#fwt2015

[ammonsfwt-blog]

Final Reflection

There is so much to learn, and not enough time to learn it all. Between indulging in reading for pleasure, taking an amazing schedule of movement classes, and feeling at home in the professional world, it isn't easy returning back to Bennington for my final term. Like my previous Field Work Terms, it seems that by six weeks it feels like home, and shortly after I'm picking up to move on again. This transience has been healthy, however, because each year I have been able to craft my experience to something closer to what I dream about. For many reasons, I believe I really struck the perfect balance this year. But, all I want to do in reflection is rave about my amazing supervisors and all of the incredible members of Bandaloop as a tiny Oakland non-profit dance company. 

[ammonsfwt-blog]

Work on the wall

[radical-librarian101]

Sixth week with one left to go!

As FWT is ending and New Orleans is going Mardi Gras crazy, my adrenalin is pumping and I'm excited to head back to Bennington. With still a good bit of books left in my trunk, we've had an increase of pop-up sites. Having people look around and ask about the books has been a much less stressful and more social interaction. I've read through enough of them to form opinions and give a little background info to anyone interested. Many of the publishers and creators of the books and zines are connected to the Iron Rail either for literary, anarchist or social justice contributions to the local, regional and national communities. During the last meeting, the entire hour was dedicated to a discussion of what the Iron Rail will be when the new building is up. From the essentials of defining a collective, to the very knit picky details of the decision making process, all the members gave their input to make the most accurate and informative document possible. Who knew anarchism was so complex?! Actually, I enjoyed being there for that very important discussion. For some odd reason, I really dwell in administrative work, especially the meticulous paperwork. Librarians do more that just read books all day. To truly take full advantage of my "librarian" role, I've been working on building a database of past, current and hopefully future interested members complete with all their updated contacts so we can best utilize them for the renovations.

[ammonsfwt-blog]

A little floor ditty in class at Bandaloop

[ammonsfwt-blog]

Time Flies and so do Maggies (Episode 6)

My second to last week with Bandaloop is drawing to a close and I am definitely feeling the time crunch, as well as the bitter sweet sense of things ending. This week was packed, once again, with exciting events. We hosted an open rehearsal on the Great Wall of Oakland (GWO) for Bandaloop’s Public Canvas project. The rehearsal doubles as a film/photo shoot for the California Tourism Board, and we literally rolled out the red carpet for the film crew and a few other guests. It is so amazing to see to observe how the material generated in the studio translates onto the GWO.  The company is working with a new counterbalance system that has introduced a new level of dynamics to their material. Previously, most of their movement was restricted to a horizontal plane on the vertical surface. However, using a closed shiv system, dancers can propel each other through the vertical space. I can’t wait to see what else they discover on this system. The physical intelligence of the company members is mesmerizing. I am building an even greater appreciation for the beautiful work they do now that I have spent a few short hours in a harness myself. For those of you who will be in the area, I highly recommend checking out this new project. It is gearing up to be a fantastic show. (check out what Bandaloop is up to here: http://bandaloop.org/blog/)

The other highlight for the week was this weekend’s Winter Workshop at the Bandaloop Studio in west Oakland. I am so grateful that I was allowed to participate, and despite a few more gnarly harness bruises, I am completely hooked on the form. I’ve stated to explore pulling flips and jumps while running in a pendulum (it is exactly what it sounds like). you have to relax into the tidal pulse running back and forth along the wall and jump at just the right moment to lift off and fly. It feels fantastic. I’ve learned quickly that you have to loose yourself in the enjoyment of working on the wall. If you start getting into your head, or over analyzing the movement, it immediately becomes a struggle and you put yourself in a position to crash. you have to give into the flow of gravity in a new way. Regardless of whether I continue to do this kind of aerial work, I have learned invaluable lessons about my alignment, about degrees of physical effort, and especially about letting go. One of my teachers at the workshop summed it up for me when she explained, “it is all about relaxing what you can.” Ultimately, I think this applies to all aspects of life.

[ammonsfwt-blog]

California Dreaming open rehearsal and film shoot

[ammonsfwt-blog]

Rocket Hub mailing complete

[ammonsfwt-blog]

Mass Mailing and Harness Bruises (Episode 5)

There is clearly something magical about snail mail. It is baffling to me that you can go to a tiny office, wait in line for one hour, have a strained conversation with a disgruntled government employee, and your mail will miraculously arrive at its destination a week later. I have a newfound appreciation for the complexity, and magnitude, of the US postal service. It seems so inconsequential when you mail one letter or even ten letters at a time. When you send out 75 bubble wrap envelope packages, you suddenly have to reconcile the shear size of this organizational nightmare. There is also no comparable feeling to the relief of finishing a large-scale mailing project. I don’t want to see another envelope, peel another stamp, or fold another letter for at least a month. But all and all it isn’t the worst thing that I’ve ever done, and the tedium actually provides ample time for meditation.  It also feels great to have a concrete representation of hours of work, and to successfully complete Bandaloop’s Rocket Hub campaign.

In other news, Bandaloop’s winter weekly series has started.  While I’m sporting the latest in tender harness bruises, I’m also high on the thrill of thwarting gravity. We’ve worked on the climbing wall, harnessless. This has sparked several ideas for bouldering routes as choreography (look out rec barn!)  We’ve danced on the trampoline wall, and the hard wall, in the studio. All I can say is that I desperately want more. And finally we’ve done some work with “low flying” which is possibly the most exciting thing so far. I am soaking up the freedom of having all the agency and articulation of having my feet on the floor, but the support of a harness to challenge the normal limitations of momentum.  I can’t wait to continue to explore this new relationship to inertia, especially when it comes to turning upside down. Floor work now has a whole new meaning!