I feel so calm at peace right now. Grounded. I’d gone to the Global Underscore in Buffalo, my first global one, and the journey over those 4 hours was intensely beautiful. I came in feeling rather drained and not sure how much I wanted to be near people. Which is an interesting headspace to be in when you’re going to be doing contact improvisation.
These last couple weeks and the last few days in particular have been both amazing and overwhelming. I knew coming back to the US would be a process. The culture shock alone knocked me on my ass. And then there’s the personal reaction with friends and family. Life has continued on without me; dynamics have changed. It’s all for the better but still an adjustment. So much being thrown at me that the energy to deal is taking its toll. I have to make sure my self-care is strong and consistent.
So back to the Global Underscore. I arrived in the space unsure how my current emotional state and the environment would mesh. I requested during opening circle to have some personal grounding time (a chance to arrive in the space) before we began triad body work. The group was incredibly open and receptive to the ideas being given. It allowed me a feeling of safety and acceptance as I explored my reactions.
The Underscore was grounding, allowing me to release into the moment. Initially my body felt so heavy. How do I work with movement in relation to this physical (and probably emotional) state? This was first my struggle and then my triumph. To release into what the body was feeling. Demanding. Forcing no movement and keeping it authentic to inner and outer stimuli.
As I found the balance of grounding myself and relating to others in the space through a safe connection, I explored point of contact more than I ever had before. Many of my dances in the past center around the push and pull of weight bearing. There is more tumbling, lifting, posting, jumping...instead this became the hand dance using my entire body. There was more exploration of the space between contact. It continued to be dynamic which initially surprised me.
Throughout the jam there was also a recurring motion of shaking and tapping. Stimulating shaking in others, tapping the ground, creating energy currents through multiple bodies. It would rise and fall in diads and triads with others from the Underscore joining in for moments. It reminded me of kundalini meditation aka the shaking meditation. The idea of shaking your body to drum up energy, drum out thought, and just be present in your body with this sole action.
At the end of the session, I found myself more energetic and present in my space. I wasn’t ready to run a marathon, but I felt filled. Satiated. I feel truly blessed to have been part of this group for the Global Underscore. The safe container allowed me to release myself into the space. To be truly authentic in the exploration my body’s reactions throughout this process. Thank you everyone who was a part of this. I am so incredibly grateful.
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| A glimpse of our Global Underscore setup |
**Please note all photos are property of Kira Zebroski**
