Green Tara Blog-experiences

my dearest friends in dance are all journeying to the west coast this week to give one of my favorite performances: Green Tara, ensemble.  It is a piece about the soul's journey from death to life through the Bardo.i have a particular attachment to this piece.in the manifestation of the group staging, i was cast as a peacock.  i had the immense privilege of being involved in the creative process for considering movements which, as a new-to-dance dancer, was the catalyst that encouraged me to approach the art form with the goal excellence.  it is a goal i have nourished with dedication to three specific things: sincerity, generosity, and accountability. i feel this approach has served me with absolute satisfaction in my artistic experience.Green Tara is set to beautiful music, full of windows and story and breath.  the journey of the music inspires the journey of the story, which brings the characters and the audience through cycles of meditation, humanity, self confrontation, and divine compassion.  as we worked on the details in rehearsals i saw them revealed to me in a ritualistic manner; each step required the previous and subsequent steps in order to be performed with meaning.  we rarely rehearsed the piece without starting from the beginning and, once it was fully staged, finishing to the very end.  it was during this process that every execution of the piece--even in rehearsal--became a mantra that was being learned to completion by my body and mind.i otherwise remember the very emotional ebbs cycling through my body as the piece tells its story.  there are moments for each performer where they are not "seen" in which one must disappear while in full sight.  there are moments for each performer where they are the soloist bravely bearing the weight of the ritual.  there are moments for each performer where unison veils their individuality. ultimately, every performer experiences life, death and rebirth, save the immortal goddess playing in and out of the shadows, offering succor and protection and understanding.today, every time i perform this piece or see this piece performed, i experience it as a sacred ceremony.all the best to my friends performing this lovely ritual for eyes and ears this weekend.xomel