Put the World In Motion!

Most of us in the arts love movement: the tempo of music, the rhythm of an actor's speech, the thrill of a chase on screen or stage, the pulse of a chorus line. Putting things in motion does not always have to do with speed. It can refer to energy and impulse, such as helping victims in a hurricane or a mass shooting as they learn how to shed the heavy weight of despair and begin to move forward. Most of us take motion and movement for granted, but there are those who can only watch and enjoy from their seats, whose disabilities or limitations hold them back (see Alisa Erkes' excellent blog which follows this one, about the important project she is headlining for us in combatting Behcet's disease.)

At World Oceans Arts we decided to make dance and movement a big priority in 2018. Most of us have loved and been awed by those skills all our lives. My view of all the arts has been greatly enriched by the amazing people I have learned from in the dance and circus worlds, including Eliot Feld, Roclan Gonzalez and Caron Eule. Some are currently or recently featured in our projects here at WOA:  Holly Lynn Gray Culpepper, Reece Ennis and others ("Sing to the Stars"), Kristin Guerin (a true Off Broadway star), Jake Clarke ("Cafe Playa Moon"), Charlotte Baptie (a winner of our recent Performer competition) and many others. I will be the first to tell you that I am not a dancer; but I learned how to be a choreographer, I was a good baseball/softball player when I was a bit younger, and I have always loved watching acrobatics and circus arts and gymnastics. There is a magic to movement, especially when it is backed by music or a good story, that cannot be matched!

We encourage every person who loves to dance, or who is a good movement performer, to enter our new Dance Competition '17, Put the World In Motion! See the Opportunities page of this site for details. The next time you're bored or tired or discouraged, or just need a little spark in your energy ----MOVE!!

      --James Gibson, Artistic Director

   

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