kokopelle | Entries tagged with dancing

The poem “Stars of River Falls” is about my home contradance hall, River Falls Lodge in Marietta SC (outside of Greenville SC) The rafters are strung with lights, and in my B&W photos they do look like stars in the sky. I have to say, and I am probably terribly biased, but the hall sports some of the most beautiful dancers I've ever seen. The regal beauty seen there during dances is breathtaking indeed!

Stars of River Falls
Poem for Day 019 - 20150119

To join beneath stars,
twinkling witnesses
to our dance together
here at River Falls.
You are in my arms.
I am enraptured,
joyful companion
to a dream made real.

Beauty enfolds you,
an extension of your dance.
Regal you are,
with stars above your crown.
Majestic companion,
the lights are your subjects,
flashing recognition
of loveliness presented below.

This night may end,
our dancing may cease,
but know the stars await
our return to this magic place.
I'll meet you again beneath
the stars at River Falls.
They will shine to show
the one I'll dance with once again.

© 2015. Sean Green. All Rights Reserved.

Current Mood: amused

Dancing, especially social dancing, can be a challenging experience. Be you the asker or the askee, the act of talking to a stranger and then getting on the dance floor with them, can be an incredible hurdle. So much seems to be at stake. I have to let everyone in on a secret. The purpose of dancing is not to look the best or get dances with the most glamorous people. The purpose of dancing is to connect, and in the end, just to get a smile from another person as you do something incredibly special with them.

Dance of the Foolish Masters
Bonus Poem for Day 015 – 20150115

How shall I dance tonight,
with so much is at stake?
I may look the fool,
or dance like a fish.
Reputations made,
disgrace proclaimed,
tonight I could dance,
if I were only brave.

Look to the floor,
the foolish are there,
along with the masters.
How to tell these apart?
The former have no fear,
the latter this too!
Perhaps they are the same,
foolish masters lead the way!

Would you dance with me?
Lead me to the floor.
Only we will be here,
this is enough for me.
Throw caution to the wind,
and just return my smile.
I'll dance for you,
and you can dance for me.

© 2015. Sean Green. All Rights Reserved.

Current Mood: amused

Those who embrace dancing fully can admit that they are possessed by the dance. The poem "Spirits of Dance" was inspired by a photo I took of two dancers performing solo blues. They embody two of the muses of dance, ones that I very much appreciate.

Spirits of Dance
Bonus Poem for Day 97 – 20141229

Spirits of dance,
join us here now.
Motion and soul
divinely combined.
We desire your expression,
your knowing insight,
so we may merge now
in dancing delight.

Ninja and Sprite,
echoes of us,
lend us your gifts
of movement and trust.
We long to move
with sureness of foot
while our emotions
lift hearts filled with love.

Linger here longer,
the dance does go on,
we call for your favors
as we become one.
So it shall be,
with your guidance at hand,
we dance at your feet
as the dance continues on.

© 2014. Sean Green. All Rights Reserved.

Current Mood: amused

For me dancing is an exercise in transcendence. Interestingly, as much as I love to dance, I never dream of dancing. I've been doing contra for nearly fourteen years, and I've never dreamt of a contradance. I normally don't dream of people I know, so my dream life seems to have a separate reality from the waking. I take pleasure in that. Dreams don't have to be just sleeping. We are capable of waking dreams as well. And yes, this poem is about more than just dancing.

Dream of Dancing
Poem for Day 076 – 20141208

I dream of dancing
the shore of emotions
our shared moment now
together at last.

Our humanity
our only true gift
given so freely
to best dark beast.

Swim in the lake
below the water
away from the shore
match to the heartbeat.

Seeking the inner
inside the outer
goal is the movement
beyond the starting.

Bodily movements
both coinciding
together in hand
rapture be unleashed.

Come up for sweet air
dive down yet again
wait for the moment
flutter step achieved.

Abreast waterfall
aside quiet pool
relax wanderlust
to dream of dancing.

© 2014. Sean Green. All Rights Reserved

Current Mood: contemplative

Social dancing is an amazing group phenomenon. People of all ages and social backgrounds are thrown together to experience a shared event. The relationships formed defy the normal social norms. Sometimes the relationships exist outside of dancing. More often the relationships are defined by the dance, and the dancing can be darn good. This poem is about people deeply connecting through the act of dancing.

Only Dancers
Poem for Day 023 – 20141016

Fate has placed us together:
an accidental meeting
or a hasty rendezvous.
The outcome is pure pleasure,
the results to be treasured.

We are temporary partners,
thrown together in the dance.
Allies in this effort,
the outcome is depends on us.
We will move in unity,
a bond blessed musically.

Our moves are smooth motion.
The swing precisely balanced.
Cooperation is the key.
Each giving and taking
precisely what is needed.
Each move effortlessly completed.

My delicious partner,
my waltzing confidant,
my cavorting consort,
must you leave me now?
Our union was perfection,
a blessed intersection.

We are only dancers,
so much and nothing more.
A temporary alliance
of willing body,
of grateful soul.

© 2014. Sean Green. All Rights Reserved.

Current Mood: amused

I used to think that other photographers were very fortunate to have access to glamorous models. These photographers are very talented, ambitious, and because of this, draw in very attractive, very cooperative, models. Amazing stuff, and I felt small when I looked at my abandoned location and animal photos.

I’ve not walked the path of studio model photography. I’ve instead focused on dance photography. It has been quite a journey, and has not been easy. Dance photography is almost always in motion, with natural lighting that is often incredibly challenging. I had to work out techniques and tricks to overcome the inherent challenges of dance photography. The typical focus of a dance photo isn’t posing for me. The best shots are of dancers doing their own thing. The dancers are quite properly enjoying themselves in the moment. My taking pictures is secondary to the dance. The dancers would keep on dancing if I weren’t there. I am capturing a moment in time that stands alone by itself, and perhaps this is the biggest difference between studio model photography and what I do. My path celebrates life as it really is.

I don’t feel small now. I am still a minor player in the pecking order of photographers. I have no portfolio of boudoir photos or wedding albums to my credit. This bothers me less now. I’ve worked on my style of dance photography and now my photographed dancers are as lovely and sexy as any studio model. I take incredible pleasure in revealing your inherent beauty. You guys and gals are incredible. There are no professionals involved, be they photographers or models , but we’ve done some work that is amazing.

Current Mood: accomplished

From 2008... connecting even while the environment of discords swirls around us.

The artist in me really likes this picture. There are some lovely women in it, but the thing that really stands out is the symmetry of the arms and the "interlocking" nature of the dancers. Together while apart. Neat...

This time of year, just before summer, is a bitter sweat time of year for me. Several of my contradancing friends are completing their schooling and moving on with life. A big kudos and well wishes goes out to them as they transition onward. This is the sweet part. The bitter part is knowing that their time in the contradancing community may be coming to an end.

My involvement with dancing and photography builds relationships between myself and the other dancers. I've really grown through the years because of the interaction. I've seen my fellow dancers also grow and mature in some wonderful ways. They've gone from novice dancers to real powerhouses. I've seen connections form between members of the community. I've been fortunate to document that connections. Sometimes I'm even captured on photo with my new friends!

These transitions enrich my life. People move on or up, and more people will appear. The cycle of bitter sweet relationships turns, and I am blessed for it.

Current Mood: contemplative

I came across a very disturbing thing while researching techno contra. Did you know there was such a thing as “death contra”? A Seattle News Express article by Authur L. Carter says that death contra is the combination of death metal and contra dancing. What is Death Metal? Here is a sample. I'm all for pushing contra dancing to new places, but this is too much. On top of that, the creator of death contra, Lars Von Trier, is supposed to be from the NC / SC area! Lars is quoted saying “Death contra is not family friendly. We indulge heavily”. This is not where I want contra to go!

The Seattle News Express website also has an interview with Lars Von Trier, supposedly "exploring the faces of Lars as we look at the man and the music.". I found this to be especially disturbing given that Lars is breaking new ground in contra dancing... really bad ground. And, he hates cats. How can you trust somebody who hates cats? I don't know.

Current Mood: anxious

The final South Park episode the year, "The Hobbit", was pretty funny and profound as it took aim at the narcissism of online photos of the advertising and selfie types. Wendy tried to telling her fellow students that Photoshop merely concealed the student body's imperfections. Wendy ended up being the only girl without a Photoshopped image. She ultimately gave into the pressure and created her own replacement image.

This caused me to think. Matt and Trey have an excellent point. Their point was about the distorting power of photography. The results are held up as fantasy images that cannot be obtained. Striving for them causes more harm than good. The distortion of the image becomes a distortion of the person's life. Where am I held responsible to not cross that line?

I do strive to make people look good as they enjoy dancing. I purposely put aside the shots that are not "good". These are the shots in which people are making weird faces or finding themselves in awkward positions. These are natural yes? Perhaps, but choosing to go with more graceful pictures is something I strive for. To not do so can make people the object of ridicule or jesting by their friends. Ok... is this what Matt and Trey are talking about? I don't think so. I'm not distorting the photos in a way that creates a fake reality that is unattainable. I present a flattering version of reality. It is still reality, one in which the grace and beauty of dance is presented. Beauty is what I want to show as I watch beautiful people in a beautiful pursuit.

Current Mood: contemplative

A blog about kissing and photography. How fun! And there is a moral to the story!

( Read more... )
Find oneself in behavior that used to bother you can be a learning experience. We have met the enemy and he is us! There may be some good reasons, but for sure, there are some great lessons in the offering!

Current Mood: contemplative

A dance club where I could trance out to electronic techno music.

((heavy sigh))

elegy_of_flames, please wisk me away to your favorite haunts...

Asheville NC Black and White Cat Graffiti - IMG_0519

Current Mood: enthralled

So I get home from work, lay down in bed, and then sleep for five hours. That's one way to catch up on a lack of sleep!

This is not one way to dance at a contradance, but sometimes those youngins get all fired up!

Current Mood: amused

I really like this contra dancing picture because there is lots of implied movement that just seems to flow in harmony... it is neat when a picture comes together like this!

Current Mood: amused

I went contra dancing on Wednesday night, danced in about five sets, and then took over four hundred pictures. These were culled down to my favorites (still several hundred) and I'm uploading them to the usual place.

Shorts and skirts are the preferred dress... and they are cooler too! I was suffering (sweating) in a pair of long blue jeans.

Current Mood: cheerful

wulfwalker and I are going contra dancing tonight at River Falls. It is an amazing place... I'll be back with pictures.

Current Mood: bouncy

It's been a busy day... so I will leave you with a picture showing how fun
and frantic contra dancing is...

Current Mood: awake

I went contra dancing last night and sat out the second half of the dance
while I took over 400 pictures. These were culled down to 149 pictures in this
flickr picture set. I really like this picture...

Current Mood: amused

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kokopelle

Poetry Accident

April 2020

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Page Summary

Poem - Stars of River Falls
Poem - Dance of the Foolish Masters
Poem - Spirits of Dance
Poem - Dream of Dancing
Poem - Only Dancers
My Photography Path
Together While Apart
Contra Cycles
Death Contra... WTF???
Photos as the Self
Playing Favorites
Something I Wish I Had Access To...
That's One Way to Do It...
Dance Movement
Contra Dancing in Greenville SC!
River Falls
Circle Left Three Places...
More Contra Dancing...

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Journey to Ixtlan

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Entries tagged with dancing

Poem - Stars of River Falls

Poem - Dance of the Foolish Masters

Poem - Spirits of Dance

Poem - Dream of Dancing

Poem - Only Dancers

My Photography Path

Together While Apart

Contra Cycles

Death Contra... WTF???

Photos as the Self

Playing Favorites

Something I Wish I Had Access To...

That's One Way to Do It...

Dance Movement

Contra Dancing in Greenville SC!

River Falls

Circle Left Three Places...

More Contra Dancing...