Singing in Circles
This past Saturday, I was part of a workshop and performance of “As the Rhythm Changes” by Mankwe Ndosi. This weekend was part of a powerful singing summer for me. I’m a little dumbfounded by the diversity of experiences I’ve had in one short month.
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I met Mankwe, Libby, Alejandra, Kenna (and her children) in St. Paul to caravan to the venue, DreamAcres farm in Wykoff, MN. DreamAcres is an organic farm and arts venue / flourish arts camp run by Evie Barr and Todd Juzwiak. They host art camps for children and adults throughout the summer, as well as weekly pizza/movie nights on Fridays. (I can highly recommend the pizza, including a gluten-free version, which they served as part of our potluck dinner. *smile*)
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It was sticky and muggy when we left the Cities, but by the time we reached DreamAcres, the clouds had cleared and the sun was out. The farm was green, lush and spacious. Another beautiful, natural space to sing into. I shook my head in amazement at how singing had once again let me travel to a new and beautiful space where I would make fleeting, yet deep, connections.
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And, speaking of connections, there was the joy and discovery of reconnecting with the powerful “Rhythm” singers. We arrived early afternoon and spent a little bit of time exploring the space and meeting the owners (Evie and Todd) and the farm animals, including Shamrock (the dog), four horses, two goats, Hercules (the ox) and numerous chickens.
I had a slightly nerve-wracking, but stirring experience meeting Santiago the horse who walked straight up to me and brushed his head against my shoulder. (Evie quickly joined us to make sure none of us would be nipped or stepped on by her equine friends.)
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Mankwe, Kenna, Libby, Alejandra and I convened at 4:30 to find our way back to our “river,” as Libby described it. I found myself pleased to be standing once more in a circle of singers. A circle that felt different from, yet in many ways the same as, the circle of singers I left in Italy at the beginning of July.
We revisited the themes and movements of the piece “Soil, Root, Devotion Seed” which would be part of the evenings performance. Alejandra worked with us to expand and develop the motifs from our work on the piece in May.
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At 5:30, members of the Wykoff community joined us for an hour-long workshop. We played, sang and shared stories about family, carrots, soil, seed, roots and devotion.
At 7:30, after our potluck dinner with our workshop attendees and audience members, we began the performance.
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Lots of language for me in this performance. Almost more stories than music, it seemed. It began when Mankwe introduced me and included the fact that I had just returned from Italy. Suddenly, it seemed imperative to connect the circle in which I was standing currently to the other circles in which I’ve stood in the last month, year, etc.
I felt a powerful recognition that I am a point on a circle, and through me, circles connect and intersect. Through the singing, Italy comes to Wykoff and Wykoff will go to Europe when I return there in December. That each of us intersects and connects with so many circles.
Evie, me, Kenna, Libby, Mankwe & Alejandra
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We departed after dark, loaded with the well wishes of our audience and tomatoes, cucumbers and squashes from the DreamAcres farm.
I sang all the way home.
We have to bless Kees for having taken the time to learn who all the singers were before coming to the workshop, because I realized as I was standing (and sweating) at the airport that I had no idea what the folks I was meeting looked like (duh). But, ever prepared, I found a marker and a piece of paper and crafted a home-made sign and stayed close to the gate.
