I am an artsy type. I love music, dance and theatre. I had forgotten this aspect of my soul for some time. Why? Simple, it is day to day living. The kind of living that is demanded by our society. Living is that thing that grinds your ass to the bone daily. I do not blame society for this or my current position I blame myself. If my soul is to be fed it is my responsibility to do so.
Alvin Ailey Dance Company. Alvin Ailey... There are few words that I can use to describe the experience I had last week. Poignant, emotional, enthralling do not seem to carry the weight of what I felt and experienced. I was moved to tears. Tears of the purest rapture.
The rapture takes form from my past studies of music, dance and theatre. I understand that there are those who are proficient and those who are gifted, who are blessed. Some are truly touched by the hand of God. I am and hope to always be a capable director but gifted? I am not. Still the study that I have received has left a mark on my soul that is a blessing.
As the lights lowered I readied myself for the experience. This was my first live performance of the company and I did not know what to expect. Movement of course but the depth of color and sound heightened every step. It is a wonder how the human body can respond. Agility, strength and grace all encompassed in one movement…the placement of feet the extension of an arm. All I could think was magnificent!
Revelations was performed. When I think of Ailey I think of Revelations. This is my first and most loved piece. I believe that Revelations was fist performed in 1960. The music is spiritual I Been 'Buked, Didn't My Lord Deliver Daniel, Wade In The Water, I Wanna Be Ready and Rocka My Soul In The Bosom Of Abraham.
There is a joyfulness in this. I could see the roots of Ailey’s faith and upbringing. I saw fellowship in God, sadness in loss and inequity and the immeasurable pleasure of song. From the sereneness of the soft amber lighting of I Been 'Buked I witness the potency that was expressed through measured and fluid movement. I was laid speechless by the celebration of bright blue and white of Wade in the Water. It is the celebration of Baptism! I will always see this when I think of Ailey. Still there was more.
Three brilliant dancers move to Bach in Solo. This brought to me the realism of movement. This company was designed to share not one aspect of dance that is limited by any school of thought. This was more. This is proof of the ability to take the traditional and stir the new into a flavorful mix that floats and then rest gently on the pallet. I could name each ballet step… arabesque, fouetté or a batterie but what made each move more passionate was the freedom of expression.
I was a washed. My senses tingled. Tears formed. My soul sang in dazzling tones. My spirit was lifted. God’s design of the human form is nothing short of a miracle. Maybe we do see God every day we just fail to realize it. May my soul be fed often and may I feel and recognize its hunger! It is time for me to Wade In The Water
If you get there before I do.
God's gonna trouble the water.
Tell all of my friends I'm coming too.
God's gonna trouble the water.
1 comment:
It sounds as if you had one of those evenings that don't come around to often in a womans life. Men have no idea the turn on courtly manners are to a woman. I envy you evening.
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