Branch Dances in the Bronx still resonates with me as a shared magical break in the midst of everyday reality. The project, organized by Aviva Davidson and Dancing in the Streets, in collaboration with BAAD Bronx, and with funding from PennPAT and the NYC Dept. of Cultural Affairs, brought branch dancing to a new community of artists. The participants ranged from nineteen-year old novice Niko Rodriguez, to master artist, Arthur Aviles. Integrated with the Bronx group were seasoned branch dancers, Jumatatu Poe, Marion
Branch Dances in the Bronx’s main objective was to teach the branch dance practice to a group of Bronx-based choreographers over the course of three weekends. The place, BAAD Bronx, was ideal; we were able to warm up and train on the cozy dance floor at BAAD and then practice with branches outdoors on the grounds of St Peter’s Church, where BAAD’s new home is located. The time of year was ideal as well, not too cold, not too hot.
We were inspired by the beauty of the spring skies; their immensity resonates in the body, simultaneously lifting and grounding the spirit. Clouds stream by, brilliant white against intense sky blue. The wind becomes a partner in the dance of balancing the branches. If one is quiet and soft, one can feel it resonate through the body. Magic.
Branch dancing is a meditative improvisational
performance practice where the principal actions are to pay attention, connect,
and respond. Moving slowly we work on
seamless weight shift, no jagged edges.
It’s a demanding practice; it’s a challenge to slow down, stay present,
shift seamlessly, wait.
Maintaining stillness over time
takes tenacity and will power.
Attempting to meet these challenges feels good. Connecting body/mind/focus
and moving into balance and alignment feels good; it has a healing effect on
the body/mind. We are reminded of the great wonder of the body which heals
itself. In attending to reality moment by moment, to nature,
and the nature of the body, we experience greater power, efficacy, and agency
to create what we want.
There is no difference between practice and
performance. We train by practicing all
sorts of sensory and bodily awareness exercises, with and without the branches.
On weekend two of Branch Dances in the Bronx, we practiced performing during a
50-minute demonstration in a green space by Westchester Square, in the midst of
the annual Fair in the Square sponsored by Westchester BID. The workshop culminated in a final “formal”
performance, on the grounds of St. Peter’s Church, with costumes by Christine
Darch and music by Harold Smith.
The performance scores were simple time and
action structures to engage in the practice together. The circle became a powerful place to launch
the practice. We began the performances
with 10 minutes of standing in stillness in a circle. We ended with dancers finding stillness at 55
minutes. The in-between actions included
giving into gravity, leaning into and away from each other, moving in
relationship to each other, balancing branches on the horizontal.
At the fair we performed in a contained green
space, in the shade of several trees. Audiences
were serendipitous, people attending the fair, passing by. The
practice was so new for the group, and there was so much going on, that participants
bypassed the idea of performing and simply concentrated on completing the
score, waiting in stillness whenever they found themselves out of the practice.
Participants’ commitment to stay present and connected, aided by the contained
space, the circle and the wind supported a place of connection, newness, and
energetic transformation. Magic.
The final performance had a different sort of
magic, supported by Christine Darch’s beautiful costumes, and Harold Smith’s
sensitive music. More practice is
needed, particularly in letting go of “performance energy”; it has a way of
taking over, pulling us into fantasy and distracting us from the task of
staying present. And yet we had many moments of connection. There
was a
The several dozen audiences who attended
Sunday’s performance were patient and attentive. It was heart warming to see familiar faces I
haven’t seen for a while and to see children mirror our actions.
Branch Dances in the Bronx:
Directed by Merián Soto
Performed by Arthur Aviles, Marsi Burns,
Dorrell Clark, Kharis Collins, Beau Hancock, Nadine Martinez, Stephanie Peña,
Jumatatu Poe, Marion Ramírez, Niko Rodríguez, Merián Soto, DaShawn White, Ni’Ja
Whitson Adebanjo.
Music: Harold E. Smith
Costumes: Christine Darch
Special thanks: Katie Jasmin and Jimena
Alviar
Photos: Jimena Alviar
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