From Circus to the Circle

Matilda Leyser is, as far as I know, part of Improbable, a Theatre company ran on Open Space... or something. I was lucky to see her in Wosonos Berlin 2010, inviting us so graciously and wholeheartedly to London for WOSONOS 2012. They are also inviting us to
Devoted & Disgruntled 7, late February ...

Do you love theatre? Do you find it frustrating? Do you wish it were different? Do you feel like an outsider in your own profession? Have you just started out and need support? Have you been in the profession for years and feel jaded? Is your sector always left out of the discussions? Do you usually dread discussions and meetings? Are you looking for a sense of: community, eldership, mentorship? Are you looking to change things?

I dropped in this older beautiful gem accidentally. What else could I do than bring this story here? OSLIST is a true treasure. Whenever I visit it I feel so grateful!

Hello all, and a bow to Harold.

I wanted to let the list know that I facilitated my first large open space on Saturday - for Circus! I have done several little ones (and many involving just me and Phelim and some
Monkeys!) but this was the first one I had held for a big group. About 130 people.

Before I met Phelim I worked as an aerialist (trapeze artist) for ten years. Meeting Phelim and encountering Open Space all formed part of my climbing back down to the ground- it made earth seem more appealing. I have been earthbound now for 3-4 years so it was a wonderful and big thing for me to bring my learning since leaving the circus world back to that community. 

There was a fantastically diverse turn out: students and elders, traditional and contemporary circus were all represented.

A sample of session titles for you:

-Circus can't tell a story?
-What's the best trick you've ever seen?
-Why do we never feel good enough?
-The space between 10 minutes and 1 hour
-If circus gets well funded and organised where will all the freaks and weirdos go to play?
- corporate whore v serious artist?

And many others....

People asked 'can we do this again?' in closing circle. My first ever aerial teacher who must surely be approaching 70 said he felt re-inspired and I had to hold it together.

Lastly I would like to share what helped me at the start when I felt most terrified. Phelim told me to walk the circle ten times slower than I thought was slow and that reminded me of the last aerial piece I made: it was on a cloud swing (a rope swing) and I spoke during it and described what it felt like. It began with a haiku that went like this:

Oh snail,

Climb Mount Fuji

But slowly. 

After reciting that to the group and walking a slow circle, it turned out it was a smooth downhill slide all the way as everyone got on with it - seasons, marketplace, work....

Thank you 

Matilda  x

... And Lisa Heft´s smart answer next...

Matilda -

What lovely images I have from your description - both of your coming down to the ground and your wonderfully diverse and nutritious Open Space.

Congratulations / brava - they were lucky to have you.

It sounds like you did some thoughtful invitation work there, as well...

And the space...between the space...

...your breathing and being and taking your time.

As much

time

as 

it

takes.

...oh snail....

Lisa

Considering to attend Boom Festival next July, a great and artful open space. 

Did you know about it?

Eleder BuM31    Mind Mapping-Open Space Technology-Creativity

@Eleder_BuM (Twitter) www.flowandshow.blogspot.com
www.burumapak.blogspot.com (eus)

www.in-fluyendo.blogspot.com (esp) 

http://bm31-liburuak.blogspot.com     

www.bilbohiria.com/gaika/berbaz (radio interviews) 

WOSONOS: using the IT to widen the concept (II)

And Phelim, of the WOSONOS 2012  (http://wosonos2012.com), next year, oct 11-14 in London, answers soon on the OSLIST...

Artur,

Thanks for this lots of great things to consider.

And prompts lots of thoughts for me...

As we begin to explore how technology links us up ( and as someone who is slightly geeky I enjoy those possibilities) I also find myself fascinated how often something like Suzanne's simple reports bring me closer than being able to view something through a camera like a security guard!  Perhaps more interesting than this would be a booth where people can go give personal reports at specific times. 

I'm thinking out loud here so..

I can hear lots of different sides to this...

Whoever comes are the right people.

Whoever went are the right people.

Sometimes we have to accept we didn't make it there.

A live feed doesn't always "feed", isn't always nourishing and also shouldn't mean we can expect to be fed!

Being able to see a little bit makes us think they should be thinking about us more? Makes us want to be part of a party we didn't make it to?

I think perhaps for those not there.. the communications that happen "Live" are less about information out... Than information in. What I mean for example is..  "Twitter" (and I know you say you don't like it) has really changed our D&D events by providing a  stream of information and support from the outside world into the space. It has let the people at the event know there are people elsewhere  thinking of us and proposing ideas. You aren't there but you can get messages in to people from outside.

The twitter stream only seems to take off internally when the people who use it... Use it. Often it's the younger people who it's second nature for. So in the "twittersfere" it becomes like a party people can hear next door. Then the information starts to move outward...

As ever you can't force it to happen and when it emerges it is both surprising and enjoyable. But being told to have a good time at a party and play a game you don't want to play can certainly slow down the fun happening. It's taken years for it to start happening at our D&D events but it did last year and brought a whole wave of new participants. This is like "atmospheric" communication out..

Like your being able to not hear whilst being able to see, it strangely stops us trying to imagine how we might join in the conversation.. (we can't in the same way as we are not there) but use our different senses to connect to the spirit of what is happening.

So if we go down the technology route I think the information out needs a bit more creativity and form... Such as editing and filtering so people get the feel of the event whilst accepting their live contribution will be limited because they are NOT present.  This needs time and energy and the stream out is more likely to happen after the event perhaps as a next wave. Also perhaps  making any kind of live OUT stream just more obvious to be used when people WANT to.

However.. rather like TV arrogantly thinking live theatre should accommodate it we should remember what makes OS special.  I think we have to be sensitive to the beauty of the LIVE event. Knowing that I have cameras watching me and having to think about it can just be something that can get in the way of getting on with the important work at hand. 

I think what I'm trying to say is. We shouldn't get confused by these possibilities into thinking its about people who aren't there being able to join in better!  Those possibilities are about communicating more elegantly to those not there what is happening!

This doesn't mean we shouldn't have all those tools ready to be used when the new form emerges out of the energy of the group to say for instance.."Suddenly go live.. And talk to the world!"

Or create the wiki that can be contributed to. Etc..

We can make the edges of the system more porous but those holding boundaries of the event are what make the event important in the first place. The edge between those who came and those who didn't.

In terms of the event I know that the real out comes.. "Out-streams" are never the ones i think they are going to be. Who ever knows what ways opening space changes things? Some conscious.. Some mysterious.

I do know the interface between technology and opening space is an interesting one and trying to catch ghosts on camera is always fun!

Love

Phelim X
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