rughe (2)

the one who speaks

The One Who Speaks is one of the main characters in Martha Graham's Letter to the World (1940), a work inspired by Emily Dickinson's poetry and figure. She speaks lines from Dickinson's poems while the other dancers perform. Is she giving voice to the dance? Does dance need a voice? It is not a question of what dance does or does not need. It is an imaginary dialogue between Graham's dance language and Dickinson's poetic language. The One Who Speaks gives sound to the movement and she interacts with it in a beautiful way. Originally the One Who Speaks was interpreted by Jane Erdman, then other dancers took her role, like Pearl Lang and Christine Dakin.

dancy mary (1)

She wanted to move, she loved dancing and she often hid in some corners of her house to freely move. Mary, the future mother of Jesus, was born to dance. She knew people would not understand. Still, she went on hiding and dancing in secret.

gaza

people are dying in Gaza
I put on so much weight during the Christmas Holidays, I must immediately start a diet
people are dying in Gaza
I lost my job, what am I going to do now?
people are dying in Gaza
tomorrow school starts again, I haven't finished my homework
people are dying in Gaza
sales are finally starting, I will be able to get that expensive jumper I wanted
people are dying in Gaza
I am going out tonight, I hope I will be able to see that beautiful blondie again
people are dying in Gaza
people, not just kids, not just men, not just women,
people are dying in Gaza

a human dancer

are we human or are we dancer
is a dancer a human being? or is he/she 'just' a dancer?
what is it like to be a dancer?
to be or not to be a dancer
are we human or are we dancer
does the dance scriber fit in this division?
is he/she a hybrid? a mix?
to be or not to be a dance scriber
are we human or are we dancer


note - the line 'are we human or are we dancer' is taken from the song "Human" by The Killers.

la damigella selvaggia (1)

Ho terminato da poco di leggere questo testo di una delle scrittrici svizzere più conosciute, Corinna Bille (1912-1979). Si tratta di una raccolta di racconti fra il surreale, il magico e il crudele. Ne riparlerò presto (spero). Intanto riporto alcuni passaggi particolarmente sorprendenti:

"Compì quello che chiamò 'un suicidio mentale', ma avvenne in un modo così naturale che quasi non se ne accorse. Era coricata su una delle pelli di pecora, davanti al camino, quando gli spazi si ritirarono. Si vide in piedi, in un'anfrattuosità della roccia a strapiombo sul vuoto. Era un vuoto senza nome, una gola stretta e molto profonda, color ardesia, di cui intravedeva le più piccole linee, le curve del torrente, il colore delle pietre e i tagli della vegetazione sui pendii verticali. Senza farsi violenza, vi si gettò. Ma un semplice battito di palpebre riuscì ancora a restituirle la lucidità che stava perdendo."

Corinna Bille, "La damigella selvaggia", in La damigella selvaggia, trad. e cura Monica Pavani (Ferrara: Luciana Tufani, 2002), p. 39.

appello Leggere Donna

back series (4)

Era una vecchina arzilla, aveva la schiena piegata in due, ma camminava speditamente. Viveva sola in un appartamento in città. La si vedeva camminare sin dall'alba, con quel suo fare nervoso e sicuro. I bambini la guardavano con stupore, ma lei non se ne curava affatto. Camminava, camminava sempre.