Friday, December 13, 2013

The path to DRAGALUTION

Hello there! Words and thoughts have been jumbled and confused as we start another rehearsal process for DRAGALUTION: Daylight and her sexy bastards-raw.
I am very excited for this show! Some of the numbers have been in my head for years, others random thoughts that have been nagging me for months and the songs just keep cuming:)
For this show, the cast will be performing as men.  It has raised many questions as to what is masculine?.. I am male, yet sometimes I feel more feminine ( and not just because I'm in drag).  It may be the way I'm sitting, maybe the way I enter a room, sip a drink... 
Then, to take the idea of being male and placing dance on it; for some it is just mind blowing.  It takes me back to writing my thesis for my MFA
in Dance; my focus was on the role of the male in dance and dance education. I did a lot of research on finding the strength within the vulnerability. The solo I learned was by Ted Shawn, the father of Modern Dance in America, O Brother Sun O Sister Moon.  It is the dance of Saint Francis. A powerful piece which requires immense vulnerability and strength.  It pushed me to find the core of my male strength and the grace of the heavens. 
I'm coming to discover that male is as male is.  It is unique to each male that is given a set of balls and testosterone to deal with.  It has nothing to do with appearance, some of the most butch men I know clipper off all body hair and wear Lycra tops to show off their amazing physiques.  Flannel and Romeos are no longer for the logger or fisherman, but for the practical fashion gay too:)  all lines are being crossed and things are obscured and we all stand around scratching our balls wondering 'what the fuck.'
And it is with that energy that I approach this show- what the fuck!! To me, to be male means to own who you are. To thrust forward into the world. Make a mess if I have to and not apologize for it but own it!! It is essential to find the strength and grace within ones own body and make it work for oneself; not an easy task but so worth the work. So, if I'm doing something and it feels 'gay' to me that doesn't mean it has to feel gay to you or be seen as gay by anyone- that is my projection. 
As a choreographer, I can only teach things as they manifest within my physical sphere of expression; and it is up to the people, the 'men' I'm working with to make it feel masculine. We can not all look the same! Thank goodness:) we have to all be willing to take what is given and make it our own. It is a tough order to place, but oh so satisfying when the boundaries of the mind are broken down and we are able to stand within our own flesh feeling not as we once were but as the creation of what we have worked so hard to express.
I love working with the artists in my family that I get to work with!!! We all trust that it will happen; we all know that what will cum will be awesome- if only just for us. If any of my family is reading this, know how much I love and respect you for going on this ride with me!!! And for everyone that is always showing me such love and support, I thank you to the moon and back! I am the man I am because of you!!! And I love the man/queen I am becoming!!!! Much love, Daylight

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