Maureen Freehill Butoh Dance

SOMA ~ Sanctuary Of Moving Arts ~ SONGS

noreply@blogger.com (author and host maureen freehill) — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 18:05:00 +0000

Voice and song are the newest conscious layers to my DailyDance practice at Butopia. This month I entered the space of SOMA (Sanctuary of Moving Arts) and/or the LAND here at Butopia to deepen my relationship and understanding of our plant relatives. The trees have been especially strong. Alder, Douglas Fir, Maple, Cedar, Madrona and Yew have all shown up to dance and sing with me during December. Today Aloe Vera and Sea Vegetables guided a student and I to learn more of the feminine/yin way of being in the body; with dance & voice. New songs and dances have emerged and always my deepest prayers, pains and joys of my heart are illuminated and given guidance. Whatever is "up" on a given day I can bring it into the Sanctuary of WildLife and ask plant relatives for witness and support. The two videos here reveal a peek into of what came to pass.
I have committed to many practices this year related to nurturing the WildLife Sanctuary here. My foundational practice consists simply of setting aside all the ToDo lists of life, all electronic communication devices and social engagements and going to practice on the LAND for 1 or more hours each day. I have never had a consistent PLACE of my own that is available 24/7 to support and uphold my butoh practice and Embodied Art journey. It is a dream come true that simply requires my embodied attention and presence and in return, I am healed. I receive songs, dances, insights, answered prayers, beauty beyond measure, deep connections with the heart & soul of myself & others. I am so grateful and humbled by this gift.
Still, there are days that are cold, there are resistances inside and out, there are distractions and pulls that I occasionally do allow to keep me from receiving this gift. Having YOU to witness and join me in this process gives me the strength to delve into that fathomless mystery of my body & soul. It supports me to follow my true nature and set aside the blaring never-ending drone of industrial-socio-economic conditioning that says: "don't let go" "there is nothing for you there" "who do you think you are?!" "that is dangerous, stupid & crazy" and all sorts of other negative messages preventing a life of DANCING (and singing) FREELY.
Thank you for your company, thank you for your witnessing, your love and your own commitment to showing up. See you in the Sanctuary. Thank you for reading, watching, subscribing and following our collaborative blog. If you feel called, connecting directly with me to explore whether this type of Embodied Arts practice might be something for you. MomoButoh Dance Company members and myself are always happy to welcome new community members. Sanctuary Songs http://youtu.be/qcw5ImP3uUM Wood Songs in SOMA http://youtu.be/0Nh7__cU7so

Significant Plants & Animals

noreply@blogger.com (author and host maureen freehill) — Sun, 12 Jun 2011 06:11:00 +0000

"Make me sweet again

Fragrant and wild

And thankful

For any small thing."

-Rumi

Our current theme is Plants & Animals so MomoButoh practice partner Patricia and I vowed to engage at least one Significant Plant &/or Animal relative each day in a butoh dance exchange. So far, so good. We have engaged with trees, humans, sticks, roots, snails, flowers, anemones, herons, whales and spiders among others. Each relative has a message, a gift, a challenge to share. Each evokes a unique dance from us. Snail/Slug moved SO slowly and was SO extremely sensitive to my presence and every move. I've been especially interested in how one relative introduces and leads to another. For example, today when I was dancing with a purple Azalea, a black & white spider dangled along and joined us too. Azalea wanted her old dry blossoms scratched off to make more space for the bright fragrant fresh ones. Spider was reminding me of my grandmothers. Then the Rhodie next door wanted to be included as well asking for some root food. This led us to a great action of making an entire new vegetable garden and planting a tree in our yard, all in 24 hours in pouring rain. Those plant relatives sure are strong motivation coaches!

Sometimes these SOs have mysterious synchrony & connections. One day, while dancing with with some seaweed resting on a large stone. I inadvertently sent a Great Blue Heron into flight, which in turn led me to finding a beautiful rock with "1111" unmistakably inscribed on it. I came home to communications from company members and it turns out GBHs are communicating among our MomoButoh members all over the place this week. Carolyn, who is in Florida said they are showing up by her daily, Patricia was stalked by one in Vancouver, BC, Misty Hannah (who is stepping away from the company toward other activities now) sees one regularly in her neighborhood in County Cork, Ireland. One showed up in a student's drawing yesterday, without conscious intention or prompting from me, after her butoh exploration of 4 senses: One-der, Touch, Life & Movement.

We are all relatives, all connected and in this web of dynamic exchange and if we listen, each being has a great deal to share with us. A daily Significant Other butoh practice helps to awaken consciousness & connection with abundant allies and friends each offering unique resources to inspire soulful life/art.

These films are from recent dances with Plant & Animal relatives whale & alder tree roots, lawn grass, anemone, barnacle, cottonwood and cacti....What better way to get acquainted? With other, with self, with all creation...all our relations.

Apologies for the immense backlog of dances & films. I have been scrambling to catch up; processing and posting them in "chunks." Thank you for witnessing and sharing your reflections through your comments below.

http://youtu.be/JU2ca8rwpgA

http://youtu.be/ulPOe-zlNvc

http://youtu.be/ZRDNy1z2Ks4

http://youtu.be/p-ng0CKsBmM

http://youtu.be/rN-6IndxYu4

http://youtu.be/KQRgtBIhkHE

Dreams of Seasons Passed

noreply@blogger.com (author and host maureen freehill) — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 06:11:00 +0000

This post is dedicated to this dreamy dancing life and some key performances that have arisen from soul, imagination and sensation during the past 5 moons (except Memorial Dance which was a homage to WW II veteran Kazuo Ohno presented on 5/31/10 with live video released publicly on 6/1/11 in memory of sensei's passing 1 year ago).

Memorial Dance was performed at Langley Middle School as part of the poetry of veterans shared for VRC Annual Memorial Day Tribute event.

http://youtu.be/nwQETuSnTbU

People Get Ready was an improv performance offering by facilitators Melinda Harrison and Maureen Freehill, to close the Significant Other butoh & LifeArt Mastery workshop at NatureMoves studio in Boulder. Music is Vanilla Fudge's "People Get Ready."

http://vimeo.com/24731981
Significant Others Final Dance Offerings: Meha & Momo
Cottonwood Sunrise was a dancing gift after the Significant Other workshop in Boulder, CO offered by WilderDancer Christine Palafox. A homage to sunrise and the presence of her neighborhood cottonwood tree. David Harrison accompanied, we danced and she directed the score. Camera by John Lorette & Momo. The full piece is included here to get a sense of actual sunrise time/light shifts.

http://youtu.be/ZFxqaJSYBcQ

Lady of the Lake on MayDay was an event directed by accordion player Jason Webley for one of his four "death rememberings" on cross-quarter days in 2011; leading to a culminating performance on 11/11/11. Only participants in these events will discover the location of a final performance on 11/11/11. This dance happened on MayDay eve on Boat Street in Seattle from 11:11pm till late into the night during about 11 trips as about 11 passengers headed out on a 100 year old boat to drink and offer healing medicine tea into the lake. Maureen was the "Lady in White" while Rick was "St. Joan's" captain and Lee Atwell filmed.

http://youtu.be/FkSYgoiciz8

Hitobashira is a piece that Maureen has been creating since 2001 with imagery from Japanese history stating that human sacrifices/suicides were common when building bridges or castles or when lovers were wanting to be together for eternity. Most commonly the accompaniment is a score composed by sound artist Pamela Z specifically for this piece. This performance was at 11:11 on 3/11/11, the morning of the Japanese tsunami and improvised with dancer Delisa Myles under a bridge in the snow melt in Prescott, AZ. Camera by John Lorette.

http://youtu.be/PyS3oXjNZQQ

Dream Lake was a solo piece in Rocky Mountain National Park at an alpine lake of that name. Filmed by Momo & Richard Shane.

http://youtu.be/rDLfpTMbhms

Still Moment(s) Rising is a edit mash-up of 3 different performances of the same short piece about a spring shoot rising from the cold ground into the sunlight. One is at Unitarian Universalist in Freeland, Wa; one at Unity Church in Langley, Wa and one at BeBe Theater in Asheville NC for the Fools Butoh Festival there in April.

http://youtu.be/He2Xm3504Ms

Thank you all for watching and offering reflections below. The spaces for the Somatic Building Internships are steadily filling. Contact Momo soon if you are interested in joining us sometime this summer. It is so wonderful here....a dream coming true!

a clearing

noreply@blogger.com (author and host maureen freehill) — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 18:11:00 +0000

"For a dancer, God is SPACE." -Yoshito Ohno

Before there can be anything, there must be a clearing. In this clearing a11 creation is possible. This is true for butoh as it is for life. We may have tried and tried to "make" something happen and then one day; one moment, it just was clear.

The gratitude I feel for finally beginning to realize this 20+ year dream of creating a butoh dance sanctuary is immense. It is barely beginning to manifest and already I feel clear what will come forth here. First, a clearing...then a calling...then a blessing & seeding....then a team building & sweating & working & playing....then a grand opening.....then an entering...then a being, creating, dancing, improvising, growing, moving, blossoming! Just like for a flower, this spring ground is being prepared for a spacial mandala of sacred geometry filled with dance & community to grow up, flower and offer its fruits here.

But, amidst the celebration let us not forget the LOSS....of life. The sacrifice of plants & animals here so that this vision might come forth. The feelings are mixed here of such joy, excitement and gratitude with remorse, compassion, tenderness and asking forgiveness from these relatives who's lives are being changed, and in some cases ended, because of our dream coming true. Beloved relatives, we care and thank you for your offerings and for allowing this clearing to be made. We will continue to converse with you as we dance here for a long time to come.

There will be a SEEDING ceremony and celebration here the first week of May. This is always a most special week for me because in my family, most all of us were born in this week and in Japan it is always the "Golden Week" holidays. Now it will also be the time when we will thank all who made this possible (including YOU) and SEEDs of blessing will be planted in the central foundation pi11ar for this space. Although this 11-sided dance & retreat space is designed to be totally portable, this first location is very significant. The seeds we place here in this 7-sided pi11ar ("Bashira" in Japanese) will become a time capsule of sorts that can be hatched again some generations in the future to reveal the qualities we held as ancestors. What will the world be like then? Will our butoh have made a difference?

I know there will be gifts in there from my forbears & the "roots" of butoh: Kazuo Ohno, Yoshito and the land of Japan itself. I know there will be objects and blessings from my fellow dancers, closest family and friends as well as many students and members of our company. If YOU feel called to include an object of blessing, a SEED; please let me know and I will tell you the address to mail it...or better yet, to come plant it yourself in person!

ALSO: Contact Momo asap if you are interested in joining our Somatic Building Site Butoh workshop for one or more of 9 weekends between Memorial Day & October 9th....Please consider joining us at the MomoButoh Somatic Building Site (ala work of Nala Walla & bCollective). Build sweat equity and learn mad ski11s with a superFUN team and master craftsman. Interns get FREE butoh & building instruction, all organic vegetarian meals, accommodations and bodywork on beautiful Whidbey Island. Spaces filling fast--only 4 left for Memorial Day weekend.

So, this dance comes between the April DREAM Project and the May PLANTS & ANIMALS project--addressing them both.

http://youtu.be/VMByXCNxiE0

music: Ursula Keiser, Jodlerklub Eglisau

Thank you for watching our films, for your comments and for following our blog. If you like this work, please like us onFacebook & follow us on Twitter for most current info!

Looking Back to Love

noreply@blogger.com (author and host maureen freehill) — Sat, 16 Apr 2011 06:11:00 +0000

The past is like a dream...amazing how with photos & video records we can travel back to re-experience past as NOW. I have held these image relics, memories of past loves from our MomoButoh theme for Feb 2011. For months they awaited their time to be consumed as food for the eyes, heart and mind. Perhaps they have been fermenting or ripening like the apple cider vinegar & sauerkraut I have been making a lot of recently. It is a way of culture. Perhaps this time allows a more cultured perspective on these love dances, allowing their more complete digestion and assimilation. Or maybe it is just a way of nostalgia to look back with adoration. Please watch and see if it feels like NOW or THEN... or as if in a dream to you.

One thing for sure...the baby who was in Nala Walla's womb THEN has NOW emerged through a powerful rite of breach home birth passage and is a beautiful little boy named Montana! That is certainly a blessed dream come true. Soon I will be sharing a bunch more about Nala and her consultations in EcoSomatics, Somatic Job Site & Team building that we will be integrating when collaboratively crafting the new 11-sided MomoButoh Dance & Retreat Center...yet another dream-come-true in the making.

If you are interested in participating in this summer residential life/work/dance internship on the land, please contact me soon to apply. We are now accepting applications and expect the 6 positions to fill quickly.

For now, let's peer into the dreamy past and witness "Blessing Way Love for Nala Walla" film here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ODsoGQbHfp0

Earlier that day, I was dancing in a rapture with the WIND on the ferry toward Port Townsend. This is the video memory of ThaT dance SO Long aGO: http://youtu.be/BJz2HuxuEnw

"So Long Wind" to music by Davendra...

For the love of it, I have now moved to a new home on the land where we will be doing butoh & building training. This video was from one of the last days spent in my beloved apartment where I enjoyed hanging from the rafters. It is a dance of remembering self-love by dancing & asking the questions: "How can I love myself more? How can I be even MORE loving?" E11even is everlovin' number ONE!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGZIu6V-shl

Open Letter to MomoButoh Company with SE USA Tour News/Photos/Video

noreply@blogger.com (author and host maureen freehill) — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 06:11:00 +0000

(NOTE: This POST began as a personal email letter to our MomoButoh Company Members only but then I thought--why not share it on our BLOG to reveal more of our inner workings to everyone who cares to witness--or maybe join us.)

Dear MomoButoh Dream Clan,

We have a date eh?

There is SO much to share!

A dream date….a date and time to share our dances, dreams, feelings, ideas, actions, intentions…..

Please come if you can to SKYPE together for our once moony conference conversation call at 10 AM PST, 11AM MST, 12 noon EST on Saturday April 23….all together now & then!

The subject will again be our dreams and visions as they relate to our butoh dance paths.

This has been a trippy time to say the least, especially with mercury retrograde….Have you been noticing an unusually high number of quirky mis-communications and techno or directional glitches? Carolyn and I certainly have as we made our way along through the maze of the southeast USA highway/byway and university academia systems. Thank goodness that April 23 is supposedly the last day of that adventure.

I feel a new wave of members about to join us….perhaps. We met and made very strong connections with a great deal of enthusiastic dancers in Florida & N. Carolina.

I think that Patricia is the only one who (sadly :-( ) can not make it for the call this time round. I will be calling folks so if you will NOT be available or will need to join us late, please let me know asap. THANKS!

Otherwise, lets arrange for our various one to one session times by Skype or in person soon. Please let me know what day/time would suit you. Now that I am back from the tour, my time is a bit more open and flexible. I will (with Lee as well) be in "moon time" from April 16-19 so that is not avail.

This moon….

Im holding prayers especially for Meha/David and their Daughter's family as she prepares to birth any day now….for Carolyn as she continues on to her not yet known living/working/life arrangement…..for John and I as we break ground and start building the FLOOR of the new MomoButoh Dance & Retreat Center…..for our non-human relations as they grapple with human created toxic stresses…..for all of us as we do our best to mitigate the effects of radiation and other poisons as well as set our sights on UNITY and BALANCE and LOVE among all beings on this planet and beyond.

TODAY (as i write) 4/12/11 is called a VICTORY DAY in the Vedic Calendar. Today is also Carolyn's Birthday….It was an honor and pleasure to share this time with her culminating in her solar return radiance today. Please remember her in your wishes. AND since it is a VICTORY DAY it is an especially good day to START NEW PROJECTS OR SET GOALS/WISHES FOR THIS YEAR. Carolyn and I stated new intentions over a birthday lunch. All you need to do is write or say the thing you want to begin today and it will be blessed and given extra added juice for fruition! neat!!

I spoke the following (among a couple other things) and thank you for bearing witness:

I Maureen Momo C Pemesal Freehill declare that:

1. The MomoButoh Dance & Retreat Center building project will be beautiful & OPEN for practice by 11/11/11.

2. At which time MomoButoh & all us "11s" will CELEBRATE the great success of co-creating in love, unity and balance a Year of Co11aboration & dancing with ALL our relations….in the space AND at Mile 11 AND at 2K seat Theater in Seattle.

Now that this great wave of touring is subsiding, i have strong wish & intention to POST the past months dances, images, stories, lessons on our BLOG. I apologize that it has taken so long and thank those of you who have continued to post when you can ….YOU make it possible to keep the flow and mutual support of our company alive! Great bow of BIG gratitude! If feels right to be moving out of being main focal point of sharing work and revealing the fu11 CIRCLE of a11 our mutual creativity, support and leadership. I want this to be the way more teams and companies function everywhere. Each of us has a vital part of the WHOLE intelligence to contribute.

Also I will be sending out a general invitation to all who have expressed interest in residential butoh training/internships and/or the building project. We will be accepting 6 "interns" over a total of NNE work party weekends over a 6 month period from late MAY- mid OCTOBER. People who want to join will reply to these questions:

What dates do you want to join us?

Open Work/Dance Party Weekends are as follows:

May 28-29.... June 4-5 & 25-26....July 9-10....August 27-28.....Sept 3-4 & 24-25.....Oct 1-2 & 8-9

Why do you want to join us for this project?

What dance movement and/or building/construction experience do you have? (none needed)

Do you have any special needs or limitations for accommodation, food, physical activity that will help us to support your participation in this project?

I invite all of our members to answer these questions too…..soon please if you want to be included as one of "the 6."

our 11/11/11 time will include an OPENING BLESSING and FIRST DANCE ceremony in the space. (It might be the day before/after depending on the actual 11/11/11 time schedule availability)

OK, I think that is enough said for now. Thank you for reading, keeping in touch and dancing freely. MOre soON….Love to you a11, mOMo….

PHOTOS & Video FROM MOMOBUTOH SOUTHEAST USA TOUR 2011

with HUGE gratitude to A11 who we encountered along the way.....Domo Arigato Gozaimasu...O Tsukare Sama Deshita!

by momo & carolyn:

Our Charriot: "Coro11a Masa" with Siesta Key Parking Fairy.

Delicious Movement..."Touch/One-Der/Water" on Siesta Key beach.

"DailyDance: A Life of Butoh" workshop at Asheville, NC BeBe Theater April Fool's Butoh Festival 2011. Below MomoButoh's "Spring Tryptic" at Festival Closing.
Momo performs "Still Mo-ment Rising" at April Fool's Butoh Festival closing night.

Momo performs "Hitobashira" at April Fool's Butoh Festival closing. Video below.
Carolyn Boucher, Sheri Brown, Bob Lyness & Momo perform "Flower Child."

"Touch/One-der/Water" MomoButoh Workshop in Greenville, NC at Jnana's Home Movement Studio.
"Hitobashira" Choreography Workshop with MomoButoh in the "ARK" with Duke U. dance dept. students and Keval K. Khalsa.
Close encounter with dear GBH at Duke's botanical gardens pond.

"Hitobashira" sound score by Pamela Z . Camera: Carolyn Boucher.

Watch here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_kJXcuVLmUk

Tent City: Dancing on Edge

noreply@blogger.com (author and host maureen freehill) — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 19:14:00 +0000

Tent City Residents rest & read in rain.

Main Security Gard Cynthia on duty and in her tent "Cyn's Den"

Craig & Sandy Mitchell's happy "Personal" tent.

Seattle poet AK Mimi Allin became a "self-designated" artist in residence at Tent City last November. See her excellent blog about it here: http://tiny.cc/xeyl6). From what I gathered, she committed to live and work for 2-3 months at Tent City's current location in Lake City area. I was very interested to connect with her, find out more about the experience the lifeSTYLE at this unique place. I invited photographer Rex Hohlbein to join me because he has an ongoing project of photographing Seattle's homeless people already under way.

We arrived and introduced ourselves as looking for Mimi. She was not there but we were invited to leave her a note. Everyone was initially kind and smiling but I also felt underlying tension, worry and concern. This more clearly unfolded as we remained to get acquainted for the next few hours. We were told that if Mimi did not return by X-hour today, she could loose her tent space. And, that her space was a special exception because all women were supposed to stay in the group tent for X-days before getting the privilege of a personal tent. There seemed to be some disagreement about whether her case as "artist-in-residence" was "fair." We asked permission to take some photos (only with permission for each one), look around (only with security escort guiding us), and dance (only in designated specific area).

This is a dwelling place for homeless people who "qualify." I say that because they run quite a tight ship here so it is not for the feint of energy or commitment. Tent dwellers must "check in" at least once every 3 days

lest they loose their space/home again. There are strict rules of conduct such as:
No letting the honey bucket doors slam
No profanity
No loitering

No littering

No smoking in the neighborhood

No smoking in your tent

No open flames

No parking within two blocks of camp
No pick-ups or drop-offs at camp
No spitting
No alcohol
No drugs
No walking in the planters
No eating in the kitchen tent
No going anywhere near the host church
No contact with the shelter in the church basement
No going into the

donations tent after hours
No going into the pantry
No extra blankets
No hoarding clothing
No trespassing
No men in women's tents

No women in men's tents
No anyone in anyone's tent (except your own)

No threats

No violence

No degrading ethnic or homophobic remarks
No missing a meeting
You must disinfect your hands before entering the kitchen tent
You must post a name on your tent
Smoking in designated areas only

(From AK mimi allin's blog http://tiny.cc/xeyl6)
All of these can also lead to loss of one's space if there are

enough "infractions." I imagine how tough it is already and then the added rules must make it really tough just to survive here....or anywhere. Everyone we spoke with was kind and forthright in answering our questions and had a pretty serious health problem that seemed to be the main "reason" they were here. I highly recommend you read AK mimi allin's excellent blog article about her life/artist residency here. It is very informative. I feel we all should know about how this lifestyle "works" and how close it is to home.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FafhL8Iotbs

music: Antony & The Johnsons "Another World"

Since this was part of the MomoButoh explorations in The STYLES, Rex and I were here to immerse and respond aesthetically through camera lens & dancing body. They only allowed me to dance in a limited space in front of the Port-O-Pottys where every move could be scrutinized as acceptable or not by the security guard on duty. This was the most careful and attentive audience I can every remember having. My dance felt like riding an ambiguous edge with fear of doing something wrong at any moment, rebellious teasing on the edge of acceptability, edgy anger at the limitations on freedom, heartfelt pain and compassion at seeing the hard conditions and suffering of my fellow humans. Along with that was a profound respect and awe with those who chose to make this work for them; the sense of humor they shared and the pride they had with their jobs and their tents. We were welcomed to view inside two of them--which may have broken the rules--in a way that was more generous than I have felt in any other home place I come to visit unannounced. Along with this, I felt a surrendered acceptance to lighten the load of it all and such gratitude for the privilege of being free to go back to a warm safe home after this visit.

Photos by Rex Hohlbein.

Tough LOVE in the Gravel

noreply@blogger.com (author and host maureen freehill) — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 07:11:00 +0000

Creative co11aboration is one of my favorite and most beloved activities. My entire being feels stimulated, nourished and enlivened when a juicy artful exchange is happening! It is a form of lovemaking that I will allow time for whenever I can, especially with other artists who I admire. Photographer Rex Hohlbein is one of those special co-creators that I feel very lucky to have met and grateful to work with for the past year. Even with a super full work schedule, he will drop it for a creative "date" when I have time to come over to Seattle. Sometimes we have a plan of where to go, others not.

This time, since our MomoButoh "theme" for February is Love & Family; I said I was "looking for LOVE" and places that would inspire it in the dance and imagery. He said he had a place that really excited him in mind. Since he was pressed for time and it was only a block from the office, we should check it out. Turns out this "special place" is an industrial site for storing and distributing gravel, asphalt and other products of what I tend to call "earth rape." When we arrived a HUGE truck was sounding an alarm as it dumped the stuff into a holding area; creating a great dust cloud as another machine pounded bits of stone into submission. I stood in a daze, pained at the sensual assault of it all as Rex beamed with joyous anticipation of the possibilities. Hmmm? I just was not feeling much very "in the mood."

Suddenly he realized he had forgotten his photo memory card and had to run back for it. As he was gone I has some time to contemplate and let the dust settle. The rare February sun was beaming down and my initial resistance melted a bit at that. Then I was reminded of my teacher Yoshito Ohno's lessons about soft and hard....the intercourse between those two can be a beautiful dance where life itself is created. I was thinking of the essences of butoh practice that were so essential. I remembered a dance of the flower growing through the crack in the cement. Phrases I had heard so often in the "butoh world" like: "places in between," "the revolt of the flesh," and "a body at the edge of crisis" flowed through my head....I was beginning to feel my love for the EDGE rekindle and smolder a bit. I wanted to challenge myself by exploring how to hold my heart open and keep love alive even in the most seemingly brutal of situations. I wanted to explore BOTH the dark & light sides of love.

Rex came rushing back and I had removed a bunch of clothing and put on a shirt to shroud my head. I realized I needed a Significant Other, a softer little sign of life to hold as a companion in this dance. I really wanted a flower but the closest thing we could find was a sprig of foliage from the landscaping and we began to dance. I lost myself in the experience of dancing at the foot of the gravel mountain until Rex asked if we could head over to the black shadowy cement pit of asphalt. There among the sticky black goo (I could not do it without shoes) noxious fumes and cold shadows; I danced with as much loving as I could muster; often loosing motivation as he cheered me on with "this is SO beautiful"-but I could not see it.

After we were done I was anxious to see the pics because I was so curious what they would reveal. Rex said he was very busy so it could be a while before he could get to it. Later that night I was perusing Facebook and there they were! I was stunned. It is funny how, even though I do SO MUCH public sharing of my image, and I know perfectly well how fast digital information can move from here to there; I still can feel shy and protective about revealing it. Perhaps I had opened up something vulnerable and intimate in that gravel. When this was revealed before I felt "control," my ego had a knee jerk reaction and I wrote a somewhat upset note to Rex about being sure to show me first. Then he was a bit shocked by my concern but also understanding and kindly deleted the pics and sent copies to me to share in my own timing. Now I see how silly this is in a way....and how essential too. A true love lesson, as are so many lessons in life....and these would not be possible without my collaborative "family" of fellow artists. I feel so grateful for you!

Thank you. Please Forgive Me. I'm Sorry. I Love You.

I love these photos really. I love the shadows, the contrasts, the range of emotions evoked. I love Rex. I love collaborating. I love the sun. I love the earth. I love all living beings. I love my job.

I want to know what YOU see in these images.

Lynn Mizono: A Life of Fine & Fun Design

noreply@blogger.com (author and host maureen freehill) — Sat, 12 Feb 2011 00:20:00 +0000

Meeting Lynn Mizono was like entering an exquisite new and paradoxical world that I was somehow already familiar with in my DREAMS. Ms. Mizono IS the essence of all the finest art and design I experienced while living in Japan cultivated in a west coast USA context; all the while being a totally unique creatrix unto herself. While being tastefully refined and even formal; everything she devises also contains a playful smile of whimsey and humor. All in all it is difficult to contain in words and must be experienced. Her ART of daily life is consistent and connected to her essence even in the most deep & intimate areas of space behind the bed, inside the bath and closets. A short list of some most remarkable parts of her decor include poetry etched in the glass of the front door, unmarked bottles of multi-colored liquids, puppets hanging over the bed and life sized metal mesh bodies floating over the living room; a bathroom sink that colorfully responds to voices, a posing kitty, the most orderly closet & studio full of mysterious art-garments that I have ever seen, stairs that change colors and a see-thru second floor landing to name just a few. Her delicacy, simplicity, specificity to every tiniest detail, luxurious economy and whimsey all inspired my butoh dance to have a similar essence.

TRY THIS: Take time to be with and examine your own lifestyle & design choices. How are they consistent with your essence/soul or not? How can you align your creativity and action choices more congruently with your essence and soul?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55xPff0iLpU (this film has a little edit glitch that I am fixing now...pretty sure you will enjoy watching it anyway)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BfVhwJ31VV8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_jAhrTKnZs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3TWZiOMQ8c

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RRhzLur7Ttg

I share these images & film to offer a taste of how I was touched, moved, nourished, entertained and changed by our collaboration. The time here was particularly striking because Lynn's home is nearly the polar opposite of the brilliant colors and small space packed with decorative items that I had just experienced earlier that day at Victoria's place. (Victoria & Lynn are very close friends). Lynn and & I had so much fun during this 2 hour spontaneous exploration wherein I entered her home, interviewed her, put on her clothes & danced in her space. We hope to co-create a good deal more together in the near future.

High Tea & De-Light with Victoria Fairbanks

noreply@blogger.com (author and host maureen freehill) — Sat, 12 Feb 2011 00:20:00 +0000

I have often shied away from "STYLES" thinking that they are something inauthentic or "put on" to "fit in" with a status quo or prove something to others. This moon, I chose to experiment with The Styles by immersing myself in the lifestyles of people who have very unique homes, clothing, belongings, activities that are distinct from my own. I wanted to discover what inspires them to make the choices they do and how being with these people in their spaces could effect my being and dance experience.

The first time I came to Victoria's beautiful land it was dark, I followed a long row of candles out to a bonfire and open field; I was immediately enchanted. This was a memorial meditation for a dear friend and although we were all filled with sadness, I also felt something sparkling, magical and dreamlike. I knew immediately I wanted to return in the daylight and get to know this very special woman who is a member of a very special (human & non-human) family.

This came to pass when I called to ask if I could "dwell" with her in her lifestyle for a couple of hours to see what sort of dance might arise. She was so welcoming and generous with her space and time. These photos and video capture just a taste of the delightful essence of this gracious and spirited being. If you ever get the chance, you must enter her garden and home yourself to FEEL the light she invites and cultivates there. I asked her about the "sparkly" mystical feeling that surprised me immediately when I opened the gate and stepped inside. The reply came instantly something like: "Oh, of course! There are many nature spirits here that I communicate with all the time. They are some of my closest friends!"

This visit and the other three LifeStyle dwelling dance dates (a Soul Motion Ecstatic Dance Event, at Seattle's Tent City and with designer Lynn Mizono) I experienced this week convince me that STYLE can definitely be an emanation and revelation of one's true nature, heart and soul...or simply a reflection of one's conditioning and circumstances. What does style mean to you?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eMjygOlfcUw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vx4rTIISRWs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dfMXyjxnKZM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_jEHI31_bA

So glad you are viewing this blog and work of MomoButoh Company. If you have not yet SUBSCRIBED to receive the MomoButoh Dance Company article posts by email please do it NOW in the little form on the upper right side of this page. You can also be on our NEWSLETTER email list to get the latest offerings from the company delivered to your inbox. If you do subscribe and like what you see here, please consider SUPPORTING our work by participating with making a DONATION at the PayPal button on upper left side. Even micro-funds of 5 or 10 bucks are great help & pay for necessary admin costs to maintain this site, mailing lists and the like. BIG BIG THANK YOU!

Doggie Style Dance

noreply@blogger.com (author and host maureen freehill) — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 11:11:00 +0000

I had always shied away from dogs...well, at least ever since I was attacked by a little black scottie when I was 4 years old. About 5 years ago I lived with a lady who had the sweetest HUGE doberman pincher that looked deadly but could only offer the most loyal HUGE love. My heart and mind melted and slowly opened to the possibility that all dogs might not be scary. It is that way with many things that we have experienced past trauma with; it usually takes a good deal of time and loving care to move beyond the habitual response of self-protection. I was grateful for this.

Since then, I have enjoyed the company of many dogs, including my mom's clever & playful Basenji/Pit Bull mix named Charlie, but never wanted to take on the responsibility to live with one. My mother asked me to take care of Charlie when she went away many times. I agree it makes sense to have a close family member care for our beloveds when possible, but I was so resistant because I knew what a lifeSTYLE change it would entail. I would be responsible for another's LIFE and I would have to alter my self-centered free form lifeSTYLE. Not being a mother or pet owner, I have always been free to move freely and literally sleep around at a momo-moments notice. Taking care of Charlie meant agreeing to walk & feed him twice daily and sleep in the same house with him for 3 weeks! I would actually take on the house, garden, bedroom, animal and day to day habits of my Mom. Woah!

The fact that I am doing all I can now to raise funds for building the new MomoButoh Dance Studio this summer and that it was a gift for my mom's birthday convinced me to go for it. Thus, for the past 3 weeks I totally changed my daily style and now can truly say it was wonderful. A true highlight was my friend John's birthday spent dancing with Charlie on the beach. Watch the film below and I hope you will smile as much as we did at Charlie's antics. He taught me a whole new Doggie Style dance.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oh8rGRAA77w

In my mom's house there is a Joke-a-Day calendar and the first day there the joke read something like this:

Q: "How can you tell that a dog is man's best friend?"

A: "Lock both your wife and your dog in your car trunk and come back a few hours later and see who is really glad to see you."

Yesterday was our last walk together and honestly, I miss Charlie already as he became such a loyal and loving companion. I can't believe I feel this way but I look forward to another opportunity to dog-sit again soon. I learned some very important lessons about commitment, exercise, playfulness, unconditional love and forgiveness from Charlie that will stay with me for a lifetime. Thanks Charlie, we love you!

And thanks Lee (and Mary Oliver) who always have just the right poem for the occasion. We love you too!

music: the rachels

I Ask Percy (Charlie) How I Should Live My Life

Love, love, love, says Percy (Charlie).
And hurry as fast as you can
along the shining beach, or the rubble, or the dust.

Then, go to sleep.
Give up your body heat, your beating heart.
Then, trust.

~ Mary Oliver ~

Art Museum Style Spontaneous Aesthetic Response

noreply@blogger.com (author and host maureen freehill) — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 07:11:00 +0000

Today MomoButoh Dance Company met on a conference call to discuss our process, challenges and breakthroughs since beginning this YearOfCo11aboration on 11/11/10. We also brainstormed ideas for our current project: The Styles. We agreed that it would be a beneficial practice to enter collaborative dialogue with one another by responding with our dances & blog articles to other member's prior stories, dances, poems, images, etc. Although the dance I share here was done before our discussion today, it coincidentally happened in the same location on the same day just an hour or so before Lee Atwell filmed & was inspired to dance about Style. I did not know that she had be there till afterwards. So, it leaves me wondering whether my "aesthetic responses" to these exact same costumes, style and spaces here were influenced by Lee's prior presence and dance here. In any case, this all makes me smile and feel somehow connected and naturally in the company of MomoButoh.

Speaking of collaboration, the music for this film is "Oni Gorshi" by Degenerate Art Ensemble; a group that I admire for their awesome STYLE and I know to be committed to artistic multi-discplinary collaboration. Thanks Haruko for your inspiration and all the best for your upcoming show at the Frye Art Museum! See more about that (and a bit about collaborations between Haruko and I) at her blog here: http://redshoebutoh.blogspot.com/ and the

Maureen Freehill Dance blog here: http://maureenfreehill.blogspot.com/2010/04/moving-discovery-with-haruko-nishimura.html

FreeSTYLE on 1/1/11 and beyond

noreply@blogger.com (author and host maureen freehill) — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 07:11:00 +0000

Kazuo Ohno used the term "FreeStyle" very often when instructing us in butoh dance at his studio (photos here of Momo dancing "freestyle" in the Kazuo Ohno Dance Studio by Nobuko Shiga).

Now that we are investigating The Styles with MomoButoh Dance Company from 1/1/11 till 2/2/11; echos of his directions are repeating inside me. What is it to dance "freestyle?" On 1/1/11 at 11:11 am I initiated a dance improvisation ceremony to celebrate this New Year of E11evens. It included appearances by invited friends moving in all speeds, levels, styles, emotions and directions. It included passers by like a bird pecking at the vomit likely left by someones New Year's Eve revelation and a coffee cup carrying crow who knocked it percussively on the pavement; providing a soundtrack for our dance along with a jumbo jet flying low & slow over 11th street (we were on 10th & Pike) in Seattle. At about 6 min in, I encountered an unused cigarette and crumbled its contents in a circle on a dumpster, offering tobacco with prayers for a good year for all my relations. It was a magical and totally unplanned 11 minutes that culminated with dancing in an underground (literally) painting studio of someone I met right there on the street during the dance. It was all filmed.

Sadly, I did not immediately dowload the footage of this event and now must learn from my delinquency & mistake. My flip video camera broke on 1/6/11 just before I attended the Picasso exhibit at the Seattle Art Museum. I sent in the broken camera for a replacement (Technical Side NOTE: They are doing this for me even though it is NOT under warrantee anymore because we found the original receipt and they say I am a "valued customer", cool!! --this is ONE reason I suggest all DailyDance practitioners get a FLIP camera). I asked them to retrieve the films "stuck" on the camera, and will post it here if they do. But this will likely never happen. So, please use your infinite imagination to re-create in "freestyle" what this dance ceremony might have appeared like there in the bright sunshine, in front of a horse trough turned bamboo garden planter and a drive shaft handled metal doorway with a wooden barrel for a light fixture and sheet metal for a sign closed club entryway. A very urban STYLE place to begin 2011 for sure. One of the few human passers by happened to be my good friend from the dance community -Louis Gervais...what a blessing to have the likes of him be one of my first spontaneous dance partners for 2011!! It is going to be a very fine and WILD year of FreeSTYLE indeed. Can't wait for 11/11/11 of course....

And, regarding the "Freestyle" that Kazuo Ohno would regularly call out for, I believe this may be the MOST difficult thing to do in butoh, dance and life. How can we truly be free? What does that even mean? How can we dance and act free of conditioning, ideas of right/wrong, good/bad, self imposed constraints on our spontaneously emerging actions and creativity? It would be as if we were unrestrained and totally available puppets of unfolding Creation. On 1/3/11 I may have experienced a tiny and ecstatic glimpse into this while sharing a trio improvisation score with improvisational dance luminaries John Dixon and Karen Nelson. After an afternoon of Contemplative Dance Practice we discussed an experimental score whereby the only "rules" were to follow your "embodied impulses" and when finding you were NOT doing that (such as following a mental thought or idea of what to do/not do) then to PAUSE and begin again only from an embodied impulse. This may sound quite vague but what emerged was a rare revelatory and amazingly fulfilling experience for all of us. We shared a freestyle dance for about 30 minutes of what we agreed was almost total presence and direct communion with BEING (self, each other, god?) self-emerging in action through the body. I felt perhaps that this was what Kazuo had been trying to convey when he would repeat "FREESTYLE!!" (in English) over and over while we improvised during his lessons.

I would love to hear/see what you think/see is "FreeSTYLE"...I would love to hear what happened for you if you try the meditation/movement improvisation score I explained above. please offer a comment or blog response if you are moved. Thank you.

If you have not yet SUBSCRIBED to receive the MomoButoh Dance Company article posts by email please do it NOW in the little form on the upper right side of this page. If you like what you see here, please consider SUPPORTING our work by participating with making a DONATION at the PayPal button on upper left side. Even micro-funds of 5 or 10 bucks are great help to pay for necessary admin costs to maintain this site, mailing lists and the like. BIG BIG THANK YOU!

The Elements Project: WOOD & SPACE

noreply@blogger.com (author and host maureen freehill) — Thu, 30 Dec 2010 19:11:00 +0000

"For a dancer, God is Space." -Yoshito Ohno

I consider SPACE to be the consciousness and awareness that we have of ALL The Elements in life and dance. If it were not for SPACE we would not have the context for our creations. Although MomoButoh Dance practice often occurs outdoors and in all sorts of elemental and day to day locations, the traditional dance studio SPACE with a wonderful WOOD floor remains a most heavenly canvas for creation in our profession. During this moon of The Elements; I see the countless ways that WOOD and SPACE have contributed to my being but, with our dark wet Pacific Northwest winter weather, the simple indoor studio SPACE with a WOOD floor to dance upon with others who wish to share that experience has been the most necessary and precious gem. A dream I intend to realize in 2011 is the creation of a MomoButoh Dance Studio. It is an actual place, build by hand, with a floor made of wood, it is circular or oval, light filled, cozy and spacious; it is set in a beautiful & private natural area with plenty of room for a group to train, retreat, perform, dwell and rest. Please help me hold this image and work to realize it this coming year so that we can begin retreats and training here in 2012!

A couple of weeks ago I attended a workshop with Karen Nelson about Improvisation for Performance. We learned and eventually performed the Tuning Score and Single Image Score originally conceived by Lisa Nelson. The videos below are excerpts from our public showing of the practice that included dancers and witnesses crafting the performance experience they desired by calling directions aloud during the dance. All of the scenes begin with the dancer entering with eyes closed. Mostly we had to sense the SPACE using our perceptions of sound, touch and motion from the response of the WOOD floor and furniture. If you listen carefully, you can hear the distinctive creaks and calls from witnesses. The call "Pause" means just that and "End" means to clear the space altogether. The call "Play" means to continue with the action, "Reverse" means to go backwards from that point; "Report" means to offer a verbal report of one's current experience; and "Replace" means to take the place of another person. Then at some point the vocal call "Open" means that the visual sense is brought into play or "Closed" means it is denied again. I loved how this score heightens dancers skills of perception and imagination by limiting some options such as movement and sight. When re-crafting the live experience into video it was fascinating how the practice seemed even stronger somehow on film given the relationship to the media (video & audio players) that was the origin of the metaphors of "pause," "play," "reverse" that we were exploring.

The Elements Project: Flocking in Wind

noreply@blogger.com (author and host maureen freehill) — Thu, 30 Dec 2010 19:11:00 +0000

SCORES with WIND & SPACE

Like a lifetime friend or family member, like our homes and our body itself; we often take The Elements and the vital role they play in our lives for granted. This past week with the full moon, lunar eclipse, winter solstice and a 4 day retreat with the Grandmothers to practice deepening our connection with AIR; I was reminded of the profound debt I owe to all of The Elements; but especially to AIR. I do not know any being who has given me, and all humans, as much as AIR. Just think that our life itself would not be possible, no atmosphere, no breath, no motion, no sound, no voice. If we lost AIR, even for 15 minutes, nothing as we know it would BE! Grandmother encouraged me to think back upon how air brought me to where and whom I am now. I envisioned the windy storm that brought my Irish ancestors headed for New York off course to New Orleans instead and led them up the Mississippi to begin farming in the mid-west. I remembered that it was "Spirit Wind" that led me to find Butoh when I was painfully forcing myself to complete a Broadway track theater MFA at an acting conservatory in Florida. I honored the relentless and unnerving gales in Port Townsend that blew me back to live on Whidbey Island where so much richness, healing, knowledge, love and balance that is my current life would never have been possible otherwise. I could not have flown through the air on the great metal birds that brought me to Japan, New York, Costa Rica, Hawaii and so on. If it were not for the motion of the AIR all of my travels and transformations would have stagnated.

I owe a great debt to my relation the AIR for sure. Grandmother asked my proposal of how I would take responsibility for that primary relationship. My answer involved daily dance, prayer and meditation practices recognizing and offering to The Elements AND....this project, the YearOfCo11aboration with MomoButoh Dance Company because it is one way I can publicly uphold and celebrate my lifetime commitment to love, honor and cherish The Elements with my words/thoughts/actions, till death do us continue to intermingle.

Last week at Centrum in Port Townsend, I attended the annual 3 day Contact Improvisation Jam. The spaces, events and company to dance with all day and night were so refreshing. After a good long lab session about the techniques of falling with grace in partnership, we scooted out to catch the wind and last rays of dusk on the bluff overlooking the Straight of Juan de Fuca. This Flocking Score was very spontaneous, totally not rehearsed or even spoken of before hand--as you can see by our actions; that our director Michal Lahav called "Beautiful foolishness." We were certainly influenced by the strong presence of the AIR in our shifting and waving flock going to and fro together as well as this vast venue of unbounded SPACE. The music was added afterwards as the wind sounds on the film were deafening and the dance matched so well with this live jazz.

Music: Ethiopiques Mulatu Astatque'

After the group flocking, I celebrated and gave thanks to our unseen partner, the WIND, with a short solo/duet just between us. It is strange how much enjoyment and love I feel for the wind on one hand and on the other hand my unsettled feelings with this very same wind that drove me away from living here in Port Townsend. I guess that kind of ambiguity and paradox is the nature of any long term committed relationship, and certainly with this one I have with the WIND.

2011: A YearOfCo11aboration for MomoButoh Dance Company

noreply@blogger.com (author and host maureen freehill) — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 19:11:00 +0000

This past 6 months since master Kazuo Ohno passed have been deep ones for soul searching and development. I had to take a rest from the computer for a while to regroup, recharge and revision the direction to take with MomoButoh. I spent three days and nights just prior to his birthday in October in dark retreat for deep visioning and prayer. I was laying on the EARTH without light, movement, food or water. Upon emerging I danced with a new body, a new life. (See film below)

For those who followed this DailyDance blog in 2009-10; you will be happy to know there is a new wave of MomoButoh DailyDance Projects. 2009-10 marked the YearOfButoh DailyDance project; done mostly solo. 2001-11 is a YearOfCo11aboration with our inner circle group addressing a series of themes, inspiring one another to have soulful co-creativity woven deeply into the core & fabric of our everyday lives. I hope you will join us for this exciting project that spans 13 moons from 11/11/10 to a grand co11aborative culmination on 11/11/11.

Simply go to http://momobutoh.net and put your email in the form to receive posts directly to your inbox. This way you will not miss a single precious posting from me or any of our trans-continental inner-circle members. I will copy posts that I author to this blog as well but I suggest you subscribe to the momobutoh blog & comments because it is lush and growing with the evolutionary interplay that only a multiplicity of perspectives can offer.

Ca11 and Response

noreply@blogger.com (author and host maureen freehill) — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 07:11:00 +0000

What does it take to survive? What is our most precious resource? Basic questions like this applied to The Elements Project are what stimulates me to action today....and every day (thanks to attending a "Dance Making for Performance" workshop with Karen Nelsonusing the Tuning Score this past weekend).

I would say that it takes paying ATTENTION to survive.

I would say that our most precious human resource is ATTENTION. Think of how often a child calls its care giver to attention. Think of how short life would be if we did not PAY attention. Ask yourself: To what and whom to I PAY ATTENTION? What and whom contains that sort of value for me. Where are my preferences and why?

Then in the context of the CALL that I made to you to join this current MomoButoh project about The Elements; notice what draws, hooks and holds your precious attention. How can you CALL, hook and hold the precious attention of others? What RESPONSE can you offer that would be worthy of that precious gift?

Our entire YearOfCo11aboration will be based upon this simple act of CALL & RESPONSE. One of us will send a message, others of us will pay attention and reply as we are moved.

One of our company members mentioned how collaboration is inevitable as her attention to something actually can manifest it in real-life experience. I wholeheartedly agree. This week, as I was preparing to initiate The Elements Project, I began to spontaneously receive (or maybe just notice more) offerings directly related to this theme. Here are two dance responses to Elements that arrived in the past few days. In this case the dancers placed themselves in proximity to the element and responded authentically and physiologically to it. Interesting they were both on RED EARTH.

Sent to Boulder Contact Improvisation community by Lindsay Sworski.

Sent to me by Juri Schmidt.

I believe we can actually MAKE REALITY by how we choose to PAY our ATTENTION. If we give our attention to the news of gloom and doom that is so overwhelmingly present in the main stream media; that IS the REALITY of the world we are living in. If we create our own NEWs Channel--ca11 it channel 11 if you like--that broadcasts daily reports (like the two above) of a good, true, beautiful & positive nature; an artful & abundant universe; the power of love and so on; then THAT will be our REALITY and daily (dance) experience. I am so grateful to be living an authentic, rich, soulful, creative and joyous life connected with many other body/soul friends who are beaming very similar channe11s to this one. What are your favorite news channe11s? Will you please become a trusted source; a news correspondent if you will, with us by sharing what you pay attention to during the YearOfCo11aboration?

There are infinite scores that can be developed to explore each theme for each moon of this YearOfCo11aboration. I have posted a possible score on the "Current Projects" page of this site. Some possible scores exploring The Elements are more imaginary, others more sensual. For example, take an imaginary journey through the channels that air travels in your physical body and be moved in response to the sensual experience of that. I hope that YOU will report on the scores that you devise so that WE can also try them and post our experiences with following those scores.

Here is a co11aboration that arose from the 5Rhythms class I attended this morning. There was a live trio playing percussion and fiddle, there was a room full of fellah dancers and there was a rare and fiery sun beaming outside the window. After 3 days of non-stop pouring rain and dancing inside a studio; I could not ignore the call to dance with the beams of our greatest FIRE in the sky. This is the resulting film from today's experience of exchange and channe11ing fire light and energy between earth & sky; between passing vehicles and breath; within & without the building and my body; between musicians & dancers....

If you enjoy the NEWS you see on this YearOfCo11aboration channe11 please "pay (ATTENTION) it forward" by offering comments; posting this site on FB, Twitter, your blog or wherever you usually get your updates on reality. Thank you & keep dancing freely!

"Fire in the Sky"

Live music by Joseph, Rachman & Elaine

11/11 Mating and Dying

noreply@blogger.com (author and host maureen freehill) — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 07:11:00 +0000

The core of the 11/11 Salmon Restoration Project is our process of mating & dying. At this point we arrive at a spiral HOME where our collective sex & death leads to stillness and then rebirth. It is the essential re-turning point from/to which the salmon will always return. This film is taken at that point along our journey; perhaps the most potent experience of group unity and transformation as well as the densest sensual and emotional impact for all participant/witnesses. In our full body/soul surrender to this cycle of life; we intend to re-member all beings who have been injured by our human ignorance & greed. Please view this short film and share your comments about our emerging YearOfCo11aboration. If you feel resonance with this work and would like to participate more, receive our daily posts and/or be an on-going witness to share this global project; please add your email address in the form on upper right. Thank you.

11/11 Mating & Dying (Part 5)

MomoButoh Sessions; YearOfCo11aboration + MORE Films of 11/11

noreply@blogger.com (author and host maureen freehill) — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 07:11:00 +0000

Today we welcome a new member to our MomoButoh Dance Company inner circle. Her name is Misty Hannah and she currently hails from Cork, Ireland. I am very happy about her joining us, please take a momomoment to greet her as soon as you can.

Today also came a new clarity about the MomoButohYearOfCo11aboration that will span 13 moons and was initiated on 11/11 this year. Each month on a double digit day (12/12, 1/1 and so on); I will initiate a new "project" for that moon. The first one was our Salmon Restoration Project at Mile 11. The next two will be The Elements Project (12/12)and then The Styles Project (1/1). The specific scores, practices, performances and aesthetic responses for these projects will mainly arise out of the monthly individual practice sessions that each member shares with Momo (and one another if desired). In the past 3 days, during sessions with Art/Rev, Me Ha and Misty; 3 new scores for DailyDance practice with The Elements have emerged. They each will be exploring these scores daily and posting results, we then can in turn respond through our own investigations and postings. What fun!

Today in the session with Me Ha I simply asked her to take a few minutes to investigate her unique relationship with The Elements. Her reply came in the form of a Talking Dance. I wrote some of the wise poetry she spoke while dancing and post that here for your further investigation & inspiration.

"Water is VITAL!...Water is VITAL, so much a part of LIFE!!

I AM Earth--it grounds me.

The Earth is my roots.

I root into the Earth.

(she shows me a stone sculpture and will post a photo of it here soon)

Like this.

I have worked with The Elements SO MUCH!

Catastrophe and Restoration was all about the elements.

Wind at the top of mountains is so important for diversity.

Forest Fires are important for forest to be healthy.

Buffalo trampling and stirring up the Earth....is important.

The importance of Flooding!!

Fire is scarier than Earth or Water.

It is in my astrological chart; my Aries Moon.

I have danced with fire and love it.

Air is furthest away for me ---wind/tornado/100 mph winds here.

I can use Air/Breath in lungs and bring it into my dance.

It is essential.

When I focus on my breath--I enter into my body.

It is essential!

Space-- I long for it.

The Space.

As Yoshito says, 'For a dancer, God is Space.'

Wood --

Did I show you the sculpture we made from the wood you gave us?

It is perfectly balanced in the 'relationship' area of our house as a primary focal point.

(she shows me a wood sculpture and will post a photo of it here soon)

Wood is the strongest BEING in nature for me-- it calls me again and again to dance with it.

Trees, roots....."

wood "core" sculpture found by momo and offered at david's birthday at Me Ha's place

11/11 Mountain Stream Prostration (Part 3)

11/11 Gambaru (Part 4)

11/11 Fish Magic; Brian Eno & WAVE of "Scenius" (rhymes with genius)

noreply@blogger.com (author and host maureen freehill) — Mon, 06 Dec 2010 07:11:00 +0000

After many years of pressing onward as a "unique" individual performing artist and instructor; I have come to realize that what the world needs now is GROUP mind...."Let's do it TOGETHER." Although each of our personal contributions --(sending powerful ripples in the great ocean of consciousness) are absolutely critical; truly great & powerful REVOLUTIONS in art, spirituality and culture are NOT going to happen from a single human being. This is why we have formed the MomoButoh Dance Company Collaborative Projects & Performances. We hope you will explore, engage and perhaps join our collaborative circle. AND, most importantly, we are not just collaborating with HUMAN BEINGS....but ALL BEINGS in our projects--like the leaping salmon, swooping eagles on 11/11 and this cloud image that appeared above a daily dance.

In this vein I have an exciting 11/11 related FISH story from awesome stone artist Krista Guss (of the Illumination Project) to tell and a powerful & inspiring quote from the awesome sound artist Brian Eno to share.

From the latest outpouring of EnlightenNext Magazine comes this to ponder:

Throughout his forty-year career, British musician and record producer Brian Eno has collaborated with some of the most innovative rock musicians of our time, from David Bowie and U2 to Paul Simon and the Talking Heads. And he's learned a lot about "genius" in the process. To Eno, genius is as much a product of the vibrant culture surrounding individuals as it is of the individuals themselves. In a speech he gave at the 2009 Luminous Festival in Sydney, Australia, he discussed his new term, "scenius," which he defines as "the intelligence and the intuition of a whole cultural scene":

[When] I was an art student . . . I was encouraged to believe that there were a few great figures like Picasso and Kandinsky . . . who sort-of appeared out of nowhere and produced artistic revolution. As I looked at art more and more, I discovered that that wasn't really a true picture.

What really happened was that there [were] sometimes very fertile scenes involving . . . all sorts of people who created a kind of ecology of talent. . .So I came up with this word "scenius." . . . And I think that's a more useful way to think about culture. . . . Let's forget the idea of "genius" for a little while. Let's think about the whole ecology of ideas that give rise to good new thoughts and good new work.

And the 11:11 FISH story from Krista Guss:

So, I'm doing two sculptures, an electromagentic duet, if you will. One is called "PLOP!" and is a large sandstone bas relief (somewhere in between 2d etching on stone and 3d sculpture) depicting a young autistic girl feeding fish and the word she is articulating (the first one she ever spoke) is plop. It will be placed above/next to a koi and goldfish pond near my 11:11 cave/studio where she loves to feed fish.
The second piece is a white marble coil (I guess you could call it) that is entitled "catch!" It represents the moment when a spark catches. It is a fountain and will be placed many miles (at least 11 :) ) from the other piece at a confluence of springs. The property will be used to start a facility that explores/fosters heaing of autism, magic, and spirituality.
Weeeeeell, here's the exciting part. Obviously, the location of PLOP! already has fish. The most electric magic part is that the spring confluence, which has never had fish in it before...has goldfish that have appeared out of nowhere (and this is some really remote landscape). The pieces aren't even in place yet, in fact I just finished catch yesterday (started 5.5 years ago) and still have another 100+ hours of work on PLOP! Yet, nature is ready to reveal and relish the connection. Feeling miraculously blessed indeed.
So, how bout dem beans?
GO FISHIE MAGIC GO!!!

11/11 Ritual Performance with Spawning Salmon

noreply@blogger.com (author and host maureen freehill) — Sat, 04 Dec 2010 07:11:00 +0000

For the past 3 years, journeys to make butoh offerings honoring spawning salmon at Mile 11 had very little prior preparation. I sent out a "call" to anyone who felt drawn to join, we grabbed some costumes & a camera and headed out. Often the going was tough to just make it there through the landslides, wind storms, power outages, ferry cancellations and so on but we had the salmon's endurance to inspire us and the results were amazing each time. This 4th year, because I have been working with an indigenous spiritual leader who teaches of the incredible power and value of intention and preparation when embarking on ritual and prayer, I began studies, prayers and preparation for this 11/11 journey months in advance.

Most all the members that I coach at a distance through skype (in Virginia, Toronto, Boulder, New York) agreed to gathering in person at Mile 11 so that we could all participate in an event together at least once this year. I began research about indigenous tales of salmon/human relationships locally and all around the Pacific Rim. Amazingly, I happened upon a book packed with stories, images and inspiration that would become like a "script" for our process called First Fish First People: Salmon Tales of the North Pacific Rim. We met at the studio and created the performance score, self-portraits, costumes and ritual offerings during the days prior. It was a huge logistical feat, not to mention the depths we were touching creatively, emotionally and spiritually by gathering in this way.

We were blessed that two talented and soulful musician/singers; Loraine Bays and Deborah Koff-Chapin felt called to play and sing during the journey. It was a complex and lengthly score that spanned from gathering for ceremonial clearing/costuming; continued with offering the prayer boats to the jumping salmon at 11:11 am; dancing non stop through the entire life/death cycle of salmon; till our conclusion with a swim in the sound at 1:11 pm; and followed by a great potluck feast at the graces of our host Susan who lives on this sacred site.

Thanks to photographer/videographer/witnesses; we can now share some glimpses into our trans-body experience. As you bear witness, I suggest you open your mind/heart to remember this is not about the dance form or style. Rather, it is about authentic & unabashed prayer offering from our hearts and souls through our flesh and our exchanges with one another, the land and all beings present there. We are so grateful for this opportunity to pay attention to the grace here and humbly restore this precious salmon habitat to a thriving HOME for mating, dying, birthing and perpetual return.

11/11 Initial Offering

More films to come soon....there are 11 in all, of course.

Thank you for witnessing and offering your comments.

11/11 Spawning Upstream

Cycle of Life & Death: 11/11 Ritual Pilgrimage

noreply@blogger.com (author and host maureen freehill) — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 07:11:00 +0000

It is time to initiate a new cycle of life with the MomoButoh Dance Company. Our new group blog at MomoButoh.net, co-created & authored by our "Inner Circle" of member/practitioners is the external blossoming of a deep rooted and long developing inner practice. With the guidance and facilitation of Artistic Director, Maureen "momo" Freehill, this company grew from the hearts, bodies and souls of a committed group of individual artists. In the tradition of Maureen's long time sensei (mentor) Kazuo Ohno, each of us seeks to engage in soulful creativity, communication and transformation through our butoh dance offerings to the world. We have vowed to intimately unite our butoh dance practices with all aspects of our cycles of daily life & death. We hope you will subscribe to this blog as a gateway into our thriving community and consider diving in and becoming an active member yourself. We invite you to join our ongoing projects, training, performances and activism that enrich our lives and world with the good, true and beautiful. Feel free to contact Maureen "momo" anytime for a free introductory MomoButoh Dance session (in person, by phone or skype) to explore whether this might be the appropriate co-creative path for you.

The cycle of Life/Death is unmistakable when intermingling with spawning salmon. This is why MomoButoh engages in our annual ritual butoh pilgrimage to dance for and with the spawning salmon at Mile 11 on Highway 11 on 11/11 @ 11:11. For the past 4 years, MomoButoh Dance Company has spent most of 11/11 on a grueling journey of spawning, death and rebirth at Oyster Creek. In past years we braved storms, road closures, landslides, ferry cancellations, equipment failure and more to share our dance here. The event featured a 2 hour butoh dance ritual performance with 6 dancers and two musicians offering prayers, dances, stories and songs to the non-human beings of this sacred site. MomoButoh Dance Company Inner Circle members arrived from all four directions with participants from Toronto, Virginia, Colorado and British Colombia joining our local Washington State contingent from Seattle, Bellingham, Bellevue, Port Townsend and Whidbey Island. We were especially happy to be visited by salmon leaping with us along the shoreline as bald eagles and crows swooped all round our swimming bodies. We feel blessed by this opportunity to continue the Oyster Creek/Mile 11 Salmon Habitat Restoration Project. We were so grateful for the hospitality of our host who's home rests cozily at this powerful intersection of road, creek, shoreline and railroad--a crossroads of the living, mating, dying and birthing that provides a nourishing foundation for us all.

Thank you for taking time to be with us here; to witness and explore this journey. We hope you enjoy these reflections through photo, video and word about our experience this time around. Please help our process by leaving your own reflections and aesthetic response, this butoh ritual/rite of passage cycle is not complete until the offering is received by our greater community--that is you.

Cycle of Life & Death 11/11

noreply@blogger.com (author and host maureen freehill) — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 19:11:00 +0000

It is time to initiate a new cycle of life with the MomoButoh Dance Company. A new group blog at MomoButoh.net, co-created & authored by our "Inner Circle" of member/practitioners is the external blossoming of a deep rooted and long developing inner practice. With the guidance and facilitation of Artistic Director, Maureen "momo" Freehill, this company grew from the hearts, bodies and souls of a committed group of individual artists. In the tradition of Maureen's long time sensei (mentor) Kazuo Ohno, each of us seeks to engage in soulful creativity, communication and transformation through our butoh dance offerings to the world. We have vowed to intimately unite our butoh dance practices with all aspects of our cycles of daily life & death. We hope you will subscribe to this group blog as a gateway into our thriving community and consider diving in and becoming an active member yourself. We invite you to join our ongoing projects, training, performances and activism that enrich our lives and world with the good, true and beautiful. Feel free to contact Maureen "momo" anytime for a free introductory MomoButoh Dance session (in person, by phone or skype) to explore whether this might be the appropriate co-creative path for you.

The cycle of Life/Death is unmistakable when intermingling with spawning salmon. This is why MomoButoh engages in our annual ritual butoh pilgrimage to dance for and with the spawning salmon at Mile 11 on Highway 11 on 11/11 @ 11:11. For the past 4 years, MomoButoh Dance Company has spent most of 11/11 on a grueling journey of spawning, death and rebirth at Oyster Creek. In past years we braved storms, road closures, landslides, ferry cancellations, equipment failure and more to share our dance here. This year our journey to the site went relatively smoothly; however the return was quite "rocky" to say the least. The event featured a 2 hour butoh dance ritual performance with 6 dancers and two musicians offering prayers, dances, stories and songs to the non-human beings of this sacred site. MomoButoh Dance Company Inner Circle members arrived from all four directions with participants from Toronto, Virginia, Colorado and British Colombia joining our local Washington State contingent from Seattle, Bellingham, Bellevue, Port Townsend and Whidbey Island. We were especially happy to be visited by salmon leaping with us along the shoreline as bald eagles and crows swooped all round our swimming bodies. We feel blessed by this opportunity to continue the Oyster Creek/Mile 11 Salmon Habitat Restoration Project. We were so grateful for the hospitality of our host who's home rests cozily at this powerful place of intersection among road, creek, shoreline and railroad--a crossroads of the living, mating, dying and birthing that provides the nourishing foundation for us all.

Chrysalis Pupa Cocoon

noreply@blogger.com (author and host maureen freehill) — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 17:40:00 +0000

Autumn turns to winter and then winter turns to spring,
its not just the seasons you know its goes for everything.
clouds can turn to rain and then it just might snow
You gotta take lesson from mother nature and if you do you'll know.

Day by day its hard to see the changes you've been through
A little bit of living a little bit of growing all adds up to you
Every boys a man inside, a girl's a women too
And if you wanna reach your destiny its what you've got to do.

When it's time to change, then its time to change

Don't fight the tide, come along for the ride, don't you see

When it's time to change, you've got to rearrange

Who you are into what you're gonna be.

Sha na na na, na na na na na, sha na na na na

-Brady Bunch Lyrics

When I was between 7-14 years old, the Brady Bunch kids were one of my favorite groups. They were about my age, they stuck together through all the trials and tribulations of a mixed family and created something beautiful and full of love together. We had much in common, but much difference too of course. For many reasons this happy little tune comes to mind for me now.

Along with the entire planet and human race, MomoButoh Dance is in a state of deep transformation. The little leap into a cocoon came suddenly and unexpectedly at the halfway point of this 2010 Year of Butoh with the passing of Master Kazuo Ohno; the oil spill in the Gulf, the Sink Hole in Guatemala City; Uranus entering Aries; Memorial Day; ...Actually Goddess only knows for sure what happened. In any case, it appears that there will be no more public postings of MomoButoh Daily Dances, Articles, Films, Photos, Events, Lessons and so on as has been the case for the past 18 months. If YOU would like to be part of the MomoButoh "Inner Circle" to receive this information, exchange with other Daily Dance practitioners and students who are sharing this LifeDance path; please do not hesitate to contact me directly by email or phone anytime. I would love to hear from you:

info at maureenfreehill dot com or 206/8555836

My gratitude is far beyond words to my precious teacher Kazuo Ohno for all he shared with his remarkable & long life. Many thanks to Craig Hamilton and his precious teachings that recently have helped propel me into this evolutionary shift. And many thanks to YOU from deep in my heart for following and participating with MomoButoh in whatever way you have with this blog, the Year of Butoh, watching the dance films, reading the posts, being in touch and all of your own dances! Let's continue in this beautiful flowering practice of our true beings and dancing together on the expanding edge of the universe in and through the body and soul.

There may be one more post here soon and then we will be appearing elsewhere in an entirely different way. Let me know if you want to be informed through this transformation. Wheee!

Suggested Questions and Practices for these days: Look at your life from the perspective of total interconnection with all life. REALLY get how you live in everyone and everything around you. Then as if you are lying on your death bed looking back at your life, ask yourself what REALLY matters and what REALLY needs your precious life energy, attention and dance of life? Take steps toward aligning with those answers and answering those calls in the best way you can. Gather and reveal your truth, beauty and goodness with like minded and spirited others to support and encourage one another. Give all you can for the greater good and let go of it being about YOU.

Be well and Keep Dancing Freely.

In love with butoh, Maureen "momo" Freehill

Below are six Daily Butoh Dance films of the most recent past.

Click HERE if you are seeing this on Facebook or in email. Enjoy!

Date: May 23 Title: Before Nomad at Whidbey Institute with Malaya (the lovely little dancing baby) Music: Michael Waters & Nomad
Date: May 24. Title: Swing Down Sweet Chariot on the Langley Waterfront. Music: Elvis Date: May 24 Title: Skype Butoh Session with Patricia Music: Penguin Cafe Orchestra on Telephone & Rubber Band

Date: May 25. Title: In Unity Garden. Music: Ikue Asazaki "Hana."

From May 26-29 I was on my monthly electronics fast for the full moon time.

Date: May 30. Title: Clearing Home Space for MomoButoh TreeHouse Sanctuary. Music: Simon & Garfunkel (special thanks to Rex, IE, Sam & Mom).

Date: May 31. Title: Butoh in Honor of Kazuo Ohno for Memorial Day Tribute to Veterans. Live Flute Music: Joe Arnold. Poems by: M. Steinman; M. Oliver; W. Berry.

In The Field

noreply@blogger.com (author and host maureen freehill) — Sat, 22 May 2010 20:45:00 +0000

E.A.R.T.H. Gym practice called me once again today in the form of an email from Mick Dodge about his session at our local soccer field. I came over between my meetings for a short training session with foot and staff. This was my first time on this field and I felt truly exhilarated by the spaciousness, sunshine, focus on fitness all around and the soft groomed grass. While we were practicing a couple of guys who were waiting for their soccer team to gather watched us with interest. I walked over and happily answered their questions about what was going on and they said they had "heard of that somewhere." Neat. I loved the fact that they were genuinely curious and not at all judgemental about the unusual fitness practices we were doing. Later, Mick mentioned that he intentionally chose this spot for visibility and to "hook interest" as he calls it, how resourceful he is!!

In our dance community I often hear the words "In the Field" referring to dance, community and spiritual connections. I have never been exactly sure what was meant by it--in fact it could mean a great deal of things, and nothing. In this case, the soccer field completely embodied that phrase for me today. I was grateful to be called, to have the energy to move freely like this today even if just for a few precious minutes as it revitalized me completely for the moment. However, not much later I began to feel the vestiges of my cold taking hold on my energy again. I took a 10 minute nap and got back in the flow refusing to pay it much attention. This seems to have worked again for the time being.

Questions and Practice for Today: Do you have others who call you out to practice? If not, find some. If so, share your stories and practices with them and us about butoh daily dance. What are some public areas where others would be inspired rather than confused, threatened or concerned about your practice? Go there and practice. How can you generate community support and understanding for what you do with your body and soul to increase fitness inside and out?

music: "hoohahs" by jason webley & sxip shirley

If you are viewing this on FACEBOOK or in EMAIL please click HERE to watch the film. Enjoy!

MomoButoh Happenings:

The MomoButoh Dance Company's Maureen "momo" Freehill will be appearing as part of the Veteran's Resource Center Memorial Day Tribute to veterans at the Langley Middle School on Monday May 31 1:30-3:30pm. Please join us. It is free and open to the public. See article and more info HERE.

The MomoButoh Dance Company inner circle of practitioners is currently growing and flourishing! Please consider joining us.

Maureen "momo" Freehill is available as a mentor to coach a regular practice tailored to YOU in your Life Art evolutionary process with Butoh, Dance, Fitness, Film Making, Writing, Connecting with Nature and other body based practices for somatic & spiritual awakening. There are also regular group practices and performances for MomoButoh members. Contact Maureen: info at maureenfreehill dot net or 206 855 5836 any time for a free consultation to see if this may be the path for you.