At Pinewoods Harmony Week this past week, I called the sleepiest gig ever.
Turnout was sparse for the afternoon contra for the duration of camp. On Friday, the last day of the week, I arrived to the hall and only one dancer was there, sitting on the floor stretching. I sat on the edge of the stage to wait for others.
Another dancer arrived and laid down flat on her back in the middle of the hall. The pianist began playing meditation/spiritual music. I decided to also lay down on the floor, as did two, then three, then four other dancers as they arrived. The other musician arrived and, as though this was all normal, began playing yoga whistle tones.
Eventually there were nine or ten of us there, laying flat on the floor, stretching, doing yoga, or moving gently to the music. The musicians transitioned to playing dance tunes, but way downtempo and still in the style of meditation music.
After half an hour of this, we decided we had time to do two very sleepy dances. I called my own dance, Amble On East, followed by Bronwyn Woods's dance Sleepwalking. It was actually perfect.
It wasn't exactly what anyone arrived to do, but it was absolutely what we all needed. Definitely a gig I hope to remember for a long time!
Thanks for the prompt, Luke!
Angela