I would love to write

I would love to write.
Underscored, italiscised, in bold trebuchet
WRITE
In capitals.
But my "writing" is too blackly sprawling for this page
Like dancers unequal to the majesty of music:
Tchaikovsky and Prokofiev and Stravinsky's soul-opening inspired calculations of rhythm and note - So few fail to disappoint those god-like man-wrought explosions of not-quite song.
My "writing" is not yet even the pithy, technical, dead dancer of muscle, line, rhythm, space, elan and choreographic competency.
It remains a grown-old child:
Half staring awe-fully at the magical movement of the sky
While frowning down upon its silly self - blinded by sun.

The value of positive re-inforcement in critique?

I was just thinking this morning about "constructive criticism" and the helpful aspects of this, and how it could be more positively used. I have come across critique so many times... as a student, as an artist, in day-to-day relationships with loved ones. Time and time again I have been given 'feedback' of some kind. Criticism of a piece of artistic work, of an essay, of how I have handled a work situation, of my personal weakesses in day-to-day relationships with loved ones and friends. I've delivered critique too of course. Both on personal levels and as teacher of dance and drama.

I don't know I'm no expert and am just randomly blogging a thought - because I had the thought and felt like blogging it!

So many times I've heard something along the lines of "there's no use telling you what is working because its already there, you're already doing it" "I'm only giving you the negatives right now because thats what you need to work on". As and arts student training rigorously in drama I and other students were constantly told what "needed more work" with perhaps a cursory appraisal of positive qualities.

I'm just thinking, how much more valuable if we can continually feed ourselves and each other with positive feedback as well as the necessarry constructive criticism we all need to move forward. I don't always know what I'm doing well, it isn't always obvious to me. Sure we think of it in a more formal 'constructive criticism' situation - but what about ever day ordinariness? I could do with making more use of these ideas of mine!

For young children a big deal is made of positive re-inforcement. You encourage your child to keep doing good things, we are encouraged to praise their hard work, their instances of displaying generosity, their efforts - even when the result is less than may have been desired.

We were all children once, a part of us all is still a child. Why not re-inforce for one another and ourselves on a daily basis. Encourage ourselves and those around us to continue with the things they already do well.

First post in a while...

I've been slack...I've been busy...I've been slack...

So hello world!

I've also been stressed about this: Eat My Monologue

I'm a performer - why do we artists and performers take our work so damn personally? We know its about the piece, the work, not about us...but knowing is all well and good. We still have to do justice to the work don't we - and we performers are our instrument.

So if you're in Perth tomorrow night and wish to see some monologues, drink some cocktails or wine and/or feast on the fabulous menu come on down to the Luxe Bar in Mt Lawley for a 7pm start.

Eat My Monologue

The Nancy Sikes

This friday The Nancy Sikes have a super fabulous Easter show on at the Fly By Night in Fremantle. This friday April 3rd, at 8pm I believe.

I'll be there...providing a little bit of beautiful entertainment of my own...not quite of the musical kind - you'll just have to come along and see for yourselves!

The Nancy Sikes describe themselves as sounding thus:
the fancy bikes!
the prancy mikes!
the antsy psychs!
the chancy pikes!
the dancy dikes!
the trancy spikes!
the lancy strikes!

...no more to be said I would think!

Check out their myspace page: http://www.myspace.com/thenancysikes

...hope to see you there.

Boy On A Wire by Jon Doust

Last week I attended the book launch of Boy On A Wire, written by Jon Doust.

Jon is a Western Australian writer, comedian, myers-briggs practitioner, facilitator and among other things, a truly wonderful and precious friend of mine. Boy On A Wire is his debut novel, drawing on his personal experiences at boarding school.

I haven't yet had the pleasure to read his book (I'm waiting for Jon - now based in Albany - to sign the copy I bought and send it back to me...hmm...) I have only heard wonderful things about Boy On A Wire and cannot imagine it to be anything but hilarious, honest, poignant, quirky and roundly beautiful.

Maybe you'll get to read it before I do...c'mon Jon I'm waiting! ;o)

so to begin...

I have started a blog...

I don't quite know where it will go, what I will do with it, but I am beginning something and everything has to have a beginning. Sometimes, you just have to start from nowhere and find where you are going.

So...

Ngnapabungu ... It is the name I was given at birth by the Aboriginal community I lived amongst in northwestern Australia. Around the time of my birth - September - huge thunderstorms rolled across the land. I was called Ngnapabungu - bringer of rain.

So as I begun, I begin this. Silly as it may seem I am here and I am beginning.

It is often said that "when it rains it pours"... I can only wait and see.