02 November 2005

it calls out, this dancing

"marcel duchamp said art is primarily an intellectual activity, right? well, that's not where I live. I want my art to be tender, brave, sexy, outrageous, seductive. I ask myself, is that being fair? yes, I say. yes, it's fair because I'm the one who makes the rules. so don't buy a ticket if you can't handle that." -bill t. jones

m, this is for you. and it's for me. it's for anyone and everyone. bill t. jones, I celebrate you. because you believe that all body types belong on stage and that amazing movers come in all shapes, all sizes. because you once said that 'modern dance was nobody's sleeping beauty' (amen and hallelujah to that). because when you conducted a master class with fifty nervous young dancers, you still took the time to come around and personally introduce yourself to each one of us, warmly shake each hand. because during that ridiculously nerve-wracking ninety minute class where everyone seemed to be watching everyone else, you had us whispering desires and screaming our names, you had us flying effortlessly through thick summer air. because you created a book about modern dance for children that I am proud to read to my daughter, my son. because you make breathtaking work, work that is indeed tender, brave, sexy, outrageous and seductive. because watching you perform, watching your company onstage can only be defined as exhilarating. because you make me feel like singing, like shaking, like jumping, like grinning, like crying, like dancing.

14 comments:

  1. what a lovely post.
    I esp. love the part about all body types on stage :)
    very cool. all shapes and sizes.

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  2. thank god for good generous warm and demanding teachers, huh??

    lovely post.... as always!! [boy do i wish we could meet!]

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  3. andrea - you have such a way with words, with writing such feeling and emotion. your passion for dance, art, motherhood, life - is so infectious! a beautiful post!

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  4. You all should see her dance.

    One of my favorite things to experience in this wonderful life of mine is to watch you dance, Andrea. Your movements are brilliant poetic sexy dynamic gentle and amazing. You are a moving masterpiece. And I'm so happy to know that our children will get to be able to witness this.

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  5. andrea i love your passion. it is contagious.

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  6. Really nice post, Andrea.
    And I love when a man knows and observes and understands and-- almost as importantly -- speaks highly of his wife. ward jenkins' comment speaks volumes about the both of you, and it's a beautiful thang from where I'm standing.

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  7. the bill t. jones performance was all this: tender, brave, sexy, outrageous, seductive....and more. i have truly never experienced anything like that evening. mr jones is captivating, the combinations of movement, lighting and music were at times surreal.
    thank you andrea for using your words to introduce me to an artform brand new to me and opening a door to a whole new world. to say your writting is inspiring would be an understatement at best. my life is blessed with more beauty and my horizons thoroughly expanded.

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  8. Yes Andrea, I couldn't agree more. The Bill T Jones show I saw at ADF this summer was life-changing. I still have the ticket stub on my fridge as a daily reminder. What an honor for you to take a class with him. BTW, I'd love to see YOU dance again :)
    Can't wait for tonight! Pure movement, baby!

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  9. There was a nice profile of Bill T. Jones in the San Francisco Chronicle a few months ago. His sister, Rhodessa Jones, is a long-time S.F. performance artist.

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  10. I am a jellyfish when it comes to dancing which makes me adore dancing and dancers all the more. Great post

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  11. so touched by everyone's kind words here... thank you all so much.

    ward- really, I am blushing. even though I know this is how you feel about me somehow reading these words of yours... I don't know. my heart is all a-flutter. thank you. thank you for knowing that I still need to hear this from you every so often.

    madness rivera- I've already told you this but don't mind saying it again- one of the nicest comments left on this here hula seventy blog. thank you.

    meridith- sososososo glad that you went! wish like crazy I could've been there with you to see it...! your words mean so much to me, I hope you know.

    amy- I was hoping you might comment on this post and say something about this past summer! I just knew you would love him and the company. and I'm so glad you took the apprentice corp. kids to see it...! now there's a conversation I'd like to have with them... we'll have to talk about their reactions.

    marilyn- thanks for that... would love to get my hands on it! I read his bio a while back but had forgotten he has a sister that is a performance artist... ever seen any of her work? I think it'd be interesting to see what her work is like.

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  12. That was a very very cool comment, madness rivera. Thank you. And I have to say that I am very honored to be Andrea's husband. We have a special thang goin' on. Nothing else quite like it.

    Andrea, I want to see you dance again soon. I mean it!

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  13. He's my muse. I have created sculptures after being inspired by the movement he exudes!

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