(Left) Audience at the Momentary grand opening, (right) The First Things First finale at the Momentary grand opening
To ask, how are you? As well as, who are you? What experiences have defined you? What can we create together? Such compassion and connection--which I expe- rienced during First Things First and that is hap- pening in response to the coronavirus--will get us from sheltering in place to a return to face-to-face. I’m itching to go wherever else in the world this project might take us. But I trust we’ll get there. And when we return to being with one another in the flesh, those moments will be heightened by the experience of having lived without them. They will be charged with rich magic. There will be a renewed inner wisdom. One that trusts the essential goodness of touch- ing foreheads, of shimmying hips, of perform- ing with old friends, of welcoming strangers, of being together. ROWENA RICHIE has been a dance theater-maker and performer in San Francisco for 25 years. For 19 of them she has been collaborating with Erika Chong Shuch. Rowena also writes essays about dance, and leads senior fitness classes. She recently completed an Atlantic Fellowship for Equity in Brain Health, and is working on a series of projects that promote positive aging.
rehearsal studio on emails, spreadsheets, and video-conferences that we dubbed rehearsal, “WeWork.”We’re continuing in this electronic, remote fashion for now as we shelter in place pandemic-style and move on to other projects. In response to COVID-19 we’ve just launched Artists & Elders, a project that virtually brings together artists and elders for conversation and creative stimulation. In the wings: the Pilot Proj- ect. Conceived last year during an Atlantic Fel- lowship I spent at the Global Brain Health Insti- tute, we’re working on customized performances for dementia care partners and their loved ones living with dementia. Given the coronavirus cri- sis, we’re brainstorming about how to virtually adapt For You for them. But First Things First drove home the fact that while digital is a great supplemental tool, it is no substitute for in-the-flesh. We had a few rehears- als with the Bentonville West marching band on Skype. It was helpful, if a bit removed. When we went to the high school for the first time and heard them play live, we exploded with goosebumps. During the First Things First finale we opened the doors of Fermentation Hall. Forty-six kids in full marching band regalia filed in and sur- rounded the audience. They played a fanfare and
a pep version of the 90s Eurodance hit “What is Love” by Haddaway. The audience broke out dancing, carried away by the band’s exuberance. “We celebrate these minor notes, that when strung together in this way become something major,” Ryan said in his closing remarks. After the performance a band mom pulled us aside and told us what a gift this experience had been to the kids. “It gives them an opportunity to see there is a whole world of possibility to explore.” First Things First had the same impact on Erika, Ryan and me. Getting to know the people of NWA has us wondering who’s next? We’re already seeking other commissions in other regions, eager to meet with strangers and make new friends. It’s painful not knowing when we’ll be able to do this next given the pandemic. But it’s a pain I can endure. I’m experiencing such a balm of care and goodwill from people, including fam- ily members, old pals and our new friends in Arkansas. We’re all connecting with calls, texts and videoconferences. I joke to my husband that we’ve become “Zoom-an beings.”We know to reach out in these new, digital ways because we know--in our skin, bones and blood--the ancient ways. The deeply human instinct to gather close. During difficult times, yes, but also easier days.
DEVELOPING A NEWCOMMISSION AT THE MOMENTARYWHILE IT TOO WAS ESTABLISHING ITS BEGINNINGS MEANT THINGS KEPT CHANGING.
John, generous and open, captured the richness of NWA, and made us feel at home. And I think by extending a welcome into the art-making world we inhabit, and into the Momentary itself, we made them feel at home, too. Albert Ortiz and his fiancee, a couple in their 20s, also were at our dinner party. Albert is the Director of Bands at Bentonville West High School. Our dreams were coming true: Albert and the Ben- tonville West Marching Band were on board for bringing some fanfare to First Things First . Deborah Culmer and David Van Brink are another couple we connected with for the project. Deb grew up in NWA. She and David are retired and live half the year in Santa Cruz, California, the other half across the street from the Momen- tary near Deb’s childhood stomping grounds. Over the phone we asked them questions about their relationship. The interview became the heart
from you.” He swung the bill of his baseball cap around to the back and gently placed his fore- head against the forehead of the man standing in front of him. Then, along with everybody else, they swayed to the chorus of “(Love Lifts Us) Up Where We Belong” by Jennifer Warnes and Joe Cocker. Cole warmed to the moment and went with the flow. When we then instructed everyone to “make a tunnel” for us to go through—-a segue to the surprise entrance of the roller derby crew—-I danced through the tunnel and shouted “Cole!” as I passed by him. My way of saying, “We didn’t spit on the ground, but Cole, you left an indelible mark on me.”
of First Things First , a section in which Deb and David performed their authentic selves. Despite being with each other for 18 years, they told us they never really danced together as a cou- ple. “Please stand and welcome Deb and David to the dance floor for their first dance,” I announced to the audience at the February grand opening. Everyone stood and erupted into applause, energy that we rode as we instructed the audience to take part in their own “first dances.” During this “first dance” section, I paid close attention to a particular teenage boy. I wondered how he was going to engage with this moment of intimacy with a stranger. Earlier in the show, he was a little defensive when I asked him to intro- duce himself to the whole group. “Cole,” he replied coolly. But Cole was anything but cold when we instructed everyone to “place your forehead against the forehead of the person standing across
THE MOMENTARY COMMISSION has us thinking about our For You evolution and this moment in time. We spent so many hours in a Berkeley
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In Dance | May 2014 | dancersgroup.org
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