January 19th, 2012

Day 1 at the Bockenheimer Depot.

It feels a little odd to say that today was simply one of the best days of my life.

It started out by running into Liz from the Forsythe company on the Ubahn. It was nice to have a brief chat outside of the studio.

I'd never been to the Depot before and upon entering the performance space I was awash with with the organic nature of the space. A defunct train station it is now a performance space. The most beautiful blend of industry, history and contemporary art I've ever witnessed. Huge arching wooden beams support the soaring chunky yet graceful roof. it can be configured any number of ways. It has been set up as a "regular stage space" for this production. It reminded me a bit of La Mama.

I took Christine kono's wonderful class and then waited for the fun to begin.

While waiting I checked my email and got the news that my friend Bryant who went into the hospital shortly before I left for Frankfurt died this morning. My hearts sank at first and I shed a tear but then I was filled with such gratitude for him. If it wasn't for Bryant inviting me into a group to work through the Artist's Way, I would never have had the courage to come here and take this month with this amazing company. I will miss my friend but do truly believe that he is in a much more vivid place. This physical plane as in all others is just a stop over. Bryant will always be young and strong and handsome. Grief is ultimately selfish and I must remember to be happy that he is free. Let it go. Let him go.

The rehearsal started with Duo. Two casts ran it. One female and one male. I've seen this perfect jewel of a work a number of times but being here the last two weeks and watching it being rehearsed has been amazing. The vocabulary, the composition and musicality are impeccable.
Both casts are in my opinion phenomenal. Roberta Mosca and Parvaneh (Pari) Scharafali are the women and Riley Watts and Brigel Gjoka the men. I can't go on enough about how these people move. Artists of the highest caliber. Weaving their way through this intricate duet with such skill and understanding and sense of discover with every single movement. I can't wait to see it grow as we move towards the performances. Bravo Allison Brown for rehearsing it so well.

After Duo there was a lunch break. I brought sandwich makings to save money but ventured outside to the farmer's market across the street to buy some broccoli to go with my dinner tonight. Love European markets.

After lunch I took a seat behind Bill. The rest of the day flowed pretty organically. Bill had some dancers come on stage and start doing some of the tangled structures they've been working on. He was getting the lighting just right to have the "plasticity" see the shapes best. Then he started to compose. It was fucking amazing. Seemingly with ease he started to structure the piece. There was laughter and intense concentration from the dancers waiting for his cue to go on stage and begin one of their sequences. Bill came and sat next to me and it was just us sitting and hmming and chuckling or Bill would softly sing the praises of someone dancing. I love the timber or his voice. it reminds me of my Philip. I was at times transported back more than twenty years ago listening to Philip and Bill just being silly or having serious discussions that were so far over my head at the time. I think that's why Bill always feels like home to me.

The hours flew by for me. I could watch what he and his dancers were doing my entire life. I am so terribly lucky.

Thank you Bryant and my Artist Way colleagues for helping me unlock the courage to come here. I have had a pretty amazing life and this truly was one of theeeeee best days ever. Oh yeah and thank you Bill.