Underground Arts Movement Begins
I recently saw a dance piece choreographed by Heidi Latsky and performed by her, members of her company, and a solo by Lisa Bufano in New York City entitled, "Five Open Mouths and Woman at an Exhibition". Seeing this dance piece was comforting on many levels. First, there is a silent by enormous Disability Arts Movement emerging. Currently it exists romantically underground in many cities, but it is growing. This particular Arts Movement offers an end to the stigma attached to the performers of mixed abilities in the Arts.It also offers an end to the under-representation of people with Mixed Abilities in the Media. Lisa is one of those artists, specifically a dancer, who has a Mixed Ability but, that did not seem to be what her piece was about.
Latsky choreographed Bufano with grace and quoting Laban, Bufano was light in the space. She seemed to float. She was a dancer, but not a dancer with a Mixed Ability. When you can see the soul of the choreography joined with the music the experience you have in the space with the audience and performer is about, the experience. The dancer's stereotypes disappear and they are just a dancer. Like an actor would be, if they had a Mixed Ability but were directed properly, you wouldn't see their stereotypical limitations as disability is still referred to, but you would see the playwright's intention. You would see character. This is what Latsky did with Ms. Bufano. She used Bufano's body but not to focus on "limitation" but on taking up the space with minimalism, grace, and repetition. It reminded me of a successful Viewpoints session. There was light, architecture, sound, and a beautiful performer would could not be recognized for her Mixed Ability but for her talent. Her expression. Her grace. Her Womanhood. That is why this experience was so comforting. I sat in the audience and was proud that this woman dancing was one of the artists in this silent but groundbreaking new Arts Movement. I know now that she has her part of this Mixed Ability Arts Movement locked down. Hopefully more performers will stand beside Bufano and bring this Movement mainstream. Once it can be viewed by everyone then will the citizen with the Mixed Ability who does not perform be left alone because they will be considered a citizen not one with a Mixed Ability that needs "help" or pity.
Second my comfort with witnessing this performance was the gathering of many Mixed Ability Arts Advocates in one place. The New York Arts scene can, at times, be pretentious, but I did not feel that. I was overwhelmed with the kindness and positive vibe, but also the push from other Artists to collaborate and ask each other: so what do you do? As if we are all obligated to contribute or step aside.
A night like this makes you want to create and not miss the proverbial train that is slowly pulling out of the tracks.
A night like this is the start of something huge. A reminder it is coming. Because every type of social group was at the performance not just the Mixed Ability community. And everyone was blown away and everyone wanted more.
http://www.lbufano.com/
Latsky choreographed Bufano with grace and quoting Laban, Bufano was light in the space. She seemed to float. She was a dancer, but not a dancer with a Mixed Ability. When you can see the soul of the choreography joined with the music the experience you have in the space with the audience and performer is about, the experience. The dancer's stereotypes disappear and they are just a dancer. Like an actor would be, if they had a Mixed Ability but were directed properly, you wouldn't see their stereotypical limitations as disability is still referred to, but you would see the playwright's intention. You would see character. This is what Latsky did with Ms. Bufano. She used Bufano's body but not to focus on "limitation" but on taking up the space with minimalism, grace, and repetition. It reminded me of a successful Viewpoints session. There was light, architecture, sound, and a beautiful performer would could not be recognized for her Mixed Ability but for her talent. Her expression. Her grace. Her Womanhood. That is why this experience was so comforting. I sat in the audience and was proud that this woman dancing was one of the artists in this silent but groundbreaking new Arts Movement. I know now that she has her part of this Mixed Ability Arts Movement locked down. Hopefully more performers will stand beside Bufano and bring this Movement mainstream. Once it can be viewed by everyone then will the citizen with the Mixed Ability who does not perform be left alone because they will be considered a citizen not one with a Mixed Ability that needs "help" or pity.
Second my comfort with witnessing this performance was the gathering of many Mixed Ability Arts Advocates in one place. The New York Arts scene can, at times, be pretentious, but I did not feel that. I was overwhelmed with the kindness and positive vibe, but also the push from other Artists to collaborate and ask each other: so what do you do? As if we are all obligated to contribute or step aside.
A night like this makes you want to create and not miss the proverbial train that is slowly pulling out of the tracks.
A night like this is the start of something huge. A reminder it is coming. Because every type of social group was at the performance not just the Mixed Ability community. And everyone was blown away and everyone wanted more.
http://www.lbufano.com/
posted by BW at 10:56 PM
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