Comments on past classes

So, I think you all know that I haven't been the best at keeping up with my blog, but I wanted to write about a few things from earlier in the semester that I haven't blogged about yet.


I have read all of your blogs, and what I found most interesting were the reactions some of you had to different classes. One in particular was the class where we tried to send our energy to make someone in our class take on the role of Rama. I am almost jealous at the amazement some of you experienced during this class and some of the energy you felt. Perhaps, I am too skeptical. I try not to be. I tried to focus my energy, but there was always a little doubt that hindered me. I was never able to ignore it or move past it.


A long time ago, Francis asked us about being the art and artist in the context of what we do in class. Having danced for many years, I do feel that our bodies and the movements it does is art. However, especially in this class, I find it more difficult to think of myself as an artist, as well. I certainly do not think I am an artist when we are doing the steps that Sravya has taught us, because I have no part in the creative process when I duplicate the steps that Sravya shows us. It may not be exact, but I do not intentionally add anything to it. I suppose we could be considered artists during our group performance, because as a group, we had to combine steps and mudras and kecak in a combination we chose. I would not consider myself an artist in any other context than our group performance.

Performance and last week

So my group performed today. It actually went really well. It felt good, and I had fun performing it. We received great feedback from many of you all, which made me feel even better about our performance. I am especially proud of my group because we did not have anyone in our group that had performed in the Ramayana. I also enjoyed the other group's performance today. I look forward to the remaining three groups' performances.

I especially want to blog about something that occurred last week. Francis was very disappointed when many of us were not acting as he was during the singing of the song that Nimish taught us. This upset me. I am not Hindu, so I cannot say for sure what the purpose of the song is or even how one is suppose to treat it within the context of the religion. However, to me it is a song of meditation, not one of body movements and outward celebration. I don't mean to offend, but it the inward expression of spirituality is also how I often act in the religion I was raised. I feel that the fact that I internalized the song did not take away from my sense of community. We were all still singing the same song, which is awesome in itself. I will admit I have been more focused on saying it correctly, than treating it as a prayer or meditation, but I don't feel that my actions, or lack there of, should have been disappointing. My instinct in response to singing the song is to stay quiet and focus on the words and meaning, rather than expressing celebration outwardly. My not participating in moving my hands besides clapping is not an indication that I am uncomfortable. However, I do apologize that I did not speak up with this opinion after Francis expressed his, which perhaps would have created more understanding for all of us. After all, I do feel like for the limited time all 40 of us have spent together, we have become a community. 40 people is a huge group and we do only see each other twice a week. I am proud of how far we have come despite the obstacles of time and size of our group.

It's been so long...

Well I told myself that I would blog tonight, but it is getting late and I am now exhausted (not a good state to be in to blog). I decided I should at least say a few things since it has been so so long since I've last written a blog, even if this doesn't go very deep or touch on some of the things we've been asked to blog about.

I apologize to my village and to the rest of the class for not being in class Thursday (it is now Friday). I just figured it would be better for me to rest up with me being sick or having allergies. Either way I know I am running myself down, which is not good for the start of the roughest part of the semester.

I have had a chance to catch up on some blog reading and I just thank everyone for making me not feel so bad for having a lag in blogging.

To be honest, I just feel very over whelmed with using the material to give a performance. I want to use the steps Sravya has taught us, but right now I just don't see a way to really put it in, besides using the hand mudras. I guess the biggest problem is that I feel I have a total lack in mastery of the material. I should work on that in the next couple of weeks. I feel confident, however, that it will all work out, especially with our village working together.