It’s the Final Countdown
Dear Blog, it’s me, Carla.
Well, we made it. Three weeks flew by. I still cannot wrap my brain around how much we managed to squeeze into 3 weeks. When I woke up this morning it really hit me that this journey was coming to a close when I realized my roommate, Shannon, had already left… one day early. It was lonely and sad in my dorm room, until I realized I could now do what ever I wanted with my new found freedom. I then realized, by tomorrow, I’ll be on a plane ride home, and won’t have to live in a hot dorm room anymore. But then I got sad again. This trip began to resemble summer camp. You see, I went to the summer camp of dreams, in northern Michigan, where kids, decked out in variations of blue, explored theater and art and music all summer long. They bonded over their weirdness, and love for the arts. They played silly games and had deep conversations about the meaning of life and what it means to be an artist and where we all fit in to this crazy world. They were encouraged to be creative and work hard. These past three weeks were like adult summer camp in Dublin and I am so thrilled that I got to spend this time with the best group of weirdos a girl could ask for.
This morning was our last meeting together as a group. Over the past three weeks we really became our own community. Through all of our differences initially, we became bonded together and learned the true meaning of community. It is not about just being chummy all the time, but also going through the muck and helping each other come out the other side. It is about growing with one another, learning from one another and sharing experiences together.
We began the morning with some lovely Nan movement games. We were instructed to move around the space quietly and we could walk, run or stand still. Those were the only instructions. One thing I have learned from this trip is not to judge a weird set of instructions. As we all began to move around, people began to form small pods, or weirdos standing around the space. One would stand in front of another person, lines began to form, chases ensued around the room, awkwardness came forth, and giggles came out. It was a simple exercise that played around with relationships toward one another and how space and movement can change those relationships. Simple. Brilliant. It was a clear example of our growth together as a group. It was a nice pat on the back to remind us of how far we have come.
After the warm up exercises, our tutors spread out large pieces of paper on the floor and asked us to create a timeline of our experiences here in Dublin. We had all been asked to think about 2 “ah-ha” moments the day before, times in which something became clear to us during the program, and to start from there on the timeline. We were given markers and told we could draw or write down what ever we wanted.
As we began drawing and writing, it became overwhelming clear how much we had actually managed to do these past three weeks. What a jam packed journey this has been, no wonder we are all exhausted!! As we filled out the timeline with moments from the trip, certain themes began to take shape. Our next exercise was to split up into the groups we had created tableaus with during our very first workshop on Day 1. (Trying to remember who was in our group was a bit tricky, but we did it!) On our first day, Blog, if you remember, we were split into small groups and had to create a tableau that demonstrated our first impressions of Dublin. Because we arrived during Pride Week, most of us had marriage as a theme, or bridges and castles. Today however, our themes were about what we were going to take away from our time here. Most of the groups seemed to pick up similar themes. There was a lot of sculptures that demonstrated community, trust, balance, support, letting go. It seems we all took away a similar appreciation for the importance of trust and process.
I asked around the group what people were going to take away from this experience, and I was not surprised by the answers, because they reflected a lot of the feelings I was also having about the experience. Here are some of the things they had to say:
I really discovered the importance of letting go of expectations and living in the process. That, as an artist and a teacher, is a wonderfully liberating thing. -Sam
I was reminded that no two devising processes will ever look the same. Unique histories, populations, places, and times ensure a group's process and product cannot be repeated. -Rachel
I rediscovered the value in just jumping in and doing. Talking about doing is not doing and is actually counterproductive. Making the first brush stroke is risky but it's the only way to begin the creative process. - Haila
There is always more to learn and more people to learn from. I was just lucky enough to have been surrounded by the best type of people teaching me the best type of stuff. -Katelyn
Praxis is where theory meets community. -Emily
I felt honored to have Korean song into our performance piece and have Carla say words that were part of my stories. I was amazed when my identity, words, thoughts and feeling were shared and I felt encouraged, and blissed for everything that happened before. I truly believe that is a power of sharing and performing in theater! -Josephine
I learned that in order to be the best facilitator I can be, I need to demonstrate the strength and courage that I never thought I had. I am claiming my confidence! - Nicole
Beautiful. Simple. As I reflect on the importance of process and trust, I am grateful that we were surrounded by such a giving group of individuals who were open to go places that were out of their comfort zones. This “brave space” that we so eloquently created, allowed us to have meaningful discussions, ask important questions and create rich relationships with one another. If that is not what theatre should be about, then what is? I think back on all the situations we found ourselves in, new, uncomfortable, dangerous, fun, and I think that as future-facilitators, that is what this is about. We must be willing to open ourselves up to strange and unfamiliar territory in a non-judgmental way if we want to be able to create a “brave space” in this kind of work. We all had experience that we maybe didn’t enjoy as much as others, and hopefully those experiences allowed us to think critically about why. They allowed us to open up and ask ourselves what kind of facilitator we want to be and maybe what kind we do not want to be. If everyone loved every single thing we did, perhaps there wouldn’t be as much room to grow.
So, with that, Blog, I leave you with some pictures from the end of our time in Dublin, starting with the amazing timeline that we created!
We say adieu to these 4 who have now officially completed their masters!
We thanked the amazing Haila for being a rockstar!
Below are the beautiful blankets that our fantastically fancy facilitators received as gifts and moments of joy and happiness that we made it through this journey together. It’s been real Dublin… see ya on the flip side!
I leave you with Nan and Katelyn.
Bye Ireland! (One last selfie with the selfie stick before heading to the airport!)