Merv here.
I've never blogged on a workshop before so bear with me here.
A two part workshop today - first we looked at the soon to be refurbished machine. Then we continued our exploration of communication & relationship through touch with the Unseeing I.
The New Machine -
Drama circle. Four. Me, Nicky & Damon - the grizzled Konnektiv hardcore- & Bonnie. We're rebuilding the machine from the elements - air, earth, fire & water. Spirit isn't here today.
We talk about the relationship between the elements.
We do "elemental" warm up moves. Earth (coal?) fuels the fire. Fire blazes then burns low then blazes up again. Damon has lots of fiery energy today! Fire heats water. It bubbles, boils & steams. Air regulates the action - stops overheating & exploding.
We move around the circle in sequence. Next we move it round the room - an elemental chain of machine parts. Water leaks away a little but an interesting experiment.
We're excited about the potential for the new eco steampunk faerie machine & talk costume & backstory. Imaginations explode with fireworks of ideas.
This is going to be fun.
The Unseeing I -
Today I was the Unseeing I for the whole workshop. Before we have swapped roles with our partners or there has been a break to make notes between each condition. I felt that the experience of being the Unseeing I would be different if I could go through each condition in sequence with no break & no "seeing". I thought the experience would be deeper & more powerful. Today was my chance to find out.
Me & Damon were to be the Unseeing Is & Nicky would be my touch, Bonnie Damon's. We would all perform at the same time. Damon was concerned that there might be collisions during condition 3 but we persuaded him that all would be well.
Condition 1 -
Relax into neutral. Eyes closed. Nicky set the timer.
Waiting calm & aware. I've been here before. Gentle touch & respond: move. Slow. The gentleness of the touch evoked a slow controlled movement. Very slow. Feeling every fraction of an inch of travel.
Feeling quiet. Sensitised. Trying to understand the touch.
Complicated touches now. Multiple joint. More complex messages. Nicky's experimenting. Just respond. Try to think with my brain just leads to confusion. Think with the body. Nerves & muscles. Joints & ligaments. I forget the rules sometimes but without thought the movements feel "right".
The timer sounds. 5 minutes is over in a flash. Back to neutral. Relaxed. Eyes stay closed.
Timer set again.
Condition 2 -
Off we go. Where are you taking me? Who cares? When we first experimented with the darkness I used to try to sense where I was in the space - changes of light near the window - or remember the twists & turns of the journey. Now, a veteran of the dark, I trust the touch & give myself to the experience. Trust increased? Or is the dark more homely? I can hear Damon's trousers rustling as we pass. A couple of missed (or were they?) communications as thought intrudes into my instinctive reactions. Again 5 minutes is gone. Neutral. Relaxed. Eyes wide shut. Waiting.
Condition 3 -
Music begins. I feel flowing & turning & the touch is there. We turn together. I reach out & there's the touch.
We dance. We've talked about dance in connection with condition 3 throughout but the more work we do the more authentically dance-like it feels.
Emotion. Lots. The music is beautiful, fitting my mood of the day. The movement feels authentic: no contrived performance here just a genuine engagement with the sound & the touch & the space.
I felt a sense of communion with the touch. Effortless & intuitive. Moving. Very moving.
Too soon the music was over. We sat down in our pairs to reflect on our experiences. Nicky & I cried. We both felt something meaningful & potent. I don't have the words ( awkward as I'm writing a blog) but I will remember & cherish this experience for a long time.
