Flying

Ignoring the incredible gymnastics performed by the dancers on and off and around and under and through the huts, I'm going out on a limb here, and saying that seeing Felix fly was more than any of us expected. When he finished, everyone applauded.

Each rehearsal becomes more compicated and more dense. At Saturday's rehearsal there was the band, the flying, the backhoe, Quilla, the Primordials, the dancers and the community people. There was a lot to watch. And a lot to do.
Fortunately, for those of us in the quarry, it was cloudy and damp. Not a great day for sailing (see below) but fine for being in the quarry in July. As expected, the quarry is bigger than a breadbox. We all had to trot from side to side flying the turf behind us like a sail. The first try is fine; the second time is a little tiring. By the third or fourth effort, back and forth seems very far indeed. And there's all that stuff to think about. The turf has to sail--so you have to create some wind under it. That means jogging, or trotting, or running or whatever you call it. And of course with one's arms extended over one's head and slightly behind the vertical, there's a lot of posture to think about. You'll see.

Everyone in the fog

Sometimes, the quarry is like a Greek island in the summer--it's very white, the sky looks unbelievably blue, and it's hot. Very hot. Even on sunny but frigid winter days, if you pick your place, you can lounge in the sun. Wednesday was not like that. It was cool and foggy. Nice weather for dancing. Nice weather for wearing a piece of astro turf like a cape. And very nice weather for listening to the pan band.
One of the most interesting things about working with Alison is how non-linear it all is, at least in the formative stages. She has an idea, she has these willling bodies, and she gets to try to match them up. Most of the time, as you know if you have seen Quarryography or Pilobolus, the results are spectacular. There's no indication of the trial and error process, but that's what we had on Wednesday.

We shlepped that turf back and forth, putting it down, picking it up, rolling, unrolling, laying it out again. We put it here (too far), there (in the way of Rick and the backhoe), and then there (too close to Quilla). And we counted. Sixteen steps. Four counts to unroll. Eight counts to emote on the turf. Roll it up again. Move it. It was a nice cool day for shlepping.

This was the first rehearsal for the community members with the band. There they were, set up under a cabana tent, playing. Improvising longer vamps. Slowing it down and speeding it up. It's all good. And it all changes.

We didn't get to costumes, but I got to thinking that when I wear a hat and sweep that turf around, it pushed the hat right across my face, so I'm looking into the top of the hat. Probably not a good idea, what with the hardness of granite and the slippery ness of loose pebbles.

All that turfing is beginning to make some interesting shapes. I'll leave it to you to check them out. Oh--no pix. It was foggy enough that they look blurry.

first rehearsal

First, if you were expecting sparkling writing, let me refer you to the first two posts I wrote this morning on this subject. The first one Microsoft ate, explaining that it had to shut down unexpectedly. In the second, during a misguided attempt to arrange the photos in a more appealing layout, the whole thing disappeared. Anyway, I was unable to retrieve it. Here it is again, slightly different, and already old. The first rehearsal for community participants in Q2; Habitat, was yesterday morning. Statistically, I can assume you were not there, as only about 10 or 12 of use were (besides Alison and Mia). Most of the community participants came "from away"--Brooksville. Two of us were from Deer Isle, and one, Stonington. Where were you when we needed you?

As you may recall from the first post about Mia and Primordial Man (this is indeed a quiz), Mia talked about turf, and how everyone wants a piece of it, and we all have to share it.

She failed to mention how stiff turf is, and how hard it is to bend it to your will, especially if you have to get it up from the ground and around your body in one smooth movement--like a Veronica, but without the bull. Anyway, we practiced putting it on, taking it off, laying it out and moving in it. Alison demonstrated (pink sneakers) and then various groups practiced moving in a line, weaving and serpentining like Alan Arkin in "The In-Laws."

It was fun, and the pictures created by tubular beings moving in various sequences is one of those things that's a lot more than the sum of its parts.

It would appear that bird-watching is what Sue Bergen has wanted to do her entire life.