventure in all things. Our lighting designer has also been confirmed(more on that collaboration later) and the Yuhan's original musical composition should be ready by next week. It's good to see the wheels turning and the song in my spirit is 'Carry on, carry on, the wind will make you fly~'

Lightbulbs, let's shine

'Shine' November 2011, Artist: Vanessa Mirza

I painted this yesterday feeling that a new season had begun in our journey, and felt this picture was an encouragement for what is about to come. I know bliss covers our path as creations unfold. Shine and be glorious. Love, passion, joy, courage and strength to each of us as we commit to onward adventures.

The Change Swirl...

Part of life's journeys has moments of heartache where you let go of what you cannot carry with you. It is important to note every relationship and experience adds value either directly or by reflection. I had to release two dancers this week because they did not agree with my vision and way of achieving it. I believe in freedom, but not in compromise. So I had to make a decision, to let go of something we had begun to create together and start afresh. It hurts my heart, to have to give up on that expression of creative release...but sometimes when I paint too, I have phases of painting over, with a new colour and it enriches and add layers to the background. Infact sometimes the way the background is created is the most interesting part of all. So I believe in exploring, playing, searching, like a child, till I find the treasure chest and in the midst of it I have colours creating pictures all around. Yes, the process is what will paint the final picture and so I will not compromise on that...may the dances be finished in perfect timing.

Prophetic painting: 'Pearls & Shells'

'Dream Realms' Mini-Series 2011, Artist: Vanessa Mirza

Prophetic Painting: 'Come Alive'

'Dream Realms' Series 2011, Artist: Vanessa Mirza

Themes & Keys

I have been reviewing the movement material collected so far and decided to have something that rather interesting for me. I've chosen one piece of improvisation that movement wise forms the theme piece, so that the dance would flow from this capturing the flavours, colours, momentum and even carry a structural essence that draws from this improvisational excerpt.

I'm excited to see how this can be the envelope or the letter, or even letter paper on which the concept and dance ideas are held together, written and read. Meeting with my adviser helped greatly for me to sort through interesting vs generic movement. Even though my paintings were used as a source not all of the output puts my vision, or it may not in it's current raw state. With transformation to different degrees and a greater play in freedom it could become quite valuable and a powerful expression of what I want to communicate. But I did find my inner instinct being a voice of truth and felt the facade of show or spectacle torn down. Of the beautiful movement being one that carried weight in what it speaks rather then the mere beauty of shape, line, gesture, action, sequence of delineated by the dancer's body.

I also found for the piece where the relationship between the dancers was defined more clearly there was a greater intentionality and connection in their improvisation. In some ways for the other piece I had wanted 'a stranger to friend' relationship grow, but I think I forgot to mention this to my dancers! My clarity gives them clarity, so I need to mention more details. Chinese and English run parallely in the studio and I try to ensure my dancers understand well.

It is wonderful to have freedom in how and what you create. My paintings have a very natural free dynamic in them and I want that to remain in purity as the key strain in all of this choreography; a wildness and passion, and the boldness to reflect only what I want to say, nothing else...so this is being true to me and authentic, daring to reveal my art cutting away all the fancy trimmings that will please someone else's vision. It feels like I am taking a stand now that will change the course of how I create art for the rest of my life. So be it!

Come November: Music in composition

Entering the second week of November and the joyful news is I have finally confirmed a collaborator for original music composition for the duet piece. Yuhan Su is a very accomplished performer and musician based in Boston(USA). Here's a link to her website (http://www.yuhansu.com/live/), but to share breifly from her bio, this is her creative streak-

'In many ways, Yuhan Su represents the voice of the new generation of jazz musicians. Though she is firmly rooted in jazz tradition, her music is innovative, emotional, cerebral and most importantly, always lyrical. Her compositions and improvisations are uniquely hers, marked with an amalgamation of complexity, intensity and emotional resonance...'

It's interesting for me to work with Yuhan because she studied at TNUA(College of Music) at both undergrad and graduate levels before winning a scholarship to study at Berklee College of Music (USA). Working with an overseas collaborator creates some interesting challenges, but most of these are solved by the beauty of technology and internet communication. It also allows a sweet inter-dependance and creative partnership, based on inspiration, artistic liscense and a trust to allow each aspect of composition to develop individually while maintaining a parallel connection. I'm loving the way this project progresses. It's going to be a Happy November!

Studio Improvisation: Group Rehearsal 27/10/2012

Celebrating the journey

These are first year under-graduate students at TNUA(College of Dance) that are a part of my group piece. Today was a time to reflect on the different movement explorations over the last four weeks and record the material in variations of sequence, arrangements, motif developments and space design. These dancers have each been working with an individual painting (from the Dream Realm's mini series of ten paintings) and doing group explorations with the painting titled 'Atmospheres'. It's been interesting to see how works of art inspire dancers differently and some of the most quirky interesting movement surfaces. I'm excited for what we have experienced together and that has been churned out so far. I know there are many more fun hours of exploring, creating and designing to follow. The movement puzzles with logic and understanding shall eventually have all problems solved...I hope still holding onto that touch of magic of things when they first come to life.

Changing faces...a prize to pursue

These are certainly times of change. I have been true to my value to find the gold, but in doing so the process of change has been quite volatile and challenging. I have however the passion to pursue, and I am seeing the fruit of my faith slowly but surely. I need to use my time wisely as I have to work both as a choreographer and a writer while planning and preparing for the actual production. So this blog will now only have highlights, I hope at least to update a few times every month. I have dates to work towards:

Oral Exam: 02/25/2012 at Studio 7, TNUA, College of Dance

Final Performance: 05/31/2012 & 06/01/2012 at the Crown Theatre (in downtown Taipei)

Thesis Exam: 06/02/2012 at TNUA, College of Dance

Rehearsals and auditions in the last three weeks have been exciting and interesting. I have encountered, shared and danced with quite a range of performers. I have now seven who will work on a duet and a group(so that's a change, I'm back to a duet instead of a solo). Bringing painting in movement certainly adds a whole new level of colour to studio work. Smiles. These are however still only the initial level of movement material, some in a first stage very rich, others, a beginning to develop on. The journey continues with excitement, the moments of magic make it worth the while.

I look forward to connecting, in the next few weeks, with more dancers and working on possibilities for a music collaboration. Joy everlasting, all good things need a great level of passion and sacrifice, but there is gladness for each day.

Refining for pure character

I have felt myself churn things over to search for the pure refined gold that I want my creations to be. I want no heaviness from too heavy a space or performing quality or number of performers even, to rob the art work of the innocence which it carries when it is allowed to be born as a new babe...I feel this so strongly- I am breaking into something new- and if any of the other elements in creating a choreographic work are over-emphasized in the beginning it will crush what wants to be birthed, the seedling's first green leaves, so tender so fragile. I carry on the streamlining and sharpening of vision and focus. Some of this reflects in choosing a black-box performing space for certain and I feel the Crown Theatre will be an excellent option as a venue. Also I am drawn to the idea of a solo in place of a duet (so I currently have a layout of a solo, a trio and a group of five). I will use the same idea as before. Now it can be explored with more room for interpretation and a figurative flavour. I'm making budget plans and getting a first layout of what a production team must look like. I'm believing in pure unadulterated glory being released. The tryout session on Thursday was fun, the dancer I worked with is majestic. She walks in beauty like the night...

Air angels...make me fly

I did this sketch while I was in HongKong. My friend Pamela made quite the poetic photo collage. Rainbows and angels. Recurring themes of interest in my life, dance and art. Today I sat in on a really fun class that my adviser was teaching. The whole room was filled with this soothingness, that is quite rare to dance technique classes. I could visualise a fountain of water almost like a well, pouring out, bursting from the centre of the room and the liquid drops that scattered bringing sweet drink to bodies all around the studio. The reference to 'air angels' was His visual for a fun jump. Release technique has such a quirky enjoyable element to it. I liked being in a studio again, watching class was soothing to my spirit, a step deeper into immersion, and I could see so much more beauty, in the simple things, in the tinest movement, in nuance in subtleties. The gift of the body...

I chatted with my professor after and it was great to share ideas and get his inputs on how to start work. It is a big project since I'm doing all fresh pieces, but for me that is the fun of it. Next meeting is on Monday...and I'm now on my treasure hunt for dancers.

Courage, the new day...

Truth in tension. It's an interesting concept that fascinates me, same situation different truths hold true. Today I feel the need to be real. 'Dream Realms' is not about the happy lalala land of just dreaming, wanting wishing. No it's about making it happen, seeing fruition, witness to amazing life- dreams, and the more than you can imagine, because of a higher power. I want to share that the accomplishment feels good, the open door, definitely the alluring invitation, but it certainly can be 'hell' in the hallway (quoting Joseph Garlington).

We celebrate the victories, and remember the journey, stronger,wiser, more mature, compassionate for the knowledge of what it takes. How does all this 'hell' affect the creative process. That's up to you, your choices define your life not the circumstances. I choose joy, I choose hope, I choose peace, I choose victory, I choose a path made in the wilderness, a new way, a new day. Definitely needs courage, faith is spelt risk...without a sense of adventure...you're living too small a dream. Awakenings to your spirit to live in fullness.

Fabrics of perfect design: LIHIYA

Romance in creation. I love the power of ethnicities, of cultural permeation and the strength in womanhood. Two lovely ladies from the Kingdom of Swaziland, Dumile & Tivamile Dlamini, that I have grown to know through my time in Taiwan and the US, are going to partner with me in creating costume. We are going to play with different ideas and connect painting,writing, music and dance with fabric and clothing design to bring 'Dream Realms' to life.

Check out their blog (http://lihiya.blogspot.com/) for a look at some of their very elegant fashions and event updates. This is a quote from their personal writings:

'The word LIHIYA is a siswati word for COVERING. Our hope is that we would serve as a covering for women that are devoted to get out of poverty and continue to present a platform that will speak for those who cannot speak for themselves.'

Israel:Unspoken Dreams

I was in Israel this year with a team of bubbling artists and minstrels and we had a wonderful time travelling this land. Going to Israel was such an impossible dream for me, that I wouldn't have breathed a word about it. Yet it happened, and it is one of the most treasured experiences of my life. I'd like you to re-connect to the unspoken dreams of your heart and call out what has been left for dead. I declare new life and hope to your every dream. May the smile of heaven shine on you. Now Jerusalem is ever in my heart.

Prophetic painting: 'Heroes'

'Dream Realms' Series 2011, Artist: Vanessa Mirza

Prophetic painting: 'Butterfly Wing'

'Dream Realms' Series 2011, Artist: Vanessa Mirza

Dream Realms: Concept

Concept: 'Dream Realms' is a full-length choreographic work, staged as a platform of encounters to spiral you into the world of the visionary, perceiving life beyond the limits of human capacity, to reveal the hope of truth that lies in the knowledge of a definitive destiny.

Imagine if dreams were a part of the very essence of your creation, woven around you as you were knit in your mother's womb; seeds planted deep inside awaiting the hour of awakening when the soil was fertile. If the original plan was to co-labor with heaven, can you escape destiny or will heaven intervene and challenge identity as you know it; to reshape, renew, redirect, reconfigure.

Will you dream again to recalibrate life from heaven's perspective? Does circumstance necessarily dictate consequence or can a higher power redeem the impossibilities of life to release an explosion of individual creativity, fullness of desire and ability, the wild rapture of dreams as a reality.

Using the atmosphere of the prophetic and an exploration of dance in collaboration with art across mediums (voice, song, music, painting) you are invited to delve into dream realms, and discover that path you have always been searching for. The leaves of time keep falling, but now there is a wind of change. Seek, embrace, soak and exult in the river of revelation, celebrating the fullness of life. In beauty and joy you were made for the day you would stand in glory.

Art inspiration

Prophetic painting was birthed in me last summer in Taipei, June of 2010. It emerged through a process of inner healing and developed into a voice that connected people to heaven releasing life and destiny. That's what the prophetic relates to: an encouraging word, it comforts,exhorts and edifies.

Through my time at Bethel I have felt a greater anointing and freedom in creative expression that I've strongly seen in painting. This included simple crayon sketches, acrylics, silk painting, chalk and other forms. I have enjoyed the beauty of abstraction and increase in my gift in deciphering prophetic meanings.

The two paintings below were done in February of 2011.The first inspired(Atmospheres0 for Taiwan, the second (Imagination) for India. These are two of seven paintings that I painted this Spring. I feel these are blueprints and a starting point in my 'Dream Realms' production, There is a movement and a dance in them that I find fascinating, I'm excited to see this structed into impovisation and encounter time with the dancers, actors, singers, musicians, poets, writers, designers and other artists I work with, to see the secret of spirits in delight released.

Prophetic painting: 'Imagination'

'Dream Realms' Series 2011, Artist: Vanessa Mirza

Prophetic painting: 'Atmospheres'

'Dream Realms' Series 2011, Artist:Vanessa Mirza

In the beginning...

Creating dance that both in process and performance has meaning and value is the heart of my choreography. Art with relevance to society, culture and transformation captivates me.

As I launch on my graduate production, I write to document this wonderful adventure and journey, interweaving realms of skill, artistry and technique I've studied at Taipei National University of the Arts(Taiwan) with the kingdom creativity, prophetic and healing models of Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry (USA) in the background of growing up in Calcutta (India) and working on different levels of community dance and choreographic assignments, I feel an excitement stir inside of me as this project unravels.

The blog will include a rehearsal layout & concept writings,ideas, inspiration, creative inputs/documents, photographic and video footage, and a choreographer's spill-over thoughts. I invite your feedback and would love to hear more from you. I will do my best to update periodically and answer any queries you have. Do post your encouragement and notes, they are greatly valued and appreciated.