WYSIWYG

What You See Is What You Get. This is a journal blog, an explore-blog, a bit of this and that blog. Sharing where the mood takes me. Perhaps it will take you too.

Menoizikakkuls; Midweek Mesmerism

The final offering in this month's mesmerising movement to music series. A dance item speaking loudly of our times...


I do hope you have found something to enjoy in this little grouping. This last piece in particular, with views of the empty auditorium, speaks to how the theatre arts are really suffering under the weight of COVID. These cultural activities are so very important for our mental wellbeing, so I have chosen to become a supporting member of SB. 

If at all you have appreciated what you have seen and are feeling a little generous, then you can click HERE for the UK and HERE for the USA to make a donation.


13 comments:

  1. Enjoyed the dance. Very talented performers. The empty audience is sad. The grandgirls have a competition this weekend. The participating studios will dance in blocks where one studio performs all their dances, solos, duets, trios, and groups in one block of time with only one person per dancer allowed to watch. Then they must all leave the venue. No awards given out in person and no announcement of awards until next Wednesday:( Covid has taken all the fun out of their talent.

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    1. Hari OM
      It is so difficult for all students these days - I guess one is impressed that the event is going ahead at all - so much here has been fully postponed... Yxx

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  2. Wonderful performance. Thanks for sharing. Yes, artistes have faced the brunt of the pandemic. Glad to see some activity even if it's empty auditorium.

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  3. Amazing that they managed to train and put it together. Were the white patches on the floor their 2m spacings? It felt dark and threatening so altho relatable i didn't feel uplifted or transported by it. I've had this sort of conversation with friends - do you choose music that reflects, confirms and reinforces your mood, or music intended (or as an attempt) to modify mood?

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    1. Hari OM
      Excellent question - and can be responded according to context. If you are taking the generic 'you', then I think that the consensus would be we tend towards music that reflects the mood we are in... this is most obviously demonstrated by teenagers! As adults, though, and if we are indulging our state of mind, then we will definitely choose according to that state. However, most of us are aware and appreciate that music can be used to change a mood and thus will select against our feeling in order to temper it. Most commonly this is to put on bright music to raise our mood from feeling low, but it can also be that we are feeling flighty and need calming music, and so on.

      If you were asking about me personally in regard to these weekly offerings - I am seeking only to introduce sounds that others may not have considered as worth giving their attention. As you have mentioned yourself previously - to broaden horizons. The piece used in today's offering I find quite meditative... and if listened to without watching can produce other images. When I first heard it, I found my imagination had me flying over mountains... then found out it is called 'The Secret of the Sky'! Ben Chatwin/Talvihorros can be found on Soundcloud and Spotify.

      That all said, yes, the dance changed it both with lighting and action into something more pertinent to 2020 - and almost, I felt, appeared to look like images we are presented of the virus itself. But also the entrapment it has enforced upon society. The constraint. The isolation (yes the squares would have been the dancers' marks for distance) and I think there is room for acknowledging it within the arts. Yxx

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  4. wow... that is sure hard work to wear masks while dancing....it gives it something special... I wonder what people will think in some years about that time...

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  5. they are so talented and beautiful. It is really sad to see the seats empty, we see so much of it here, our favortie dancing shows either did not come on TV or they came with no audience. several of our favorite shows are canceled and we miss them so much.

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  6. Oh my word...I commend them for that wonderful performance while protecting themselves and their fellow performers. The longest stretch I have worn a mask (double) is in the grocery store and I'm just walking
    Hugs Cecilia

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  7. So very beautiful! It's got to be difficult to wear those masks when you're working so hard just to breathe.

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  8. On seeing all those dancers wearing vests, the irreverent thought crossed my mind that here's another example of people working in their underwear during lockdown!
    Cheers, Gail.

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  9. I love that they are wearing masks! And they are dressed just like me! Tights and tank tops...except they are not quite so "Fluffy"! Have an marvellously Happy Day!

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  10. I feel so badly for those in the arts. And those without a job. We are so grateful for our situation. It's not easy, but many have it much worse.

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  11. Oh, the flexibility and strength of youth! namaste, janice xx

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