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Arron Masters — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 20:47:02 +0000

Do you love your home? I don’t…but I’m choosing to like it. As 2011 draws to its close tonight, I’m forcing myself to be thankful for my home, with its oppressive midday light and heat, the thunderous noise from the neighbors above, only one bedroom and all the unpredictable mishaps of living in a large building in NYC. You see, it also has the most amazing superintendent you could ask for, heat, light, space enough and running water…and an elevator to boot…luxury actually. Most of all it contains the two people I hold most dear on this earth, my husband and son.

I find myself thinking of all the people in this world without a home at all, or all the people in Brooklyn struggling to find affordable places to live. I find myself humbled by all I have and challenged to look outward, to be more of an advocate for others needs than consumed with my own wants. I find myself inspired by organizations such as Brooklyn Jubilee, who truly serve and fight for people in need of social and economic justice…for people in danger of unfairly losing their homes or benefits.

Brooklyn Jubilee began as a free legal clinic working alongside a food pantry, but it is obvious to me that it is not merely an organization dispensing advice, it is one loving individuals by meeting tangible needs. I was sincerely moved by a recent email the director, Sandhya Boyd, sent asking for a volunteer to personally accompany a client to the public assistance office in order to help her file some necessary papers that would return to her the benefits unfairly taken from her. You can read more details on the Brooklyn Jubilee Blog. But basically, because of Brooklyn Jubilee‘s help, most of this woman’s benefits are being returned and others are still being fought for, which means she will hopefully be able to remain in her home with her children and provide for them. Because of Brooklyn Jubilee‘s help, she will hopefully be able to call the roof over her head home and not fear eviction.

One year ago, I posted a little movement phrase danced by Ciara Collins-Atkins on my then stoop (entitled Yo-yos). I thought it a fitting dance for this post, as a stoop leads to the door of the home, the place with the roof I’m thankful for. And I’m thankful for all the stoops Brooklyn Jubilee is helping to preserve for those in need. Please visit their website, www.brooklynjubilee.org, to learn more and make a contribution, if you feel led to do so.

Happy New Year from my Stoop to yours!

Hole to Whole

Arron Masters — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 04:24:50 +0000

I’m quite familiar with walking around with holes. Holes in my understanding due to experiences I’ve missed out on…like what it’s like to be cared for by a dad on this earth. Or holes in my spirit from hard-to-heal wounds…like being told as a child, “You’re just an ugly person. Unlikable.”

But I have no idea what it’s like to live with an actual hole.

Each year in Ethiopia 9,000 women are forced to live with a very real hole in their body. The kind of hole that leaves them incontinent. (It’s called fistula.) Not only this, but following the formation of this hole (during long, painful and obstructed labors) these women are also forced to live with the engulfing holes of grief and shameful rejection, since their babies die during the labor and then their husbands leave them and their communities shun them. Can you imagine this? I cannot.

My own labor was obstructed, with my umbilical cord wrapped twice around my son’s neck. But I had the most quality care you can imagine – in a hospital with a midwife, a team of physicians, my husband by my side. Two hours after an emergency c-section I was holding my sweet baby and in recovery, my husband still by my side.

The dance sketch I’m posting today is just the surface of the beginning of a movement idea inspired by the women in Ethiopia seeking healing from fistula. It doesn’t begin to do justice to the nightmare these women face, but I am thankful there ARE people out there bringing justice to it. And hope. Healing Hands of Joy is an organization working to give these women a second chance. Following the surgery that cures them, fistula patients can receive counseling to address the shame and empowering education and training to become an ambassador in their community to eradicate this condition. Please take some time to look into this very just cause and consider giving a donation to help them with their mission: http://healinghandsofjoy.com/

Healing Hands of Joy is working to give these women the closest thing to what we all want, right?

To be whole.

Colors

Arron Masters — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 02:45:02 +0000

It’s hard to imagine the world without colors…colors give dimension, they give animation, beauty, even meaning…they are among the first things we learn to identify when we’re young…

Not long ago, my husband Mike performed in a showcase presentation of the musical The Giver, based on the novel by Lois Lowry, with music by Scott Murphy and lyrics by Nathan Christensen. The story takes place in a community where its people do not see in color, where sameness is valued above all else. I found the work of Scott and Nathan hauntingly beautiful and perfectly fitting the story, so I was inspired to create a little dance sketch to Colors, one of the songs in the musical. As you may have guessed, this song is sung by the main character in the story as he is discovering and naming colors.

I taught and filmed this little dance the day before I went into labor with my son. I suppose the song will have new meaning for me as I begin to see colors through the eyes of my little one as he grows…I hope you enjoy it. It’s danced by three of my favorite dancers: Arletta Anderson, Heidi Brewer and Elinor Evans. As previously mentioned, the music is by Scott Murphy and the lyrics by Nathan Christensen. Colors is sung by Matt Caplan.

Relentless

Arron Masters — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 20:42:56 +0000

It’s stubborn, hope. Like relentless drops of water sliding down the glassy chambers of my heart, looking for a place to pool and soak into my bloodstream. In the seemingly dead times of life – because, let’s face it, no matter how much you love your day-to-day, there are dead times – I’m thankful for this promise that refuses to give up within me. The promise of redemption, of new life to come. As Andy writes to Red in The Shawshank Redemption, “Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things. And no good thing ever dies.” Even when it is missing-in-action, lying dormant, hope is still there ready to awaken.

This is the movement inspired by these thoughts, danced bravely by Marissa Maislen in a narrow space by my friends’ front door.

Blackbird

Arron Masters — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 17:03:04 +0000

To awaken to a colorful dream come true – the freedom to fly, heart spinning with joy, bravery in every breath, no more restraint, diving through water rich & clear and yet full of bright floating wheels to guide. This is what I imagine fills the dreams of a caged blackbird.

On my fridge hangs a postcard of the exquisite painting, created by my friend Faith Sills, which inspired this vivid image in me. It’s called Awakening, and can be viewed on her Etsy shop by clicking here. This painting has served as a picture of hope to me these past 3-4 months while I suffered imprisonment in my own body because of intense nausea from pregnancy.

But like my image of a caged bird dreaming, the impulse to dream was still alive in me too. This little dance is my moving painting, my expression of this blackbird’s dream. It is danced beautifully by Elinor Harrison Evans. Enjoy!

My Answer

Arron Masters — Sun, 05 Dec 2010 21:52:02 +0000

It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love.

Christmas Eve was fast approaching three years ago in Toronto, where I found myself joining my husband as he worked there on a holiday show. With ample time to myself, I ended up doing quite a bit of chewing on what it looks like to love well, especially to love my husband well. I had recently been convicted of my failure in this department and not only did I want to commit anew, I wanted to express this to him in a creative way.

My reflections led me to remember that loving my husband well means actively falling forward – choosing to protect and trust and hope and persevere moment by moment in actions and in words, and oftentimes in the withholding of words too. Falling forward is sometimes messy and sometimes clean, but it never withdraws or turns back or attacks.

This dance was my gift to him that year, a moving illustration of my committment, of my answer to what it looks like to love well. I re-created it in the hallway of the offices of Brooklyn Presbyterian Church. It is danced by the lovely Arletta Anderson; Music is by Sarah McLachlan.

Snapshots

Arron Masters — Sun, 17 Oct 2010 13:54:49 +0000

of regret. Pictures of moments from the past that appear before me at night to torment. At first they seduce me with happy memories so that my heart is already caught up in looking, then they turn to the ugly – the seconds in time I’d rather not re-live, that I wish I could change. Soaking in these scenes replaying in my mind causes my heart to drop into discontent, into self-loathing, into guilt…and part of me gives up. After sleep finally comes and the sun arises, I find I am partly immobilized. Is this like Lot’s wife looking back and being turned into a pillar of salt? Is that what the lesson is…regret keeps you from moving forward so be careful how you look back…

The movement inspired by these thoughts is danced by Dana Thomas.

Writings Converged

Arron Masters — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 14:41:39 +0000

Back in February I created a little movement sketch (Writings on my Mind) based on a dream I had, which was spurred on by revolving thoughts over my viewing of an art installation (Writings on the Wall) created by my friend Megan Prince.

Megan and I then paired up with our friend Tom Eaton, an animator, to re-record the dance phrase in front of a green screen, in order to create a digital collaboration of visual & performance art.

Well, after a bit of trial & error, another video shoot, much hard work by Tom and many thanks to another friend, Ryan Simms, for helping to make this possible – I’m happy to now share with you Writings Converged.

dancing by Ellie Harrison, visual art by Megan Prince, digital compositing by Tom Eaton, videography by Ryan Simms at Radio Tag, choreography by Arron Masters

Believe

Arron Masters — Sun, 22 Aug 2010 21:08:23 +0000

I stand on the platform gazing intently down the empty track into the dark tunnel beyond, where the eventual light will give evidence of an approaching train…

I have no doubt a train will come…it may be two more minutes or two hours, but one will most definitely come…I believe it.

So why do I impatiently need to keep looking down that dark tunnel? Why does my body seem to second-guess what my brain knows? Why does looking seem to somehow keep anxiousness at bay…perhaps it gives my wait purpose? or reminds me to hold onto -to remember – believing?

I’ve lost four friends to tragic deaths during my years in New York City, one just this summer…so my thoughts turn to another – eternal – light I look for…the light of my true home, where my friends now reside.

My method of looking for this light is also restless…my body often second-guessing what I know…but I know this light not only is coming, it has also already come…and I look for it to help me remember…to believe…

This movement sketch, danced by Ellie Harrison, was birthed from these thoughts. I dedicate it to Julia & Audrey, Kimberly, Kirk and Beth.

I encourage you to take a moment to read some of my friend Julia’s blog – she is writing through her grieving – it’s beautiful and life-affirming.

http://dearmissaudrey.blogspot.com/

Sweet relief

Arron Masters — Sat, 05 Jun 2010 04:20:48 +0000

Ah, it has arrived…the gratification of a fulfilled committment, a journey complete. Armitage Gone! Gala this week marked the final day of my five-month internship with the company. Certain uncertain elements having gone smoothly, anticipation has given way to floods of joy and yes, sweet relief! To top it off, I will embark upon my first true vacation in five years…to Cancun for one week…a perfect bookend to close out this season’s adventure and prepare for what’s next.

Relief! is danced by the terrific Heidi Brewer in my backyard. Enjoy!