Dance: a Contact Improvisation Workshop

So, this past Saturday, I went to a Contact Improvisation dance workshop led by performer/teacher/dance company director, Maurice Fraga of Ekilibre Dance Company.  It was held at the beautiful Dharma yoga studio.  

Below is a pic of our group moving with one another.  That's me on the far left.  

The 2 hour workshop was beyond my expectations, imagination and, at times, comfort level.  

One word to sum it all up- Interesting!

Had I googled Contact Improvisation dance beforehand, I would have known what to expect, but hey I didn't.  Check out these amazing videos of contact improv. 

Contact Improvisation Festival in Poland.

 

  West Coast Contact Improvisation Festival Video Lab.   

It intrigues me to watch, especially the pair with the guy out of his wheelchair.  

I bet this would be great therapy! 

Piano Recital by Silvan Negrutiu

My 1st post on this site.  A little daunting, yes.  But, hey that's just a feeling and one that I'll get past.

Last week I witnessed and participated in 2 fantastic performances in the Arts.

One, a piano performance called "A Minor Recital with Picardy Thirds."  The other, a participatory "Contact Improvisation" dance workshop.  Both led me to the same conclusion.  There doesn't have to be a story to everything.  Sometimes, things are what they are!  An experience that evokes emotion in that very moment.




Last Tues, Feb 12, 2013, I went to a Valentine's piano performance by Silvan Negrutiu at Shenandoah University.  It was his Doctoral Performance Recital, and it was incredible!  He played the following:
Ludwig Van Beethoven's 32 Variations on an Original Theme in C minor, W.O.80.  
Ludwig Van Beethoven's Sonata in C minor, Op. 111.   
Franz Liszt's Sonata in B minor, S. 178

Wish I had video of the evening's performance.  Instead, you can watch & hear Silvan here.

 

 and, here

 

It was an amazing experience and like nothing I've witnessed before. I have to admit my mind wandered a bit.  But in a good way!  Since it was my first time witnessing a solo pianist perform, well, solo with nobody on the stage but him, I imagined him an accompaniment.  I envisioned dancers performing lyrical numbers and an imaginary pull-down screen presenting blades of grass growing, flowers blooming and a couple picnic-ing and exhibiting acts of adoration.  Of course, these were just thoughts and images in my mind. 

By Liszt's Sonata, I settled into the fact it was just me actively listening to my friend, Silvan Negrutiu, wildly and beautifully playing the piano; no visual accompaniment needed.  Although, I occasionally saw colorful auras shooting out and cascading all around the piano.  He plays with such passion and panache!   It's an amazing feeling to succumb to such mind and soul-enriching melodies.  Silvan, if you're reading this, THANK YOU for teaching me to JUST BE.  You are so talented and cool!   

  

Not Silvan, Beethoven or Liszt but...

Beethoven's 32 Variations can be listened to Here; 

Beethoven's Sonata Here, 

 and Liszt's Sonata Here.