Find Your Tribe
I'm a firm believer that we all have a tribe that we are born into and a tribe that we choose. Some may call it a family, one of origin and one of choice, but the tribal concept I believe is deeper. It's not about the ties that bind but more about the shared mythology of a group and how that mythology plays into the creation of both an individual and group vision for what living life as an artist can be.
Obviously there are different types of tribes, this week I saw a performance of the Marrakech Belly Dance Tribe and they were phenomenal. They dance a tribal belly dance which is different from the belly dancing we see on television, in movies, etc. This dance form is more grounded and earthy in its execution. The part that stands out for me that makes this type of belly dancing different is that it's not about the soloist, it's about the tribe. The dance is often improvisational and is cued from movements, sounds or vocabulary that is sparked by the person in the lead. The dances are often in pairs or groups adding a synergistic energy to the performance.
So why am I talking about belly dancing? Well first of all it's always good to have new experiences. I left the performance considering some of the art work I've created that is more tribal in origin and I began thinking about how I could expand the concept. Knowing the work is improvisational makes me think of stream-of-consciousness writing supported by Natalie Goldberg in "Writing Down the Bones" or Julia Cameron's artist pages in "The Artist Way". Creating with spontaneity can have some deep soul connections and surprising results.
It's not just about the dancing, but the music that creates a mood. If you wonder about the impact of music on health and creativity you can read Don Campbell's "The Mozart Effect". The other inspiration were the costumes. As a textile artist the embellishments made me feel a tingle all through my body. Pair that with the sounds the costumes made and it creates a multi-sensory experience.
Look for new inspirations to expand your body of work. Use these experiences to infuse your work with a freshness. Look for ways to use these inspirations as methods to allow your work to evolve creating a comprehensive body of work. I think you'll be surprised at the results.
Still dancing...
Greg
coaching artists to success
Obviously there are different types of tribes, this week I saw a performance of the Marrakech Belly Dance Tribe and they were phenomenal. They dance a tribal belly dance which is different from the belly dancing we see on television, in movies, etc. This dance form is more grounded and earthy in its execution. The part that stands out for me that makes this type of belly dancing different is that it's not about the soloist, it's about the tribe. The dance is often improvisational and is cued from movements, sounds or vocabulary that is sparked by the person in the lead. The dances are often in pairs or groups adding a synergistic energy to the performance.
So why am I talking about belly dancing? Well first of all it's always good to have new experiences. I left the performance considering some of the art work I've created that is more tribal in origin and I began thinking about how I could expand the concept. Knowing the work is improvisational makes me think of stream-of-consciousness writing supported by Natalie Goldberg in "Writing Down the Bones" or Julia Cameron's artist pages in "The Artist Way". Creating with spontaneity can have some deep soul connections and surprising results.
It's not just about the dancing, but the music that creates a mood. If you wonder about the impact of music on health and creativity you can read Don Campbell's "The Mozart Effect". The other inspiration were the costumes. As a textile artist the embellishments made me feel a tingle all through my body. Pair that with the sounds the costumes made and it creates a multi-sensory experience.
Look for new inspirations to expand your body of work. Use these experiences to infuse your work with a freshness. Look for ways to use these inspirations as methods to allow your work to evolve creating a comprehensive body of work. I think you'll be surprised at the results.
Still dancing...
Greg
coaching artists to success
Comments