How the Rain Soothes my Soul

It's been raining here in SLO for a couple days now and it makes me so happy. I know that sounds weird, but I love the rain it has always comforted me. I like to say the rain can wash away any problems or pain in my life. I've always loved the solace it brings, like a big fuzzy blanket from childhood.

I've been a little out of sorts and crazy in the head the last 2-3 weeks and I've had very little dance in my life to center me and make me feel better. So I've just been getting crabbier, antsier, and more agitated. I found myself snapping at people when I finally got to dance after my classes were over because I didn't know what was going on, and I felt out of the loop and stupid. I hate feeling stupid more than anything in the world.

Saturday morning before leaving for Berkeley I had a good, long, solid rehearsal for a piece that I was SO lost in. I learned the piece and began to feel the undercurrent of the piece not just "oh shit what comes next!" It was so nice not to feel lost in a sea of unknown movement and to settle into it a little.

Last night we rehearsed the piece a little more and when I arrived I could quickly grasp what they had already been working on, learned a bunch of new material and felt immediately good in it (except the beginning of that damned coat phrase! haha). I was laughing and making jokes again... it felt natural and I was reminded of why I love dance so much.

This morning I'm attempting to finish up some reading for my meetings and classes today, however I am more focused on the sound of the soothing rain mixed with Arcade Fire's The Suburbs swirling in the air around my head and I keep getting lost in the movement in my head. I'm dancing away to a far away place that is so joyful, that I have a hard time returning to the world of financial decisions and simulation guidelines.

Can I just graduate now? I'm ready to go to grad school and eat, sleep and breathe dance...

I found this video from the show at Berkeley, just to think I was right there in the pit right in front of the guitarist on stage right (left side of the screen)

From Home to Hometown

Sunday August 15th I flew from Santa Maria to Boise (via LAX) for a short vacation and visit to the great state of Ada.

The original intent of my visit was to see Bob Dylan and the secondary benefit was a week with my Dad in Boise.

I have a list of 4 people/bands I HAVE to see before I die

Bob Dylan

Sufjan Stevens

Arcade Fire

Tom Waits

say what you like... my mother claims I have a thing for old white guys who mumble, that may be partially true. But this is the list and I stand by it.

So Saturday after Jumpbrush and the dance party I went to home at midnight ish and finished getting ready for the next morning. I had to be up at 3:45 to be on the road by 4:15 to be at the airport at 5 for a flight at 6am. (I know I'm crazy) I also REALLY needed to shower so at 1am I showered and finally was in bed by 1:30

*insert 2 hours sleep*

ALARM 1

ALARM 2

*insert cursing*

I get up and pack my stuff up and get ready

I had already printed out my boarding passes and directions to the SM airport the day before so I was pretty much ready to go

TO BOISE

*insert normal boring flight 1hr layover and flight 2*

For the first time in a long time my dad was actually waiting for me at the airport when I walked out of security (normally I'm early and I have to sit and wait around for someone to pick me up).

we head back to the house and chilled until I left for the concert

Kirsten, Keela and I have been obsessed with Bob Dylan since 9th grade when one evening we saw the Scorsese film No Direction Home, a documentary about Bob Dylan on PBS's American Masters series. From that moment on we were hooked.

I was lucky enough to experience Bob Dylan with Kirsten at my right hand. The concert was epic, Bob was wonderful and the best of all, during the encore I looked up to the heavens (we were outside at the Idaho botanical gardens) and I saw a shooting star. My heart almost exploded with joy.

The next day I had coffee with one of my all time favorite Balance girls (ok all of them are my favorite you caught me) Caitlin. Caitlin and her family have essentially become my family in many respects. It was her aunt and uncle that I stayed with in Italy during my break last year and she has danced with/for me for goodness 5 years or so. Now she's headed off to college and I am so excited for her next stage in life!

After that I went over to the Basque Market to grab a sandwich for lunch... where I had a strange encounter. I walked in made my order and as I was standing there a woman who worked at the market approached me and asked "Are you a Balance Dancer?" well I haven't heard that one in a long, long time! I told her I used to be and that I was visiting for the week.

Turns out it was the mom of one of the young girls in Balance right now! Her mom remembered me, and the piece I made for Balance in 2008-2009 about the paintings. To me it wasn't even being recognized but the fact she remembered a part of the small speech I made about the piece in the November showing. She was actually affected and made a mental memory of my work. I can't tell you how much it means to me to hear that people not only like the piece when they see it, but remember it and it actually meant something to them. That's like winning the lottery, or curing cancer (don't worry Mara's on that!), or finding Atlantis for me. I can't put into words the joy it gives me and the hope it inspires in my life.

Tuesday I caught up with another friend at coffee, his name is Cody and we worked on the river together for 3 summers at the raft and tube shop. Ever since I've kept up pretty consistent contact getting updates on high school and such. He has become another little brother like Kurt, meaning not actually my brother but they might as well be.

That afternoon was a Balance pool party at Lauren's house. I was really excited when I got the invite because I haven't seen the girls in so long!!! It was a bonus that Leah was there with her 2 beautiful children Rafferdy and Matilde.

I love Boise in the summer! It is hot but it is such a nice dry heat that your body just absorbs it like a lizard; unlike the heat in SLO which is sticky and heavy so it just sits on your body like a big weight.

I created a new breakfast invention I think is my best yet! honey bunched of oats (with almonds) and fresh blackberries with icy cold milk.

Tuesday night was dinner at Casanova's pizza with Dad, Matt and Debra which was fantastic and super delicious! It was a nice little family dinner thing.

Wednesday I worked on this blog actually! I went to a local coffee shop with the best coffee in the world called Moxie Java while I was there I popped on facebook and saw an Arcade Fire update and they had announced new shows for their current tour. Me being hugely obsessed with them, and them not yet announcing any west coast dates, I scrambled to their website and saw they had a show in Berkeley that I could go to and not miss dance or anything! So I go to look at tickets which were on sale on their website.

$60... ouch! especially since I had just paid that for Bob. So I try to call my mom and get her second opinion since I had 30 mins to hold onto the tickets online. She couldn't talk so I decided, screw it! I'll just buy the ticket and I can pawn it off later if I have to. I go to hit purchase and the internet cut out at moxie. So I hop in my car and drive home halfway, my mom calls me and I start chatting with her about the ticket (it's legal in Idaho to talk and drive) I get home, run inside and hit enter again on the tickets... sold out

GOD MOTHER F#(* @*#(@$*_*)@!@#IV_@(I#$8@$93$

I thought the curse was over!

I hang up with my mom and curse at god telling him to stop being mean and let me go to the concerts I like... I go back onto the website to see if any other dates would work and magically more tickets for Berkeley appeared! Without thinking I purchase one and snagged a ticket, General Admission standing floor at the Greek Theater in Berkeley... I almost died of happiness not only do I get to go but I have phenomenal tickets!

Talk about a roller coaster of emotions... a women in menopause couldn't have topped that

That afternoon I went to the Western Idaho Fair to help with the 4-H judging since I know the lady who runs the show and it's $40 to eat a bunch of candy and cakes etc. While there Jacki texts me that Austin and Chase McBride are in Boise on their tour... I tell her to give them my number and if they want to hang out to let me know. (some of you may remember I used Chase McBride music my first 2 weeks of teaching)

Later that day Austin texts me that they have a show that night at Solid downtown... I call Keela and we decide to go, our friend Laura met us there.

It was a lot of fun and a great show, I also love sharing my California life with my Idaho friends.

After the show we headed over to Flying M for a bit to catch up and chat a bit (since this is the first time in years that I've seen Laura and it's been a long time since I talked to Keela as well)

Flying M is SUPER hipster which makes it great

Thursday was a very relaxing day, went for a run, worked on this lovely blog then I went to lunch with my brother, his roommate and his friend. The 3 boys are basically my 3 big brothers and have been since I was a kid.

After that I went home and picked some blackberries with dad and got ready for dinner with the grandparents and Caldwell Night Rodeo!

I am an expert blackberry picker... just thought I'd mention that

Dinner was nice since I haven't really seen my grandparents since like christmas or something, even though the dreaded question did come up... I really hate being asked if I have a boyfriend and the ever present follow up of why not.

The Rodeo was fantastic! I'm a civi personally (meaning I'm a civilized viewer from the shady stands not a rowdy in the sun) It was tough enough to wear pink night too!

I really love the rodeo, I'm not sure why but I have a lot of fond family memories from my life that occur at the rodeo.

This girl's hair perplexed me to no end!








Matt and Debra!

After the Rodeo we went to my aunt and uncle's house to see the new puppy Sammy
Friday morning I got up early to pack and get ready to go.my dad dropped me off at the airport on his way to work... and I was homeward bound.
I know this is hard to say... but Boise is now a place to visit my family and SLO is now my home. In many ways I have a family in SLO that look out for me in my parents stead but it's just not the same; nothing is the same anymore. It is very hard when you feel like a guest in your parents' house and a visitor to your hometown. I used to call Boise home now it is my hometown. When people ask me where I'm from I now ask in return "currently or originally?"

Observe and Report

Wednesday August 25th I went to Nipomo High School and observed Chrissy's dance classes for the day (well from 10am on it is summer!)

Out of the blue I had the idea that it would be really cool if I could observe Chrissy's classes and look at her dancers and really see them in an environment other than the audition back in May.

I wanted to observe the company class for the purpose of, almost a pre audition, viewing. I care more about my dancers' attitudes than ability. They made it to the company because they can dance, but I am a tough choreographer and I want to push the dancers to their limits. I'm not going to give them elementary material like I did in the audition. So I need dancers willing to risk a little more in performance and really commit to the work.

I also REALLY hate a bad attitude and lazy behavior. I don't appreciate it. In the past I have stopped rehearsals and sent dancers home because they were physically present but mentally absent.

The actual day of observing was interesting, the first class was the company.

of course all the girls and a couple of the guys recognized me and I watched them rehearse a piece they are performing at the football game in a couple weeks. It seemed like at least half the dancers weren't feeling well (I guess a flu outbreak or something) so many were marking it. You can tell a lot about a dancer by the way they mark a piece.

I simply observed and in general kept my mouth shut, which is hard sometimes.

Next was Dance 2 with a ballet routine... most of the dancers were far from dance 2 level but according to Chrissy she can't do much about it.

The final 2 classes I observed was Dance 1 in hip hop. This was a lot of fun to watch... let me just say Chrissy's got swagger!

After observing I chatted a bit with Chrissy about random dance chit chat and headed on my way.

The next 3 weeks I'm teaching beginning modern for Variable and I think I'm going to work on material for Nipomo and teach an audition class in a couple of weeks.

More to come!!!

Jumprush: the play by play

(photo curtesy of Jumpbrush, centerpieces I made with Tanya)

For me Jumpbrush was more than a fun dance intensive I was taking part of, it was a weekend of opportunity and experiences. I wanted to get absolutely everything I possibly could out of Jumpbrush and I, in many respects, sacrificed things a normal person would never give up to do so. I know I can come off as cold and less than inviting to the average person (and to my friends and family) because I will always put dance first. I made the decision, without realizing it in many ways, to choose dance over the people I care for. I don't take that back and I definitely don't regret it, but I understand that it can make an enemy out of me to those around.

The actual events of Jumpbrush were eye opening for me. I have taken huge intensives before with choreographers from across the country and world before but not as an Adult (yes that required a capital A) and not as a dancer looking at a career in professional dance. I am a perfectionist and my hardest critic which makes me a good dancer, I never give up and always want to find more. Which is why it was good to start with Jude, she calms me and teaches me more about my body and spirit that I would never have learned otherwise. Jude is like my spirit guide in many ways, I know when I'm around her to just shut up and listen and my answers will come.

Next was tech which involved my first experience with the PAC stage... wow, that stage is like a punch in the chest. It knocks the wind out of you and makes your body feel so small and insignificant. Therefore my challenge was to make my tiny frame fill every ounce of the space around me. I wanted to command the stage and ooze into every crevice of the audience.

(photo curtesy of Jumpbrush of VV tech)

I failed... at least for my first time in the space. I felt like a drowning rat, then a cat in water, then maybe a dog, and finally a frog... not graceful but not dead or drowning.

Next was Swany's class which was my first Jazz class since 10th grade (that was 5 years ago... holy shit!) I loved his class and the combo was badass to say the least... however I have a BIG bone to pick with the way he conducts the class. It became an audition, not a master class. I understand pointing out and clarifying the things you like, but the last 20 mins of class should not be dedicated to the 6 people out of 25 that you like the best and only letting them perform the combo. Personally I was not one of his top picks but I did get chosen for a couple of the small groups. I don't really care if he likes me I just had to remind myself "this isn't an audition and I don't need a job just to do MY best." I could visually see the people around me having their moods change though. I still respect Swany and I admire his work and I would consider auditioning for him in a few years but that left a bad taste in my mouth and I know that not everyone took it as neutrally as me.

Thank goodness for Angie to bring back the joy in the next class. She teaches traditional modern dance in many ways, Limon technique etc. I enjoyed pushing myself and seeing how precise and clear I could be and really MOVE. After the class we chatted and I got her card because I know she will be a great help in my search for Grad school. She lifted mine and many other's spirits.

Next I went to Composition with KT, possibly my favorite part of the entire weekend other than performing. I wish the class had been much, much longer. I love composition and creating work. The phrase she taught us was unusual and quirky, then adding my own quirk to it and creating a whole new phrase was beyond rewarding. I loved my phrase and when I found out I was got to work with Harmony I was double excited. We created a piece together that in my opinion was ready for the stage. It felt good to do and was dynamic and interesting.

(photo curtesy of Jumpbrush of Harmony and I performing our phrase with another pair)

After comp we all ran to the pavillion for a Convergence rehearsal. Convergence was the final piece of the Finale show. It consisted of all of the companies and teachers "converging" for the first time. It was a structured improv dance that, to be honest, was in no way an improv just structure. However it turned out beautiful and was an event.

The last official part of the day was the Moving Mural. The idea was for the dancers to completely circle the Cohan Center in a structured improv (a real one) with the help of live musicians. It was a fun way to just clear your brain and de-stress from the day. To quote my friend Leslie the moving mural was "Oh getting-out-of-one's-head happiness!"

The best part was the media coverage, I actually made the cover of the SLO City News (pictured below) from the moving mural!

After the Mural there was Salsa dancing (like every Friday at Cal Poly) Brittany, Megan and I decided dinner and a bath was a much better idea. We headed to Natural Cafe in downtown SLO and grabbed some nutritious and filling food for our tired bodies. Then it was bath time! I don't have a bath tub in my hipster house, but megan's place has 2 bathrooms and her roommates are currently not living there, so I borrowed her spare bathtub. It was wonderful a long bath with music and epsom salt followed by a lot of arnica.

DAY 2

Day 2 began with me oversleeping and not making it to Ryan Beck's Yoga class... which was probably a good thing since I was performing that night and my body needed rest. My first class was Drew's contemporary jazz class which I was really excited for. I've never met Drew or taken his class before this weekend but I have always heard a lot about him.

His class was fantastic! I had a lot of fun and felt like it could have been longer.

(photo Curtesy of Jumpbrush: Me in Drew Silvaggio's class)

After that it was time for Diana's Bollywood class. My body was sooooo sore and to be honest I was in a fair bit of pain. This physical condition caused Diana's class to be a bit rougher than usual for me. However the class was rockin and I was so excited to be there and represent VV.

During lunch we had the final rehearsal for Convergence and my final time to adjust to the PAC stage. I needed that! After we converged and became slightly comfortable in the space with the piece it was time to move on. For me that meant home to pack and prep.

I decided to skip my afternoon classes in order to get everything done I needed to and to save my body for the performance that night. I went home, packed for Idaho, cleaned my dirty dishes (a week gone with a sink full of gross dishes wasn't going to happen), pack and prep my stuff for the show that night, pack a "dinner" etc...

I made it back to the theater with time to go and observe KT's comp class, which was really interesting since that class did things mine did not.

After that VV met to run both our dances for the show that night before the warm up.

While we ran our dances Daniel and KT from ODC watched, to be honest I should have marked it more than I did but I wanted to impress them. By this point my body wasn't in so much pain and moving around a lot helped so very much!

Next up was warm up! The ballet dancers and modern dancers all warmed up separately, we were in the pavilion and I believe the ballet warm up was in Spanos. KT led our warm up with Daniel's assistance which was one of the best warm up's I've had in a while. I LOVED it! It was reminiscent of the warm ups Leah gave before Balance shows.

After warm up we got in to costume and did hair and make up, which was a little more intense that our normal because the PAC is so large.

(photo curtesy of Jumpbrush: Variable Velocity receives notes after Tech )

we slowly migrated to the hallway to jump around a bit and shake off some nerves. Then it was go time and as we say "I'll see you on the other side"

Daedal went ridiculously well. I didn't feel like a drowning rat (ok there might have been a holy shit moment) and I felt big on a little stage, not little on a big stage. I'm not necessarily the tallest or biggest person you will meet but I try very hard to dance big and move larger than life. That way I'm always pushing myself to project more and fulfill the movements to my greatest extent.

After intermission we had Viscera, again pre dance jump around the hallway, wake the body back up, say hello to my sore muscles and beg them for just 5 more minutes of hard work.

Viscera went swimmingly! It was a lot of fun... which is why I love VV. I work so hard at dance and I put all of my effort into it, from rehearsing for hours several days a week, conditioning on my days off, watching what I eat (less cheetos more fruits and veggies etc), giving up alcohol for weeks and months at a time (it's hard hanging out with friends when they just want to play drinking games or go to the bars during your only time off). When I perform dances with VV I feel a kind of joy that I get no where else in my life, the people around me are my family and the work I do is a miracle to me.

Someone said during a speech at Jumpbrush that there was happy, then there was Dance Happy... I know exactly what they mean.

After the performance was the dance party where I found my new friends from the noodle house, Paul and Patrick, as well as old friends and Variable dancers. It was so nice to be around so many people and hearing such great things from random strangers about the show (ok I eavesdropped a little, sue me!).

If anyone reads this and took part in Jumpbrush in any capacity please leave a comment with your thoughts on the event! I'd greatly love to hear what other people experienced and thought about everything!

Again these are all my personal opinion and in no way related to Cal Poly, Jumpbrush or anyone else involved so if you don't like what I wrote tell me directly (below in comments is best)

I LOVE DANCE!

For more info on Jumpbrush see my previous post as well as their:

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That one hurt a little, that one hurt a bit more... ok that one hurt a lot!

What a week. I 'm still wondering wtf happened and how. My head is in a tail spin to say the least I'm torn between laughing and crying every moment. However laughter always seems to prevail (I'm not much of a crier)

I taught Variable Velocity class again this Tuesday! and it was AWESOME I love teaching soooo much. There were 7 dancers, only 2 from last week, so I re-taught the same class essentially. It was great to see how the 2 who have done the phrase before progressed and how those new to my way of working approached the challenge.

Here is a taste from class (I didn't like any of the videos I was in so I'm only showing the one with the dancers)

Beginning Modern Dance combo week 2 from Lauren Chertudi on Vimeo.

They are fantastic!

(music by Chase McBride)

Tuesday night and all day Wednesday I was SUPER sick with a virus or something so I ended up not going to the last day of classes for summer school and sleeping, since I couldn't move or walk really.

Thursday I took a final from 10-12 studied from 12-4 took the second final from 4-6 and then went home and ate soup and tried not to pass out or die from a massive headache (imagine being repeatedly hit in the head with a baseball bat). I decided it would be better not to go to dance that night and Diana agreed. However it turns out afterwards Jude went to the Hospital with some strange something I still don't understand, Transient Global Amnesia. I still don't know what that means. Then this morning, Friday, I get to work about to head out to the fair and I receive a broken 8 part text from Diana and I freak out because I don't know what to do and I can't leave work to go to the hospital though I desperately want to.

I guess I feel like I've failed since I couldn't or wouldn't be there for Jude, which brings back a lot of painful memories from my past, and past regret that I can't change no matter how hard I try.

Then there is the fact that I was supposed to be in SF this weekend for the Dead Weather show but decided not to go because of finals and my new job ( I could have gotten out of both but it would have been a lot of effort and a small lie which I don't do).

It's been a tough week and I just keep wondering about my life choices and the sacrifices I make... and specifically if they're worth it. Lately I'm not so sure.

The Ways of the Wind

It seems as though everything in my life is shifting in some ways it is very slow and I can see the change coming from a long way off. In other cases I feel as if suddenly the rug was pulled out from under me or I was moved by a strong force.

I have a new laptop on the way that I am very excited about and thankful to my parents for buying me. I am so sorry the electronic gods don't seem to like me much right now. However I am hopeful that this means my string of bad luck with laptops is over!

Also I didn't receive the residency in Portland, however I am almost relieved because it was going to conflict with school, a job I wanted to apply for, moving into a new apartment etc

as well as the fact as to I'm still trying to figure out my own voice and my own viewpoint in my choreography and I don't want to put something out there I'm not 100% proud of. So I am going to keep working and keep choreographing and learning from life. I have A LOT of life left to live and not getting the position is just fine. I can apply again and again and again. It's just not my time quite yet

The Intimacy Chronicles: Under Over Through

The latest section of The Intimacy Chronicles I filmed this during Finals week while the Calpoly studio was free. I have been working on a few of these phrases for a while and a few I made up while there. The music I stumbled upon was super inspiring and wonderful. It is by The Knife in collaboration with Mt. Sims and Planningtorock. it is 11 mins of wonderfulness.

I had a lot of fun playing with this material, it was a good release after finishing my last final.

enjoy

The Intimacy Chronicles: Under Over Through from Lauren Chertudi on Vimeo.

Assembly

I thought this piece was interesting I wish the dancers were a bit sharper and committed in their movement but the choreography is interesting. I hate it when I feel as if a dancer is marking the movement instead of actually fulfilling it. I wanted so much more from their performance.

Such potential here

assembly from jacob robinette on Vimeo.

Trains

I took this video on the train to Paris from Rouen it is the perfect example of what it felt like to be on a train


music by Eddie Vedder from the Into the Wild soundtrack

Study music for the dancer mind

I am slightly obsessed with Steve Reich and his music, I use it to study A LOT. I find it easy to focus and block out the world while listening. I feel almost as if it transports me to a new place.

this is one of my favorite pieces he has composed

it reminds me of rinding on trains in Europe and the peace that the trains always gave me. Hours to just look out the window and the world around me and think. There was no problem too big to be solved on a train ride. My favorite train ride is Rouen to Paris /Paris to Rouen along the Seine.

The Intimacy Chronicles: Boxes and Curves Inspiration

Heima is the Sigur Ros movie that inspired my boxes and curves improv

take a look it is beautiful music and beautiful videography

Part 1



Part 2



Part 3

My Nugget of Presence

here is the phrase created for my nugget of presence, I plan on speaking french phrases at the end when the hands move towards the ears and drop. To read the ideas behind the phrase see posts Presence and Presence 2

A couple of the movements are inspired by other things as well. The hand follows the veins on the inside of the arm comes from a line of poetry my friend Corey wrote while in France. And the head nuzzle on the shoulder and the hand that curls to a fist comes from a guy I knew in France as well.

Music by Sigur Ros

Enjoy

Nugget of Presence from Lauren Chertudi on Vimeo.

Human Movement

I love this video, however I wish it was longer because it is such interesting movement and ideas that I don't want it to end.

Human Movement from Jordan Clarke on Vimeo.

The Body Morphic

Here is a cool dance video that I fully enjoy because of how they made it. She had to move SO slow in order to make it look so good. She has great presence. I love the part where the rush of people comes through (side note this dancer needs a ham sandwich! or 5). Please enjoy

The Body Morphic from Indelible Dance on Vimeo.

The man I want to marry! Seriously

These are the coolest videos EVER! I plan on marrying the man in the second video "My passion, my job, my life!!!" He's everything I want in a man: cute, talented, lives in Paris, and is a B-boy

Made in Paris from tomson on Vimeo.

My passion, my job, my life !!! from tomson on Vimeo.

excuses excuses excuses

so quick explanation I am smack dab in the middle of midterms and group projects (one project, I am my own group) so I haven't had much time to film any new sections (though I have plans) so on my study breaks which are few and far between I search for dance films to make me happy and not like I've been hitting myself in the head with a hammer named international business law... anyways I love watching videos of music and dance and getting inspiration from them which is why I want to share them here. They influence my work in a way and open my mind to new ideas.

I hope you enjoy them, I know I do

I REALLY like this one I find it ridiculously interesting which is rare because I'm a bit ADD to be honest. I have SO many more videos to share but I'll spread them out, though I'm bursting to post them all at once. Patience is a necessary part of life...

I Am A Chain Reaction from Presstube on Vimeo.

Dance with technology

I just about peed my pants with excitement over this video!!!!! seriously

I'm fascinated because I want to see the choreography straight up and compare it to the morphed versions that appear in this video

you must watch this twice through at least

Atelic from duckeyejey on Vimeo.

Dance Dance Dance with Bon Iver

She has great presence...

possibly one of the COOLEST videos I have ever seen of a random acoustic collaboration. I love Lykke Li and I love Bon Iver it is like a melding of oreos and peanut butter (if you know me that is my weakness!). It makes me want to dance around and enjoy life to the fullest.

For you to enjoy over and over and over again, I know I will:

Lykke Li & Bon Iver doing 'Dance Dance Dance' in L.A from Lykke Li on Vimeo.

Soundtrack

I LOVE Sigur Ros more than I can explain, but I'll try. It is the type of music I envision in my head during important moments of my life, sort of like a personal soundtrack. It is a bit of everything.

Jonsi (who has a solo album coming out that I am super excited for) has an angelic voice so that even though I don't understand the words, it doesn't matter.

I have been in several dance pieces choreographed to Sigur Ros music and it is completely understandable. The music is complex and takes you on a journey. I love the use of instruments and rhythms along with Jonsi's voice.

Sigur Ros - Við spilum endalaust - A Take Away Show from La Blogotheque on Vimeo.

A trip across Paris in a van. Lost drumsticks. A cafe you'd never expect to visit before the age of 60. An hour of waiting, and then, voilà--a few notes on the harmonium, a grand piano, a heavenly voice. Sigur Ros on a Take Away Show.
http://www.blogotheque.net/Sigur-Ros,4783

Une traversée de Paris en van. Des baguettes oubliées. Un café qu'on n'imaginait pas visiter avant nos soixante ans. Une heure d'attente, puis voilà, quelques notes d'harmonium, un grand piano, une voix céleste.
http://www.blogotheque.net/Sigur-Ros,4782

Images : Vincent Moon
Production : Chryde
Editing : Nat
Sound : Ludovic Morin / François Clos

Presence part 2

So I've been contemplating my nugget quite a lot lately and I keep thinking about my time in France and the effect that it had on my views of life and my way of living, specifically the awareness of self. I realized very quickly that I can never be anyone but my true self; therefore I should explore all the parts of me. The soul and/or spirit are ever changing and I found that every day I realized something new, sometimes it completely conflicted something I had just learned about myself.


Being unable to speak French and communicate through language opened another opportunity to communicate through facial expressions and movement. I had a lot of time in France to contemplate and think things through. I internalize naturally when I process new information or ideas. I don't like to share what I'm thinking or feeling I'd rather work through it alone and then share my conclusion (maybe). Especially if it makes me uncomfortable or vulnerable.

I keep thinking about presence and how each person's interacts, do they? I feel like presence creates those overwhelming instincts about people, almost like an aura that radiates. Some radiate more than others. Do we like to be around people that match our presence or do we like imbalance? Does an imbalance of presence create balance?


There was someone in France that had a presence, presence that I was addicted to. Sometimes it was great other times it was a nightmare. Which brought me to the idea of Charisma, is external charisma the same as presence? No because you can have a stern, commanding presence and not be at all charismatic. So, was it the presence of my friend's charisma that I liked? I don't know...