Thoughts and Ideas 2/20

CONVERSATION Starter

Start one. Do you ever have trouble beginning a conversation? Like putting the first ink or paint on a pristine white page, sometimes, even when you have a topic, the start of the conversation is the difficulty. What about expanding on a conversation? Could the tools of feedback help? Such as, start with observations rather than opinions. Follow with open ended questions that seek insight rather than judgement. What about improvisational tools, how can they inform us? Discuss.

Creative Experiment

Walk into a space with a person or object as focal point. With eye contact begin a movement conversation using your genre of dance or simple free movement. Take turns responding, or in the case of using an object, expand into longer and longer periods of movement with pauses as if talking to a listener. Maintain the exercise for 60 seconds. Review the experience. Note the presence or absence of timing, pauses, speed, energy, movement range, emotion. Notice whether you were feeling or thinking. Repeat for 2 minutes. Discuss.

Escape and Inspiration

• Dance: UNM Faculty Dance show 'Monstrous' Feb. 24th thru March 4thhttps://finearts.unm.edu/events/

• Dance: Keshet Choreography Showcase Feb 25th and 26th https://www.abqdanceconnect.org/upcoming-events/keshet-2023-choreographers-showcase-230325

• Dance: At Popejoy: Pilobolus: 'Big Five Oh!' Feb. 25th https://www.popejoypresents.com/

• Upcoming Dance: Lorie House's 'The Report' March 10th and 11th at North Fourth Arts Center, Rhythm of the Dance March 5th and ABT Studio Company March 12th, both at Popejoy

• Art and/or Lecture: In honor of Black History Month UNM's Maxwell Museum hosting 'Karen Collins' Miniature Dioramas of Blackdom, NM and George Mcjunkin, 10-4 M thru Sat, March 16th at the UNM Maxwell Museum of Anthropology, and a lecture "Blackdom, New Mexico: The Significance of the Afro-Frontier' by Timothy E. Nelson 5pm Thurs. Feb 23rd at Hibben Center Room 105, Maxwell Museum. Both free.