Bending Lucidity: A Dancer's Thoughts

(Kent State University, 2001)

Three hours a week

approaching rehearsals with pure involvement.

Anything less is unacceptable.

We dance.

Hitting the floor with conviction

using a facade entitled 'effortless.'

The music rings loud in our ears and pumps motivation straight to our joints,

challenging our mental agility.

B R E A T H E

I am a dancer.

Push. Lift. Jump.

Faster. Harder. Higher.

Authentic bliss.

We are synergy, creating this explosive experience.

The relationship with my Gatorade bottle is strictly co-dependent.

Performance time.

We grasp our inner knowledge and

remember the continuous puddles of sweat that decorated the studio floor.

Rehearsals would never end.

"One more time, do it!"

Once our enemy, now our beloved friend.

The stage is black.

We will light it.

B R E A T H E

I am a dancer.

The curtain goes up.

Sound penetrates eardrums in the concentric circle of ascension and descension.

A prayer to bring volcanic propulsions to this work.

Here we go...

Flow

roll

I am lifted, traveling through space

my solo is next.

Downstage is mine!

I give to the onlookers, the art form.

New movements make previous ones intangible,

gone forever.

Sweat pouring

forced attention to intricate muscle groups

seven and a half minutes of solid intuition.

Rapid movement,

what next?

My body remembers

continuing the physical conversation

with the other beings.

We fascinate you.

B R E A T H E

I am a dancer.

Push, faster.

Jump, harder.

Lift, higher.

My cardiovascular endurance in a state of reality check.

Hit the ground

melt into the floor

Oh yeah, that lift!

I extend

We dance

I find you onstage

and feel your energy.

Are you tired too?

The audience views only tranquility.

Success.

Solo

Duet

Trio

Quartet

Unison

Wait, which part?

Oh yeah, let's go!

B R E A T H E

I am a dancer.

Almost there

halfway through

the gift is not over.

Barrel turn, fly!

The floor, ahh...

if I could stay here, would I?

Lift.

I jump.

You jump.

We're in this together.

The finale beckons at our feet.

Ok, let's do this!

Unison

Hit the floor with exhaustion

we see the weavings suspended above us.

They provide the thesis of the piece:

Bending spines

Rolling

Melting

Intertwining

Final prayer, that we portrayed the images he wanted.

Last night's strengths were built upon.

The art continues more perfectly.

B R E A T H E

I am a dancer.

I pushed faster.

Jumped harder.

Lifted higher.

Lights fade.

Audience erupts.

I calm my accelerated panting

and smile.

I drop my torso for the bow.

E X H A L E