Inkanta
Group: Admins
Posts: 1453
Joined: Feb. 2000 |
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Posted: Feb. 05 2005, 18:00 |
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I've been debating whether or not to post this (and under which forum topic--there are billions, and I almost hate to add yet another), but then got to thinking that there may be other pagans and dancers out there who might want to try something similar someday, either with Incantations or other of Mike’s stuff.
As with much of Mike’s music, I’ve been dancing to Incantations for a very long time, but never really in public—just for a creative outlet, experiment with choreography, endurance work, etc. This changed last week when I danced to part IV, Exposed version at a St. Brigid's Jam, an Imbolc-type observance held in early February. Our group’s celebration is bardic—no formal sabbat. All attendees must perform a song, story, or dance. Several weeks ago I asked our Priest of Last Resort (POLR) if he preferred me to play “Who Would Jesus Bomb?” on guitar or dance to Inc, part IV--nearly 12 minutes in duration. He said I'd probably be the only dancer (always am), and was hoping I’d dance! (Hmm. He might have heard my WWJB before...)
The more I thought about how to integrate the dance with the rest of the evening, it seemed appropriate as the closing act, followed by a Brid chant (“Brid Brid Brid Brid Goddess fair of the sacred well; fire tenderer at my hearth; keep me healthy and bless my art....”) while lighting candles. The concept sounded good to our POLR.
First a word about the POLR's house in which the Jam was held. It's incredibly green and interesting. Not the color green, but the ground level floor contains a 7-8 feet pond and huge trees, pepper plants, and other edibles. The house is four stories, and one area is opened--several people were sitting in the second floor balcony, dangling their legs. Candles were glowing on the various levels, providing gentle and adequate light.
I was dressed in black with a shear scarf dragon skirt, red and gold headband, and a purple "quiver" at my side decorated with sparkly crystals and jewels containing candles of all the colors of the rainbow. No one knew that there were candles in the bag. I walked out into the room and did a ballet curtsey to all six directions (including up and down). I wore zils (finger cymbals) and clanged appropriately now and then. During the chimie-vibie part, I danced around the room, removing candles from my bag, much to the surprise of all, and distributing (fun getting them to the folks on the second floor! . During the marimbas, I clanged the zils, the drummers drummed, and people clapped along. During the Ben Jonson part, the sopranos sang along (I had given them the lyrics) sounding much better than the original. I acted out that part in dance. I've been learning Middle Eastern dance and included some elements of that, but it was mainly interpretive dance. The way the music threaded around the room and up was wonderful—don’t think the music ever sounded better! After, I walked around the room lighting people's candles, as we sang the Brid chant in rounds, while the drummers drummed. The experience was magickal, everyone seemed to enjoy taking part, and there is a bunch of people of all ages very eager to listen to more of Mike's music!
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"No such thing as destiny; only choices exist." From: Moongarden's "Solaris."
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, as I'm a bit overwieght,but this brings me on nicely to my next point, I feel Mike's music is most definitely helpful when it comes to loosing weight. Confused?? 
. Why should exercise be boring? I'd better go and get ready to go out to a pagan moot, it's also a friends birthday I bought her a copy of the Voyager CD, as I was playing it in my car and she liked it 
. This can be corrected but I'm not looking foward to the surgery, but the end result is I'll be free of this problem and I'll be able to smile 
, so I haven't done it yet. BTW I was tempted to go to ths HMV Shop in Oxford Street,on my list was some more MO but I'm broke 'til the 23rd, so I had to give it a miss 
brightened up an otherwise uneventful day 