As one who is actively involved in religion and the culture surrounding religion, I feel a deep connection between my spiritual and artistic identities. Who I am as a "believer" and who I am as an "artist" walk hand in hand. I've explored the intersection of dance and religion recently through various choreographic projects under the name M.E.L.D. Danceworks. I want to understand that intersection even more by engaging in conversation with other dance artists through various topics presented on this blog.
Religion is a scary word these days. I get it. But, in spite of the impending shove into waters of church/state division, or latest news images coming from Mumbai this week, I remain committed to the idea that religion at its best serves as a gateway towards spiritual progression, rather than an impediment to it.
This blog will also serve to document a new dance, "Foundations," which I'm currently making in collaboration with four beautiful dancers, Erica Frankel, Andrea Homer-Macdonald, Marci Rubin and Julia Sabangan here in NYC. I'm employing elements of Liz Lerman's community-driven choreographic process inside of this interfaith project, and will be reporting on the process occasionally.
So, by way of introduction, please allow me to introduce Dance and Faith to you, the dancing, believing audience. Postings will happen at the beginning of each week, either by me or invited contributors. Join our community and contribute your thoughts and ideas. I look forward to learning from you!
Marin
7 comments:
What a breath of fresh air this blog will be. I have never been able to express my dance and faith views very well, but I believe you feel the same as I and you have a gift for expression that I will greatly appreciate.
There is a connection, a spiritual connection, that I have encounterd many times through this form of movement. I also believe an exchange with viewer and dancer occurs through that same spirit. What a blessing to be apart of and to carry with us into the next life! I will enjoy following your blog! Thank you Marin! Love you, Katie
thanks Marin for this blog. I am so excited to follow the blog. I think dance is so natural and basic that our spirits have an easier time connecting. I don't know if that makes sense. I am looking forward to see where this goes!
It is so exciting to see this coming to fruition. I am looking forward to seeing how this discussion evolves. Thank you for boldly opening up this dialog.
Wow,
This is pretty neat. You Marin started me on this wonderful road and now here we are again. In highschool you opened my world to this spiritual connection and power of this raw art form. At Ricks, and BYU-I I was able to continue my spiritual, artistic journey through modern dance. One of my pieces of choreography was even an instrument to connect to my future husband in a very personal way, and he has always been able to support me and understand modern dance since. I am not an eloquent person, very awkward actually at times, but modern dance has given me a medium in which to share my soul and testimony in a profound way with others who did not know such a medium existed. I am so grateful to you Marin for opening up this world for me and now for this cool blog. I am excited to connect with others who feel this way too. You are a wonderful example. So fun!
Very, very cool, Marin, and very timely. I started following dance blogs about two weeks ago and will immediately add this to the aggregator.
I just found your blog through your recent guest post and thought it was very timely. On my own blog (which deals mainly with dance education), I just recently published a guest post by Randall Flinn the director of Ad Deum dance company here in Houston. In it, he talks about dance artists who are articulating their faith through their art, which is somewhat different from the perhaps more traditional idea of sacred dance within a church setting. (Here is the link if you'd like to take a look - http://danceadvantage.net/2009/01/13/faith-and-dance/)
Anyway, I am glad to have found your blog and look forward to more posts!
Sorry, didn't realize my name would not show up. I'm Nichelle! :o)
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