we did it !!

photographs
©2008 by Konrad Szymański

against the ongoing bursts of rain in Rotterdam and our energy-dip after a euphoric first day, we worked through.
the first performance at 16.30 was timid, on a very wet Schouwburgplein, but for the second one the dancers completely went for it, they took their time to get in touch with themselves and each other, and the slippery ground, not minding to get wet, even going down to the ground, even as it started raining again... making beautiful and intricate compositions of movement in time and the large space into a very playful finale and a wonderful group-end in stillness.

the performances were very well visited, certainly given the weather:
as many as 15 invited people came to see the first performance and there were about 60 passers-by, about 10 stopped by to look at what was going on. for the second we had as many as 35 invited guests and about 70 passers-by, 10 of which stayed almost to the end of the piece (also seeking shelter from the rain, but nevertheless, they stayed)

a great bravo to all the dancers, filmer, photographer, and helpers who made this event possible. very grateful thanks to Café Floor who let us temporarily park our chairs & anouncement boards, all at Dansateliers, the Rotterdam Municipal Council of Arts & Cultural Affairs, and all generous sponsors.

as mentioned before, C was made in the spirit of Elaine Summers' "Energy Changes" and I am proud to have been allowed to realize my own response to this historical piece of American postmodern dance. grateful respect as well to Pauline de Groot who came to see, her wisdom and kindness, and her continuing work in the Netherlands over the many years to make dance a more balanced and connected human affair. finally, a thankful nod to Mary O'Donnell-Fulkerson and all my teachers at Dance Unlimited who helped me affirm my own way & how to translate it to others more directly.

but last but not least a very big thank you to every one who despite the rain has taken the time and effort to come & see the performances, and everyone who took the time to generously give us feedback on what they experienced & thought. we couldn't have done it without you, really...

very cordially,
Thomas Körtvélyessy