The Weblog of Catherine Bell
On A Break
I have been in hibernation these past weeks if anybody has been wondering. I have decided to start making practical decisions about my life and future- v.serious indeed! I feel I have joined the rat-race a bit in London and have been swept up with the waves of people there trying to survive.
Coming to Spain couldn´t have come at a better time for me. I think I needed complete relaxation and perhaps isolation ( why do we find our own company so difficult sometimes? ) from friends and jobs and my normal environment to make plans for myself.
I think I have been drifting- doing class each week, and exercises at home to keep in shape, but I wasn´t keeping my brain very active. Espania has been fantastiche for inspiration. Everything here is sooooo colourful, and because it is so new to me, I find myself just being able to watch things and people for hours. The weather has been brill which obviously helps!
So far I have made one decision. I don´t want to audition to be a ´dancer´anymore. I think I want to ´make´pieces, and perhaps dance in them, but we shall see. So at least I can concentrate my energies on this now, if that is what I decide.
I am trying to get some dancers together to make a piece in the new year at The Spàce in Dundee. Not for anything in particular- just because there is space availible there, and as Billy Evans neè piper said- ¨because we want to¨
cheers editorio,
Pants!
Well I didn't get to do Resolution!!!!!!!!! this year. Och well. Fell disappointed but not broken hearted, they didn't have the time to actually watch any footage of my work when they made their decisions, instead they waded through mountains of written applications. I completely accept that my choreog could be pants but why reject apps because they aren't described in a particularly 'place' way.
However, I have a PLAN, but it is still in my tete, so watch this space- as that idol Darius said ' you haven't seen the last of me!' ( apologies!)
Scoto-Land (!)
OCH! Have just read wee Allan's last blog from scoto-land and am touched, what a cutesie. (I believe he wants me to feed him when he comes to london). Am seriously excited about seeing him too, and hope him going to Laban will give me the good kick up the back-side I sooo badly need to do class more, am totally jealous. I did go to Ballet last friday at Pineapple or should I say Fame Academy- is all jungle trousers and hair flicking there.
What can I say?
Contemporary dance has made me accustomed to greasy hair which is neither straightened nor highlighted and is often found in vast clumps on legs and under arms- and i'm talking about the laydeees. I think it is kinda wholesome though, I mean why not!!?
It grows there for a reason, why are so many people disgusted by it? I had this convo with some of my regulars ( in my pub- times aren't that hard!) and they believe it 'just isn't right', every night I take home pearls of wisdom from the pub! Anyway the Ballet calss was prof level, and was difficult but not imposssible if you know what I mean, I found the peeps there a bit showy though. All teeth and hairspray, oh and pointe-shoes! Never mind, was an experience.
I am working in two pubs at the mo, and I meet so many different people- sunil is a tax man who is going to help me with my tax rebates (am convinced this is going to be huge and solve all money probs), Steve is a copper and gave me some info about the IPCC (independant Police Complaints Commission invetigator job I applied for- haven't heard yet), Peter is a v. keen yogi who has told me all about local yoga, pilates etc. classes. He actually also tried to then tell me a bit about tantric sex! I explained that I wasn't THAT keen.
Anyway you get the picture. I get to know lots of new people and it's not that hard a work when it's not busy. Is a bit demoralising tho sometimes, employed dancers are such lucky people, to be doing what they love day in, day out. Still they don't know sunil, pete and steve!
Have applied for Resolution!!!!!-that exclamation mark irritates me. Don't know what will happen but will blog the result.
Also have applied for interesting full-time jobs, that I could see myself doing for a while. Am a temporary kinda gal I think. At some point before christmas will be off for a month to travel around europa and buy a house with me dear ole ma!That sounds so exciting and I think it will be.
Think that is about all that is happening in the world of the cat. Will be going to see smallpetitklein on thurs at Jacksons Lane if money and my work permits. Think Tommy's stuff is fantastico. Very flicky. If you've seen any of his work you will know what I mean- i think!
The Big Smoke
Am now a resident of the big smoke once again- aw shucks! warmth, shopping, bars.............................
Is nice to be back but did love my time in scotland, and miss the friendly bonny scots. People are so moody here. Note to self- stop looking at people you don't know Catherine. You are immediately classed as a) Psycho or b) a pervert, if you do. (am neither for the record, just used to smiling dundonian faces around me.
Am also a fully-employed dancer, or dance artiste as people are so fond of calling it nowdays! WHY!? Something i'm missing? Came across this first at some residency or other, when everyone had to introduce themselves on the first day. We all had to sit in the obligatory circle and it was some bird say called sally: "Hi i'm sally and i'm a dance artiste from Edinburgh" and then a v. long biography of her very interesting experiences in the dance world, which would make the rest of us feel awful that ours had gone a bit like this: "Hi I'm cat, I'm a struggling dancer (nervous laugh inserted here), and I um, am still in training. Full stop. Thangyouverymuch.
Anyway, yes have been employed and the project is being rehearsed in Hackney and performed in a house in Highgate. Think, big wigs, big dresses, big house, big music (actually big is the wrong word! is very beautiful though, a string quartet are playing live and a pianist) is very pride and prej.
Am very excited to be involved. Is bloody hard work but am totally loving all the movement etc. The other dancers are very experienced, which is daunting sometimes, but they are lovely and are really patient with me. I have to lift Allan which is quite hilarious! We have had to curb our laughter on occasions when it'e the 3rd time that day we have landed in a heap on the floor- literally.
Anyhow, this seems to have become a bit of an advertisment! Maybe Article19 should come and see us!!?? Bit of a hint eh!? But no dry humour if you do please dahlings!Will write again when I'm no longer employed!
It's All Over (sob!)
Have finished school.......can no longer use my student status as an excuse......... have truly entered the world of adults. How hard is it to actually do things by yourself!? We used to have 'lives' at school, which means that you were allowed 3 unexplained absences before thay started to ask questions, it really was like a computer game- game over for those who didn't know the system!
I spread my lives out over the term, cos you never knew when you would need them. Sometimes I just couldn't cope with release or choreog' or arty people generally, I needed to lay at home with my book and feel sorry for myself, wondering why I ever chose dance as a subject when all my film studies buddies were all laying guilt free in bed, and dreaming of a normal 9-5 what a way to make a living!
Am a fully employed dancer at the mo, which is quite miraculous.
Bad Cat
Bad cat, forgetting to blog. When I leave it so long I can't remember what's news and what isn't. We are now in the week of our final show- tech today, dress tomorrow, then performances thurs, fri, and sat. Am scared. Have quite a good feeling about it though.
Recently we had a mock audition with a dancer called Errol and some people from Dance Scotland. This was very revealing! I found the class was quite awkward to pick up, so I didn't feel as though I moved as well as I could, was too preoccupied with the steps. We learnt a v.v.v long sequence for rep after the class which was also quite difficult and not really how I enjoy moving but I did ok and made it my own. The audition finished with myself and Zoei ( one of my close friends- how awkward!) battling it out for the hypothetical job. We actually didn't realise this was why we were being asked to perform the sequence as a trio with Errol, I thought maybe everyone would be asked to do the same!
It is really weird 'competing' for things with friends, especially when it is a job, might as well be fighting over a man! Needless to say my very personal interpretation of the sequence didn't get me the job! I manage to take this as compliment because they said they liked it and loads of other lovely, buvvely positive things about my dancing which had me turn a bit red and start mumbling ( i don't 'do' compliments very easily!). I felt very encouraged and it was a good experience to be going back to the big smoke with.
That probably is news actually! Yes, have decided to give London another go. We finish term next Friday and I am returning to my long suffering, patient boyf who has stayed with me during all this year away. Am performing in a piece in Highgate on the 14th and 15th of July- a two week project, but otherwise I don't have any real plans- remain focused and take some cat time probably to figure out when I want to become a real grown-up with responsibilities and strange, boring things like that. Oh, and I think I am going to apply to do 'Resolution!' this year @The Place (love these:@!)
So finally to the infamous show I still haven't told you about........
The programme is as follows: A piece called 'dirtier' by Tommy Small (am not in this). Then my own piece- chuffed! called 'something white this way comes......' (don't ask!!). The foundation students, and then the first years. Then the second half: 'Point of departure' our third year piece by Pete Royston. The second years, then 'I can can can' by Tommy again for us third years.
Am very excited about my piece being shown again, was all touch and go earlier last week though when half of the duet twisted her ankle- was all ready to learn it myself but very scared to do so. Even though it is my movement there is a lot of contact work which they have perfected between them for weeks which would be a bugger to learn! no problemo tho, she is going to be fine. Finally everything is coming together for Pete's piece which involves quite a lot of props and film so has been difficult to visualise until now we are actually on stage.
As for Tommy's, wonder if anyone knows what I mean about a piece you perform that is so energetic it makes you feel sick! Apart from that I luuurvvve it- the movement is very quirky and cutesy. The only thing that is really worrying me about the show is in fact the finale. Rumour has it we have to improvise for eight counts to 'superstitious' (good ole Stevie W). Really am scared about this- have been waking up in the middle of the night in cold sweats don't know what I am going to do!!!!
A Busy Week
Has been a very busy week, but then it's always busy here. Have been feeling it more though at the moment, this is probably because I have been working til 5 in the morning at least three times a week, and my body clock has ceased functioning!
Think it went on it's strike 'cos it was confused, am going to have a talk with it later and try to explain a few things- namely that I need to be getting to sleep by 11pm during the week not starting to wake at this time, eyes ablaze, studying the ceiling, and preferably by 8am waking up bright eyed and bushyed... whatever, ready to face the world that is Sheena's Ballet class and very sore feet!
We have started rehearsing our new production, and I have to rehearse my duet (my choreography from the previous show I still haven't talked about!). Pete is making us a piece and it is v.v.v emotional! Is important to prepare myself for these rehersals and get SERIOUS! Now I have the chance to do my own piece again it is very tempting to 'improve' loads of it, basically change a lot of it! Will not be very popular however with my dancers if I make these changes too drastic so am going to be very careful!
Back with a Vengance!!
Hey! Caterina is back with avengence. Was feeling very melancholy at the end of the last term, but have had a break from school, Scotland, work, and dancing and let my hair down. I went back to London to visit my old dear friends from uni who I must say are a very bad influence on me, feel totally partied out- very unhealthy with a v. different body clock, but it's all good, am happy!
We have a residency with a guy called Tommy and his company for this week, and I think he is making a piece for us which will be for the end of year show. (Have realised I have not even talked about the show we just finished!).
Why is it soooooo hard even to stand up on two feet after two weeks off!? Found myself looking at him in amazement/shock/puzzlement/bewilder........ when he showed us exercises, my brain hurts. Was all very strange dancing again, but felt good, good, good! I wasn't actually completely idle for the two weeks! Woke up once feeling very lazy and got Allan out of bed to do a psycho workout in our living room.
This actually involved me turning into a drill instructor and becoming his personal trainer- well! he brings out the maternal bossiness in me! I worked hard too, and became this monster because he kept giving up! Also went swimming which was delicious (I know that sounds strange but I lurrrve being in water (am a piscean you know!)) I did lots of lengths without even noticing!
Am sure a v. strange man was following me though, up and down, up and down the pool there he was i'd stop, he'd stop and stare! What's the matter with these people!?
Have given up drinking for a while- am too late for lent apparently. WATCH THIS SPACE! Can I go out to a club and have a good time without having a drink..........................................?!
Humble
Feel very humble at the moment. Humble and a bit selfish. It is quite incredible to me that people my age and younger are ready to die for this country's freedom. Meanwhile I make dance pieces which are pretty much all about......me. I've been thinking a lot about how self-absorbed artists are, have to be. As artists, we have cocooned ourselves into another world completely detatched from the rest of the world's reality. I don't think we are wrong, I think we are somehow necessary for it all to work. I feel very priveliged to be able to get up every day and just dance.
An Average Week
What a really average week. This would be a perfect time to give you an overview of a recent, really average day, but that would be a very average thing to do so I think I'll leave that for another time.............I hope everyone feels like this sometimes, just not entirely content in their own skin, but not wanting particularly to be anyone else! Time is ticking, and the end of term is near so I am probably just a bit anxious about what the hell I am going to do after this course.
My general plan is to leave the N.V U.K (not very united kingdom) and head for a less pretentious dance scene abroad. I think I literally need a burst of sun to shower me with some heat / positivity / creativity / and UV rays. Even though I was born in the N.V.U.K I still think it just might be possible I am suffering from that syndrome people get when they need the sun- Scotland is soooooooo GREY!
It is my brthday on Sunday. Will be 22- getting on a bit! This is my first birthday up in the Greyness and although I will be sad not to see all my friends in London (especially you zobo-london live laydeeee!), I have arranged a night on the razzle so I won't be alone!
Choreog' is going well, have volunteered to do an extra piece now, so am v.v.busy. Will be attending Allan's site specific performance on Saturday- the rehearsals for these have been causing a bit of disturbance, there seem to be dancers on every surface of The Space at the moment! Think Allan is off to a concert tonight........Sexy, everything about you..............
Filed by Article19 at 12:57 PM | 
