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Movement, Sound, Play | Artifact Dance Project | TEDxTucson


[Music]

[Music] [Applause]

[Applause]

[Applause] so I changed my way of thinking and I’m

so I changed my way of thinking and I’m

so I changed my way of thinking and I’m gonna tell you why

gonna tell you why

gonna tell you why on September 2nd 2016

on September 2nd 2016

on September 2nd 2016 my little girl decided to come three

my little girl decided to come three

my little girl decided to come three months early into this world by the way

months early into this world by the way

months early into this world by the way she’s a perfectly happy healthy little

she’s a perfectly happy healthy little

she’s a perfectly happy healthy little toddler now but was not my agenda her

toddler now but was not my agenda her

toddler now but was not my agenda her agenda and immediately she became my

agenda and immediately she became my

agenda and immediately she became my teacher they put her in an incubator for

teacher they put her in an incubator for

teacher they put her in an incubator for three months and I watched her grow

three months and I watched her grow

three months and I watched her grow outside my body it was one of the most

outside my body it was one of the most

outside my body it was one of the most traumatic and yet incredible experiences

traumatic and yet incredible experiences

traumatic and yet incredible experiences I’ve I’ve ever witnessed my husband and

I’ve I’ve ever witnessed my husband and

I’ve I’ve ever witnessed my husband and I would show up to the hospital every

I would show up to the hospital every

I would show up to the hospital every day for hours because the one thing I

day for hours because the one thing I

day for hours because the one thing I felt I was in control of when it came to

felt I was in control of when it came to

felt I was in control of when it came to my daughter was I could put her on my

my daughter was I could put her on my

my daughter was I could put her on my skin they call it skin to skin so I

skin they call it skin to skin so I

skin they call it skin to skin so I would hold her like this for hours and

would hold her like this for hours and

would hold her like this for hours and they say it’s the best thing that you

they say it’s the best thing that you

they say it’s the best thing that you can do for a premature child so three

can do for a premature child so three

can do for a premature child so three months holding this little girl and

months holding this little girl and

months holding this little girl and wishing the best for her she learned how

wishing the best for her she learned how

wishing the best for her she learned how to breathe she learned how to eat she

to breathe she learned how to eat she

to breathe she learned how to eat she learned how to open her eyes for the

learned how to open her eyes for the

learned how to open her eyes for the first time again outside of my body so

first time again outside of my body so

first time again outside of my body so you should know that when traumatic

you should know that when traumatic

you should know that when traumatic things happen to artists their art gets

things happen to artists their art gets

things happen to artists their art gets really good so here I had superwoman at

really good so here I had superwoman at

really good so here I had superwoman at my side and I decided to think about

my side and I decided to think about

my side and I decided to think about what I dedicated over 30 years – and

what I dedicated over 30 years – and

what I dedicated over 30 years – and that’s dance let’s go ahead and tell

that’s dance let’s go ahead and tell

that’s dance let’s go ahead and tell everyone how many years we’ve each

everyone how many years we’ve each

everyone how many years we’ve each dedicated our lives to dance

so with that said I say 30 over 30 years

so with that said I say 30 over 30 years but it doesn’t matter I could have spent

but it doesn’t matter I could have spent

but it doesn’t matter I could have spent two years as a dancer because I’ve made

two years as a dancer because I’ve made

two years as a dancer because I’ve made the decision to just really dedicate

the decision to just really dedicate

the decision to just really dedicate myself to my craft and I would hope that

myself to my craft and I would hope that

myself to my craft and I would hope that for all of us who are in professions

for all of us who are in professions

for all of us who are in professions careers jobs that there’s a creative

careers jobs that there’s a creative

careers jobs that there’s a creative space that you can enter at some point

space that you can enter at some point

space that you can enter at some point when your job just maybe plateaus and

when your job just maybe plateaus and

when your job just maybe plateaus and and we reinvent ourselves yeah in my

and we reinvent ourselves yeah in my

and we reinvent ourselves yeah in my case the birth of my daughter helped me

case the birth of my daughter helped me

case the birth of my daughter helped me reinvent my way of thinking of what

reinvent my way of thinking of what

reinvent my way of thinking of what dance is so let’s get rid of the word

dance is so let’s get rid of the word

dance is so let’s get rid of the word dance for a moment and call it movement

dance for a moment and call it movement

dance for a moment and call it movement move this is what you would do right if

move this is what you would do right if

move this is what you would do right if I told you to move great thank you

I told you to move great thank you

I told you to move great thank you I think if if we were to tell someone to

I think if if we were to tell someone to

I think if if we were to tell someone to move out and then we’ll call it the

move out and then we’ll call it the

move out and then we’ll call it the normal world see dance could we’ll call

normal world see dance could we’ll call

normal world see dance could we’ll call this the abnormal world out in the

this the abnormal world out in the

this the abnormal world out in the normal world if I were to say to someone

normal world if I were to say to someone

normal world if I were to say to someone move it

move it

move it it’d be almost a rude comment right

it’d be almost a rude comment right

it’d be almost a rude comment right dance it’s the same thing in our world

dance it’s the same thing in our world

dance it’s the same thing in our world see that’s because in our technical

see that’s because in our technical

see that’s because in our technical foundations dance and movement are the

foundations dance and movement are the

foundations dance and movement are the same thank you but let’s go even further

same thank you but let’s go even further

same thank you but let’s go even further and let’s not define movement as and

and let’s not define movement as and

and let’s not define movement as and move your arm move your body let’s say

move your arm move your body let’s say

move your arm move your body let’s say it’s a group of people coming together

it’s a group of people coming together

it’s a group of people coming together to get some important ideas across not

to get some important ideas across not

to get some important ideas across not that that has anything to do with Ted

that that has anything to do with Ted

that that has anything to do with Ted yeah a movement of people coming

yeah a movement of people coming

yeah a movement of people coming together to get some important ideas

together to get some important ideas

together to get some important ideas across in our world our technical

across in our world our technical

across in our world our technical foundations are discovered through the

foundations are discovered through the

foundations are discovered through the group you’ll see a fusion of dance up

group you’ll see a fusion of dance up

group you’ll see a fusion of dance up here you might not be able to really

here you might not be able to really

here you might not be able to really pinpoint what it is but know that we

pinpoint what it is but know that we

pinpoint what it is but know that we pull from a lot of ballet ballet has a

pull from a lot of ballet ballet has a

pull from a lot of ballet ballet has a structured technical foundation that’s

structured technical foundation that’s

structured technical foundation that’s necessary

necessary

necessary to set the mine free based on that

to set the mine free based on that

to set the mine free based on that technical foundations you could compare

technical foundations you could compare

technical foundations you could compare it to education right in any of the

it to education right in any of the

it to education right in any of the fields science history literature

fields science history literature

fields science history literature whatever you have this technical

whatever you have this technical

whatever you have this technical foundation underneath you so that

foundation underneath you so that

foundation underneath you so that hopefully you can set your mind free

hopefully you can set your mind free

hopefully you can set your mind free into the creative spaces that are

into the creative spaces that are

into the creative spaces that are necessary for discovery can you just

necessary for discovery can you just

necessary for discovery can you just walk forward let these people know how

walk forward let these people know how

walk forward let these people know how excited you are that they’re here and

excited you are that they’re here and

excited you are that they’re here and and then just walk away good

great yeah see you can use dance if

great yeah see you can use dance if you’re if you get into a little

you’re if you get into a little

you’re if you get into a little altercation with somebody you could just

altercation with somebody you could just

altercation with somebody you could just speak through movement and I bet they’ll

speak through movement and I bet they’ll

speak through movement and I bet they’ll stop I bet they’ll walk right away from

stop I bet they’ll walk right away from

stop I bet they’ll walk right away from you

you

you another good reason to dance right but

another good reason to dance right but

another good reason to dance right but through community a single person can

through community a single person can

through community a single person can rise above I’ll go back to my daughter

rise above I’ll go back to my daughter

rise above I’ll go back to my daughter through a community of doctors residents

through a community of doctors residents

through a community of doctors residents nurses oh my gosh nurses my family my

nurses oh my gosh nurses my family my

nurses oh my gosh nurses my family my husband friends my daughter was able to

husband friends my daughter was able to

husband friends my daughter was able to rise above her situation I’d like to

rise above her situation I’d like to

rise above her situation I’d like to think because a community surrounded her

think because a community surrounded her

think because a community surrounded her science surrounded her love yeah so a

science surrounded her love yeah so a

science surrounded her love yeah so a single person in a dance class let’s say

single person in a dance class let’s say

single person in a dance class let’s say they start you know age 25 they’ve never

they start you know age 25 they’ve never

they start you know age 25 they’ve never danced before in their life it’s

danced before in their life it’s

danced before in their life it’s astonishing as time goes by how that

astonishing as time goes by how that

astonishing as time goes by how that person can progress within the community

person can progress within the community

person can progress within the community of the class whereas if I were to teach

of the class whereas if I were to teach

of the class whereas if I were to teach that person a private lesson every day

that person a private lesson every day

that person a private lesson every day for the rest of their life I don’t think

for the rest of their life I don’t think

for the rest of their life I don’t think that they would gain the knowledge that

that they would gain the knowledge that

that they would gain the knowledge that they would gain in the group moving on

they would gain in the group moving on

they would gain in the group moving on dance and music music we could say is

dance and music music we could say is

dance and music music we could say is the backdrop of our lives we listen to

the backdrop of our lives we listen to

the backdrop of our lives we listen to music to reflect how we’re feeling we

music to reflect how we’re feeling we

music to reflect how we’re feeling we listen to music to hope to feel that way

listen to music to hope to feel that way

listen to music to hope to feel that way we play music in our vehicles and our

we play music in our vehicles and our

we play music in our vehicles and our houses jogging exercising walking I mean

houses jogging exercising walking I mean

houses jogging exercising walking I mean they play music in every store to the

they play music in every store to the

they play music in every store to the point of like how do how do these

point of like how do how do these

point of like how do how do these retailers know what I like to listen to

retailers know what I like to listen to

retailers know what I like to listen to that inspires me to shop right music

that inspires me to shop right music

that inspires me to shop right music could be a backdrop for our world and

could be a backdrop for our world and

could be a backdrop for our world and for our life and it’s a reflection of

for our life and it’s a reflection of

for our life and it’s a reflection of culture dance and music are the perfect

culture dance and music are the perfect

culture dance and music are the perfect marriage and and I use the word marriage

marriage and and I use the word marriage

marriage and and I use the word marriage because for us we have to have a

because for us we have to have a

because for us we have to have a relationship with music

relationship with music

relationship with music and that doesn’t mean just dancing on

and that doesn’t mean just dancing on

and that doesn’t mean just dancing on the beat by the way in Webster’s

the beat by the way in Webster’s

the beat by the way in Webster’s dictionary it defines dance as jumping

dictionary it defines dance as jumping

dictionary it defines dance as jumping up and down in a lively manner to a beat

up and down in a lively manner to a beat

up and down in a lively manner to a beat let’s show them what that is this is

let’s show them what that is this is

let’s show them what that is this is what we do every day for hours is it and

what we do every day for hours is it and

what we do every day for hours is it and if you go all the way down the list

if you go all the way down the list

if you go all the way down the list around like definition number seven it

around like definition number seven it

around like definition number seven it says dance is sometimes considered an

says dance is sometimes considered an

says dance is sometimes considered an art form and I’ll quote my friend Chris

art form and I’ll quote my friend Chris

art form and I’ll quote my friend Chris who’s a composer art by the way is a

who’s a composer art by the way is a

who’s a composer art by the way is a wrinkle in nothing yeah

wrinkle in nothing yeah

wrinkle in nothing yeah ruins a a tidy emptiness so that’s our

ruins a a tidy emptiness so that’s our

ruins a a tidy emptiness so that’s our world back to sound take music call it

world back to sound take music call it

world back to sound take music call it sound sound something to be heard

sound sound something to be heard

sound sound something to be heard movement group of people coming together

movement group of people coming together

movement group of people coming together something to be heard so when we dance

something to be heard so when we dance

something to be heard so when we dance to music we are entering into a

to music we are entering into a

to music we are entering into a relationship I mean yes we want to be

relationship I mean yes we want to be

relationship I mean yes we want to be rhythmical the last thing you want to

rhythmical the last thing you want to

rhythmical the last thing you want to see it’s going to a dance concert and

see it’s going to a dance concert and

see it’s going to a dance concert and the dancer is just like completely off

the dancer is just like completely off

the dancer is just like completely off the music

the music

the music if it’s supposed to be that way fine but

if it’s supposed to be that way fine but

if it’s supposed to be that way fine but no we want to dance on the music because

no we want to dance on the music because

no we want to dance on the music because it’s pleasing to the soul when you are

it’s pleasing to the soul when you are

it’s pleasing to the soul when you are at a dance club or a wedding or whatever

at a dance club or a wedding or whatever

at a dance club or a wedding or whatever and you’re moving there’s something

and you’re moving there’s something

and you’re moving there’s something wonderful about dancing to a rhythm

wonderful about dancing to a rhythm

wonderful about dancing to a rhythm expressing yourself through that

expressing yourself through that

expressing yourself through that so third element here acting but let’s

so third element here acting but let’s

so third element here acting but let’s not call it acting let’s call it play

not call it acting let’s call it play

not call it acting let’s call it play back to my little girl who’s one and a

back to my little girl who’s one and a

back to my little girl who’s one and a half she creates these imaginary worlds

half she creates these imaginary worlds

half she creates these imaginary worlds that are unbelievable she plays in his

that are unbelievable she plays in his

that are unbelievable she plays in his isla phone takes the sticks up goes yeah

isla phone takes the sticks up goes yeah

isla phone takes the sticks up goes yeah throws him across the room and then

throws him across the room and then

throws him across the room and then starts going like this in silence you

starts going like this in silence you

starts going like this in silence you know she has this incredible imaginary

know she has this incredible imaginary

know she has this incredible imaginary world let’s create one in front of you

world let’s create one in front of you

world let’s create one in front of you come on down let’s pair up so our

come on down let’s pair up so our

come on down let’s pair up so our imaginary world is

imaginary world is

imaginary world is I really really really want you to be in

I really really really want you to be in

I really really really want you to be in my wedding so the person on this side is

my wedding so the person on this side is

my wedding so the person on this side is going to say that to them without

going to say that to them without

going to say that to them without speaking

did everyone agree to being each other’s

did everyone agree to being each other’s wedding let’s do it again and have the

wedding let’s do it again and have the

wedding let’s do it again and have the other person not agree to be in the

other person not agree to be in the

other person not agree to be in the wedding ask them to be in the wedding

great right so there is another tool for

great right so there is another tool for you we’re playing around we’re creating

you we’re playing around we’re creating

you we’re playing around we’re creating imaginary worlds and we’re pulling from

imaginary worlds and we’re pulling from

imaginary worlds and we’re pulling from our realities inside ourselves that’s

our realities inside ourselves that’s

our realities inside ourselves that’s really what movement is and it’s done

really what movement is and it’s done

really what movement is and it’s done together with other people living

together with other people living

together with other people living breathing fellow artists and

breathing fellow artists and

breathing fellow artists and collaborators and I want to introduce

collaborators and I want to introduce

collaborators and I want to introduce you to Bobbie Jo Valentine who you seen

you to Bobbie Jo Valentine who you seen

you to Bobbie Jo Valentine who you seen earlier in the show show see I’m used to

earlier in the show show see I’m used to

earlier in the show show see I’m used to shows Bobbie Jo Valentine this is called

shows Bobbie Jo Valentine this is called

shows Bobbie Jo Valentine this is called a collaboration this is a song called

a collaboration this is a song called

a collaboration this is a song called treating in

from trading deadlines for a softer

from trading deadlines for a softer ceiling

but one that leaves me home

but one that leaves me home [Music]

trading my shadows for a life that won’t

trading my shadows for a life that won’t hide me I’m trading money for the love

hide me I’m trading money for the love

hide me I’m trading money for the love it can’t buy me and a little less

it can’t buy me and a little less

it can’t buy me and a little less control

control

control [Music]

[Music]

[Music] and we pick up so much when we’re living

and we pick up so much when we’re living

and we pick up so much when we’re living that we should never hold we carry so

that we should never hold we carry so

that we should never hold we carry so much that we shouldn’t own but all that

much that we shouldn’t own but all that

much that we shouldn’t own but all that I need is what I’ve been given right

I need is what I’ve been given right

I need is what I’ve been given right inside this skin everything else

inside this skin everything else

inside this skin everything else that doesn’t treat me well I’m trading

that doesn’t treat me well I’m trading

that doesn’t treat me well I’m trading [Music]

[Music]

[Music] I’m trading

I’m trading

I’m trading [Music]

[Music]

[Music] I’m trading safety the world has sold me

for what the ghost of my father told me

for what the ghost of my father told me that you’re already home

[Music]

[Music] and we pick up so much when we’re living

and we pick up so much when we’re living

and we pick up so much when we’re living that we should never hold we carry so

that we should never hold we carry so

that we should never hold we carry so much that we shouldn’t own

but all that I need I’ve already been

but all that I need I’ve already been given rot inside this skin everything if

given rot inside this skin everything if

given rot inside this skin everything if it doesn’t treat me well I’m trading

I’m trading easy for a heart or healing

I’m trading easy for a heart or healing but one that leaves me thank you so much

”

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