Life Unfolding

Life Unfolding represented an historic event, in the words of modern dance pioneer and co-founder of the Tamalpa Institute, Anna Halprin, "this is the first time that the life-art process has been the basis of a full length show." If you were one of the few lucky ones to be present at for its short run of two evenings As San Francisco's Noh Theater in February of 2010, you had an incredible eye-opening awe-inspiring treat.

The performers brought shared and, in the process, elevated their own life dramas to touching universal dimensions. Their firm footing in somatic practices embued the atmosphere with powerful presence and emotion.



Anna Halprin, now in her 90th year, with her characteristic aplomb, poise and humor, introduced the show, which as a benefit for the the Tamalpa Institute scholarship fund.



It is the fervent desire of the founders Anna Halprin and Daria Halprin that this work and the intensive Tamalpa training program be accessible to people of diverse backgrounds. The life-art process at its heart is about growth and insight with personal, artistic and social applications.

Solstice Score

Part of the Level One training at Tamalpa Institute is learning the art of scoring. Scoring makes up part of the RSVP Cycle, a creative methodology co-created by Lawrence and Anna Halprin. A score is basically a recipe or a particular way of laying out a creative plan of action. I developed the score that follows to celebrate Solstice this year.

Theme: Winter Solstice - The longest night of the year.

Intention: Explore the somatic experience of darkness (and light as it
relates to the darkness)

People: Ann and Me (This is a score for 2 or more people.)

Place: Ann's studio

Time: Solstice Evening, December 20, 2008

Resources: Movement, Music (didgeridoo), Sound, Text, Breath, and the time of year!

[Musical selection: Into the Dreaming by Dreamtime, Noorooma: Myths and Magic by Spirit of Uluru, Working For World Peace & The Human Heart is For Kindness by Nawang Khechog]

Activities:
1. 2-3 minutes

Setting the Stage: Start music. Dim lights. Light candles.

2. 20minutes--

Explore the somatic / felt sense for darkness and light using any or all of the following:
- Movement
- Stillness
- Sound
- Breath
- Words / Phrases

3. 10 minutes--

Write and/or draw an aesthetic response.

4. 5-7 minutes (each) --

Share the aesthetic response and your experience of the exploration with your partner. The aesthetic response may include movement, poetic words or a verbal descriptive response. For descriptive verbal feedback, use the I see, I feel, I imagine (three level physical-emotional-mental) model.

Slideshow of Drawings

My drawings done in the Tamalpa training I entered in April of this year: