February 13th

Audition. I went to an audition today, I had not been to one in since, I dunno, over a year. It was the for the twentieth independence anniversary of Namibia, there is going to be a dance performance. I went there open – open to the possibility that it will be edifying to be part of the dance performance and with the desire to loose it, it being my body’s lethargic, lukewarm state, which I get tired off. I warmed up and then we were told to find a position all facing forward, towards Hamisch, one of the choreographers. He did wonderful roll downs of the back, head and hands to floor and push outs to a long ‘plank’ pose to come back. Those were standard modern. But then these steps, sweeping of the feet over the floor, like scoops and long legged high kicks to down as the body pivots to turn a quarter circle. “It’s actually Zulu”, Hamisch said if I asked whether the high kicks were a Nama stap – the movement resembled the kicking high and then feet together of this Namibian movement. No, they were not Namibian, in fact, there was no movement that I recognized as Namibian, nor did they announce anything to be Namibia. No theme, no idea, no movement. They were African – the contracting, supple chest that concave and convex, but we associate those with the West.

I was not captivated. I had fun and I danced reasonably well, give or take a few moves missed. I could have performed better, but I don’t think that will hinder me from being chosen. “See you soon” is what he told me, and I guess that’s what he meant as I walked from the Theatre and his shoulder brushed against my arm (he’s shorter). I wanted to just have fun and that’s what I did. I relegated thinking about the logistical problems of me taking part to after it was all over. I did, I even managed to create new movements during the improvisation.

I have to cut this reflection short, as I am writing it, I can hear my mother shouting at my brother for having taken the car out without asking her. He just laughs and says “Why are you shouting”. In any case, I think you understand the whole dance dilemma – it is actually not a dilemma, I just will write the review. Even when I was there, dancing, I knew that it would be fine, to choose to not partake and just write about it review it. Hey, even this blog is a testament to that! I may not be the best reviewer in the World, but I am creative and I can write. I think that’s all that’s necessary. That will suffice. Which of the two endings do you like better?