Sarah Bush

dance maker — musings

[sarahbushsbdp]

Sometimes people ask, “how do you notate dance?” Here’s one way. 🕊 🕊 🕊 #choreographicscore #dancenotation #storyboard #dancefilm #creativeproces #5678 #sixfootwingspan https://www.instagram.com/p/CQKNRGshuRX/?utm_medium=tumblr

[sarahbushsbdp]

From upcoming #sixfootwingspan lead artist, Sue Li Jue: At the forefront of my mind is how inspired I am to move forward in this project after seeing the photos and videos of KJ’s piece! It all came together so well and I felt the spirit of all the birds represented. That, coming just before scouting potential filming sites for me and my Black Necked Stilt! #blackneckedstilt 📸: Frances Teves Sedayao From upcoming #sixfootwingspan lead artist, Joan Lazarus: What the SBDP project has prompted in me is . . . to recognize that the dance I have created in the past year or so is actually EXACTLY what I need to excavate for the material and process I am engaged in NOW. Spontaneously blooming something new-new-new felt halting and fragmented. But when I looked back at what was coming forth over the last 14 months, I see my statement, my dance, my understanding of this time. Yes, I am inhabiting a bird, and thank goodness that bird is an observer, a watcher, a creature slow to react. My process is one of gathering, translating, and revisiting — thanks for the framework from which to fly, Sarah! #egret . . #dancefilm #birdsofinstagram #creativeprocess #collective #audubonsociety https://www.instagram.com/p/CQEbElvBdeX/?utm_medium=tumblr

[sarahbushsbdp]

I LOVE the art & practice of creative process and I extra love doing it in community and connection with other artists! I hope you’ll join me! I’m facilitating a 4-wk online workshop for writers & dancers through @creativewritingsf Wednesdays 6/9-6/30 5-8pm Pacific! No experience necessary. Scholarships available. DM for details. Registration link in bio. #writingworkshop #movementworkshop #danceworkshop #creativity #bodylanguage #poets #dancers #writers #songwriters #creativeprocess #scholarship https://www.instagram.com/p/CP08kn2hUTv/?utm_medium=tumblr

[sarahbushsbdp]

Photo and costumes by Colleen Quen. From dancer, co-creator and upcoming workshop facilitator, Sarah Bush: 🌻🌾🌞 The Western Meadowlark. Stepping into the gold and feathers, feeling beautiful as the sun catches in the coat that Colleen created for me. The Western Meadowlark for me is a traveler. They are here, where I am, in Northern California, golden in the golden grasslands of this golden state. And, they are the state bird of Nebraska, the state I was born in, the state I feel like I come from, golden fields of wheat, crops, farming. For me this bird sings across those miles, those parts of myself. So it also flies through time. I like to believe that the Western Meadowlark is the lark that Nebraska writer, Willa Cather writes about in her novels about the prairie. They sing of the call of music, of art, of creativity and creating a creative life. 🎶📝🎭 Next month, June, I’m doing something new, kind of scary, and definitely exciting! I’m facilitating a 4-week online workshop: Body Language: The Poetry of Movement through the SF Creative Writing Institute. For dancers, for writers, for anyone. No experience necessary. Wednesdays June 9th-30th, 5-8pm Pacific 🙏🏼 Thanks to a very generous SBDP donor we're able to cover the tuition for two people who would like to attend but for whom the $300 fee is a barrier. Please forward the event and offer to folks you know who might be interested. Contact me directly for scholarship details. Thank you! 💛💛💛 #sixfootwingspan #dancefilm #westernmeadowlark #audubonsociety #workshop #creativity #scholarship #golden https://www.instagram.com/p/CPuByIXBbVk/?utm_medium=tumblr

[sarahbushsbdp]

Frances Teves Sedayao. Photo by Olivia Ting, Costume by Colleen Quen. #sixfootwingspan 🖤🌳♥️ From dancer, co-creator and upcoming lead artist, Frances Teves Sedayao: I’m most looking forward to the unfolding of everyone’s projects and musings! Truly, I have excitement participating, even just listening to someone else’s movements towards a solo or small group SBDP endeavor. I am so interested, and I’m so ready in whatever way that unfolds. My excitement is that I still feel part of it and that is because of these weekly connecting/ check-ins that we do. A ‘simple’ element, but I feel is one of the most important ingredients in our work together. The co-creation (per KJ) and collaboration make our processes, to me, alive, growing, and living. 💞💞💞 #oaktreesofinstagram #redcrow #spiritrealm #blackcardinal #audubon #dancefilm #collaboration #cocreation #checkingin https://www.instagram.com/p/CPtAom0BlFg/?utm_medium=tumblr

[sarahbushsbdp]

Julianna Cressman & Richelle Donigan #darkeyedjunco #crow Costumes: Colleen Quen. Make-up: Erico Baldoviso & Hazel Rojas Davila. Photo: Frances Teves Sedayao. Collage: Julianna Cressman 🖤🖤 From dancer, co-creator, teacher and upcoming lead artist, Julianna Cressman: The magic that was walking to the Oak Tree! I am a dancer who loves all the things other than dance that happen in a creative project. I love the chatting, conversations about random things, the giggles and the laughter. I love the disclosures of hard things from one dancer to another, held safely in the container of the creative project we are embarking on. It’s my jam. And for KJ’s giant Oak Tree video that we filmed on 5/19, we got aaaaall of that, mind you, a year and some change after being in google or zoom boxes in our own homes. The walk to the Oak Tree involved a carpool drive up a steep wooded hill, that led to the entrance of a rocky trail. We slugged our stuff up to the entrance and made a right turn onto the path, and we walked. And walked. All in all a 30 minute hike. I loved talking to KJ about the Bay Area dance scene and what we think will come of it. Talking to Frances of the complexity of love and what our relationships teach us. Meeting a new friend (yes NEW!), Aleksey, the drone operator, who I learned took his son Konstantin to Burning Man where he learned to ride a bike for the first time. The trek was long, felt long for our out of shape dancer bodies (Really, I am speaking for myself). But in that long walk I felt the swirl that happens when we meet, in person, as people and as creative beings. A closeness, a giddiness, an energy. So refreshing and nurturing. We made it to the Oak Tree rejoined, repatched into our grid. ready to dance our birds onto the old grandmother Oak Tree. 💞🌳💞 Sign-up for Julianna's Jazz Soul class! Sundays 6:30-7:30pm at CityDance SF #sixfootwingspan #dancefilm #audubonsociety https://www.instagram.com/p/CPrPynIB4fS/?utm_medium=tumblr

[sarahbushsbdp]

From dancer, co-creator and current lead artist, KJ Dahlaw: I experienced this incredible thing with SBDP this past month! I had fallen in love with a big Oak tree in my neighborhood and while hanging out in its limbs, I had a vision of creating a #sixfootwingspan dance film in its branches. The ideas fell out of me with ease, supported as I was upon a big, trusty limb and I went home and wrote up a proposal. Sarah Bush Dance Project has been de-centralizing their practice and is supporting us artists to follow our own ideas, visions and dances that we want to make. As a dance maker, I know how much work goes into any single project. What was stunning to me was the ease in which this project unfolded. I brought forth an idea and then suddenly we had a team of artists working together with all our diverse talents and offerings, bringing my vision to life. It was a marvelous gift. Co-creation happened. Co-creation with artists, dancers, designers, videographers, birds, lizards, creatures of all kinds, plants, and one great, mighty Oak Tree. 🌳Link in bio to read more... #sixfootwingspan #dancefilm #audubonsociety #audubon #audubonca #oaktree #oaktreesofinstagram https://www.instagram.com/p/CPlMrg9Bsa9/?utm_medium=tumblr

[sarahbushsbdp]

#joy THE BEST CREW!!! . So grateful to be creating with these incredible artists. 💞💞💞 Thank you dear amazing tree, thank you birds and bugs, thank you #sixfootwingspan . #gratitude #couture #coutureinthewoods #colleenquen #dancefilm #featherfreefashion #audubon #oaktree https://www.instagram.com/p/CPFXm7OBtSb/?utm_medium=tumblr

[sarahbushsbdp]

🚨New Workshop Alert 🚨 Check out Body Language: Poetry of Movement. *For Writers & Dancers* Featuring Bay Area dancer, choreographer and writer, Sarah Bush! @sarahbushdance After a year or more at home, more time at the computer, with less touch and physical contact with others, let’s get back into our bodies. This new online workshop is specially designed for both writers and dancers. Artists will be guided through exercises to tune in to each of the senses, to practice articulating physical and emotional sensations in spoken and written and embodied language. Participants will be asked to work solo and in partnership with others to create material over the course of the 4 weeks, culminating in an optional public performance. Both a poetry and performance workshop, this collaboration between movement and writing will breathe new life into your work and foster cross-pollination and a fresh and interesting synergy. #poetryworkshop #dance #poetry #poetryandmovement #dancersofinstagram #poetsofinstagram #writersofinstagram #writingandmovement. Link in @creativewritingsf bio. Original photo by Lisa Harding https://www.instagram.com/p/CO_a_eJBZoN/?utm_medium=tumblr

[sarahbushsbdp]

Um, you guyz... the costumes have designer LABELS (!!) and they’re GORGEOUS... #couture 🪶🪶🪶 #grateful #lucky #artists #community #collective #sixfootwingspan #birdography #birdcouture #featherfreefashion #audubonsociety #audubon #audubonca https://www.instagram.com/p/CO_KHjchnhK/?igshid=1c1iug3iodkda

[sarahbushsbdp]

Body Language workshop for dancers and writers, National Women’s Music Festival screening of Spirit & Bones ..... The sixfootwingspan artist flock is in pre-production mode, making costumes, composing and rehearsing in preparation for filming our next series of short film projects. It’s an energizing, creative time! In the meantime, below are 3 very exciting announcements: Videos to stream! Workshops to take! A screening of a full SBDP performance in a festival! ..... NOW STREAMING Year Gone By video release and Q&A w/ Sarah & musician Katie Cash Thanks for joining us for the premiere! If you missed it, or just wanna watch it 5 more times, or share it with your friends… the 5 minute music video is now on YouTube! So is the Q&A discussion facilitated by Waxsimile Records’ Briget Boyle to hear about Katie & Sarah’s creative process. ..... MARK YOUR CALENDAR Body Language workshop for dancers and writers Wednesday evenings in June Sarah will be teaching a 4-week public workshop through the SF Creative Writing Institute 5-8pm Pacific 6/9, 6/16, 6/23, 6/30 Check back for registration and details! ..... SBDP’s Spirit & Bones at (virtual) National Women’s Music Festival on July 4th! Explore the June 30th – July 4th AWESOME line-up of performers and check out the festival passes! ..... #sixfootwingspan #yeargoneby #gifthorse #katiecashmusic #musicvideo #waxsimileproductions #newmusic #queermusic #newvideo #creativeprocess #spiritandbones #nationalwomensmusicfestival #nwmf #4thofjuly #sfcreativewritinginstitute https://www.instagram.com/p/CO8JRU7B83N/?igshid=jhyadi363yrk

[sarahbushsbdp]

Desert Arting, Sound Bathing, Bird Spotting, Sky Gazing 🌵🏜🕊🌌 with Joan #desertx #sunnylands #eduardosarabia #integratron #egret https://www.instagram.com/p/COzUtmLhRA8/?igshid=iztxo803e43x

[sarahbushsbdp]

Arting with Dancing Friend @dancerdawn7 #desertx #kimstringfellow #sunnylands #viviansuter #nicholasgalanin #alicjakwade #grateful (at Desert X 2021) https://www.instagram.com/p/COsygGbBcLz/?igshid=1wz0f487p90mo

[sarahbushsbdp]

#dancingwithfriends #sixfootwingspan #getoutside #outdoordancing #danceontherocks #wings #joy Dancers: @fsedayao @makingitso @sarahbushdance #cormorants #coots #gulls Photos: @fsedayao 💗🙏🏼💞 #lakemerritt #birdsanctuary #audubon #audubonsociety #audubonca https://www.instagram.com/p/CNNuLJMhA9P/?igshid=a3qrc5q02pc

[sarahbushsbdp]

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I’m grateful to be a dancer, with this opportunity to process emotions through my body, to continue to learn more about myself and others through art-making. Our second day of filming culminated in the adrenaline rush of walking into the chilly waters of the Bay. I had prepared for and anticipated the cold, the unknowns of the depth and texture of the ground below my increasingly weightless feet. What I did not anticipate was the peace, the steady strength of forward motion I would find, the sense of ritual, the power of emerging, and then, numb to the cold, the urge to twirl, hair flinging, shedding droplets of water from my body like scales, like skin, like armor. Shout out to @thesurfterp for her knowledge of the tides, for knowing this was the spot, for being right there on the shore with her brilliant warming station. 💗 Join @katie_cash_music @waxsimileproductions @brigetsongs and me for tonight’s premiere and Q&A! Wed 3/31 6pm Pacific https://www.katiecashmusic.com/yeargonebyvideo Footage in this video from @stmartinlynne & @katie_cash_music #yeargoneby #katiecash #katiecashmusic #gifthorse #newmusicvideo #waxsimileproductions #robotofliberty #withalotofhelpfrommyfriends #notesnjokes 🤖🗽🐸💵 https://www.instagram.com/p/CNFytXqh9QP/?igshid=42xqidqexz3

[sarahbushsbdp]

When I described the visual images and storyline that came to me for her song Year Gone By, Katie said it gave her chills and she was 100% onboard with bringing it to life. Cinematographer Sara St Martin Lynne joined the team as our third co-director and with editor Steve Holloway, stylist Margaret Bolton Grace, and loads of generous supportive friends, in February we made the whole thing in basically two weeks. Join Katie Cash, Briget Boyle & me for the premiere and Q&A on Wednesday 3/31 6pm Pacific: https://www.katiecashmusic.com/yeargonebyvideo 📸: @katie_cash_music 📸: @thesurfterp #yeargoneby #gifthorse #thankyou #notesnjokes #newmusicvideo #dancefilm #withalottahelpfromourfriends #icantrideaskateboard #katiecashmusic #waxsimileproductions #brigetboyle #thatsawrap #justafewmorenotes #longercrossfade https://www.instagram.com/p/CNBxyNHhg4i/?igshid=a1wfxa3fgk1q

[sarahbushsbdp]

Last November Katie proposed, “If you could make a video for any song on my Gift Horse album, which song would it be?” (!!) I paced my house and yard, my headphones filling my head with her music. Listening to Year Gone By, I got choked up. My body started to move, to tense and release, to cry. In her lyrics and the swelling instrumentation, I heard and felt the loss, the growth, the frustration, the rage, the hope that had been living in my body through the pandemic. The song seemed to fully capture both the range of emotions and the surrealness of pandemic time and space. I easily saw in my mind the worlds and journey this solitary character would go through. Reflection. Nostalgia. Confrontation. Fresh air. #YearGoneBy Tune-in to the premiere and join in Q&A with the artists! Wed 3/31 6pm Pacific https://www.katiecashmusic.com/yeargonebyvideo 🎥: @stmartinlynne 📸: @katie_cash_music #katiecash #waxsimileproductions #musicvideo #notesnjokes #allthefeels #dancefilm #gifthorse #creativeprocess #collaboration https://www.instagram.com/p/CM_Cur9BCd4/?igshid=1aqfnuy18aucy