Fail?

When is it time to give up on a dance? The duet with Alex and Amanda has a few nice moments already, but I am not yet excited about it. I don't think my themes are clear enough: I seem to be trying things without deciding why. To start, we have simply shared weight, alternating from Alex to Amanda. This creates a rhythmic sequence, but it gets old pretty quick. It was a metaphor for the steady rhythm and weight sharing of sex, a good place to start. I understand now that I need to change up the dynamics.

This is additionally challenging with the sheet. The sheet is a lovely idea, a clear metaphor for the bedroom, a potentially rich environment. Yet, in practice, it is heavy and awkward. The dance will need to be extremely precise to make working with this prop seamless. I think I need to start considering this a 5-minute piece, max. It will take a month just to develop a minute-long phrase!

Yet there are lovely moments. I am reluctant to give up on it so soon after starting. On the other hand, I am afraid of wasting rehearsal time. I have a hard time admitting defeat.

Maybe this is not about marriage, a huge topic with many layers. Maybe it needs to be more focused: this is about sex. This is a simple dance about one liaison, an afternoon, a moment in time.

If it does come together, we will plan to premiere it at The Kennedy Center Millenium Stage at 6pm on Wednesday March 23, 2011, free, or at Dance Place in the Washington DC/Philadelphia Exchange on Saturday July 9, 2011 at 8pm and Sunday July 10, 2011 at 7pm. The Washington DC/Philadelphia Exchange is a shared bill with Anne-Marie Mulgrew and Dancers Co out of Philly, a sister concert to the Philadelphia/Washington DC Exchange at the Painted Bride in Philadelphia, May 2010.