Experimental Performance as Spiritual Practice
(Blog)

Stephen Levine, one of my core spiritual teachers, would often tell us that we had to “teach ourselves the Dharma.” By “Dharma,” I understood him to mean “the Truth” as it manifests in our own lives. I love this teaching. … Continue reading →

I like the term “practice” for describing art-making. It reminds me that there is a larger perspective from which to view my creative process, and that a finished piece or a performance, is just one small part of what is … Continue reading →

I listened to a talk today by a Buddhist meditation teacher, Gil Fronsdal. He was talking about Spiritual Friendship and mentioned Kalyana Mitta, which is a Pali phrase that refers to a spiritual teacher. The phrase is translated as “good … Continue reading →

(The following is continued from last week’s post. The issues at hand are sticky enough to require at least two, if not more, written explorations for me to figure out how to move forward.) In our reality show pilot (filmed … Continue reading →

One of my core struggles in art-making (and really life in general) is how to reconcile a fierce commitment to experimentation with a deep fear of failure. The very nature of experimenting is to court failure. The more “failures” I … Continue reading →

I just watched a very inspiring DVD, “The Power of Song,” about the life and work of Pete Seeger.  He’s a very important figure in the folk music revival of the 20th century in the U.S., and a voice that … Continue reading →

One of our core ensemble members, who I have collaborated with closely for the past 4 years, has just moved home to Japan. It is a great loss for me, and a great loss for our company. Julie Brown gave … Continue reading →

It is the third night of Hanukah (or the fourth, by the time I finish this post,) and I’m taking comfort in the Hanukah story in relation to my art-making. I see the main points of Hanukah centering around the … Continue reading →

I heard an interesting thing in a talk by Buddhist Meditation teacher Joseph Goldstein tonight. He was speaking about concentration, and how developing concentration allows us to not be thrown off balance by thoughts, mind-states, feelings, events, etc. He said … Continue reading →