This week we've been focusing on our performance for the Kimball Theater next week. I'm really not sure how it's going to turn out...I am playing the part of Ravana, which is pretty exciting, and yet intimidating as well. Kalyani is doing a great time with giving us some guidance as to what we should be doing as to movements in general, but also keeping things very open to suggestions and letting us play around with what we want to do with our own parts. I feel pretty good about my opening movements and walking around, I am just struggling a lot with the part where I have a conversation with the uncle. I just feel so awkward trying to say "chhuck sic chuck chuk" or wahtever on beat with the banjar circle around me, while simultaneously stomping and trying to look menacing, while simultaneously using only hand movements to try to tell the story that I am angry and want him to turn into a deer for me so that I can capture Sita. I mean, seriously...how can I portray all of that within mere moments and no spoken words? I am working on just being confident in whatever movements I choose to do, because I know that half of what makes a performance good, actually, what makes an okay performance Great, is confident deliverance from the characters. If the actors and dancers themselves become involved and confident in what they are doing, the audience reads this and feeds off of it, even if the person really has no idea what they are doing.

Our banjar has truly come such a long way! Everyone is stepping up and making suggestions for sounds, movements, actions, blocking, facial expressions...etc. We are finally gelling as a group and I think it really shows. We are able to encourage one another while still giving constructive criticism to help the group as a whole. Taking glances over at the other banjar working on their piece shows a similar scene. And everyone seems to be having fun too! I also feel like every time we do (wow I am completely blanking on what it is called right now...the opening and closing ritual where we ask forgiveness of the earth for stamping on it???) - it has more and more meaning for me. I love it, I just love that it brings us all into a mindset at the beginning and gives closure to class at the end. And I love the meaning of it, and think that it should permeate other parts of our days - thinking about the earth before we do anything to it, or not even just the earth but to other people or animals or moments. It's something I think about now before all my actions - who or what all is this going to affect?