Recently I had the opportunity to see an evening of remarkable dance, called “Change: A Contemporary Dance Concert,” at Central Connecticut State University. Its powerful title performance illustrated a variety of social issues through the medium of movement. Written by The Allman Brothers’ drummer, Jaimoe, and members of Jaimoe’s Jasssz Band, and choreographed by Catherine Fellows, Dance Director of CCSU and Artistic Director of “Change,” it electrified the audience with its emotional weaving of the dark and light aspects of humanity.
But it was something else that had drawn me to the event in the first place. I wanted to support a young friend, Victoria Burns, who performed in two pieces. In one, called “Escape,” I got to truly experience her art, as Tori didn’t so much dance her part as become the visual vibration of the music (provided by a solo drummer). Watching her and her co-performers, and noticing my and the audience’s reactions to what we saw, I couldn’t “escape” thinking that creativity is very much a relationship. Between the creator, the creation, the viewer, etc., there are many intricacies involved in any creative expression. It changes people and as time goes by and stories begin to be told, even the creation itself changes from its original to something quite different. In that way, creativity is like a marriage, partnership, friendship. Although it does not complete us – no relationship is capable of completing its participants – like a good relationship it does invite us to complete ourselves. That, of course, requires change.
Everyone is creative – we can avoid our creativity, but we cannot escape it. The question is whether or not one is willing to commit to the relationship he or she has with the inspiration, talent and calling within them, and to make the necessary changes that are called for. Tori certainly is and I invite you to commit to yours, whatever it may be. Expressing your creativity, with authenticity and passion, will change your life forever.