RESPONSES TO GREEN SILENCE

I found Green Silence through movement.

Moving from the mountain to the sea, I found myself deep in conversation with nature—my limbs echoing the pulse of rocks, the whisper of waterfalls. This dance was my meditation, my way of journaling the earth's silent stories.

In this solitude, I realised academia's limitations in guiding me towards a transformative relationship with our planet. I was seeking something more—a deeper connection with the earth’s movement intelligence. It was during a writers' workshop, amidst a circle of creative souls, that the path to Movement Art Practice was unveiled to me.

My relationship with dance has always been complicated and awkward, yet profoundly significant. Dance has the power to dissolve societal norms and hierarchies, fostering a collective solidarity.  Entering a studio that not only embraced contemporary dance but also intertwined Māori worldviews and meditative movement was like stepping into a dream. Was I ready for this? Was I worthy?

It was here that I landed upon the invitation to sign up to the Green Silence community project. 

Together, we took an oath toward a collective adventure - wiggling through the park's spirit. This experience began to weave and nestle into my tendrils of solitary encounters with nature. 

Under Sarah's guidance, a contemporary dance choreographer, our group delved into a realm of creative exploration. She skilfully crafted a space where we could both remember and reimagine the park's past, turning these memories into an immersive dance

narrative. Sarah's vision transcended the conventional performer-audience dynamic, inviting all into a shared experience of movement, space, and nature.

In one session, Sarah led us to explore memories tethered to the park. We embarked

on a meditative journey to reconnect with our past experiences in the park. This introspective exercise was not just a mere recollection of memories but a deep, emotional excavation. Olive and I, each submerged in our own thoughts, were about to bring these reflections to life through movement.

As we emerged from the meditation, the air was thick with unspoken stories. Olive’s movements began to unravel the tale of a significant other, each gesture laden with a mix of love, pain, and nostalgia. I, in turn, found myself expressing the complex relationship with my brother, my movements oscillating between train parks and loss.

Our dance became a powerful medium of storytelling. As we moved, our individual narratives started to intertwine, creating a tapestry of raw emotion. There was a fiery intensity in our movements, reminiscent of flames licking the air – passionate, untamed, and revealing. This was not just a dance; it was a spilling out of our body’s narrative.

The space between us became charged with energy, as if we were not merely dancing but conjuring the spirits of our pasts. Our movements grew more intense, mirroring the vociferous relations that surged within us. This was a dance of raw, feminine grit—a dance that spoke of wounds and healing, loss and recovery.

As our movement collapsed, it felt as though we were not just two individuals but embodiments of every woman who had ever grappled with the complexities of familial bonds. In this moment of explosive entanglement, Olive and I shared a profound understanding, a recognition of the strength and vulnerability that coexist within us.

Sarah's mastery in understanding people and their connection with movement was evident. She created an environment where each one of us could fully immerse ourselves in the dance, regardless of our state of mind or being.

This project became a confluence of community, collaboration, play and personal transformation. It allowed me to confront and overcome my fears around collaboration, joyously a newfound sense of relationality and authentic expression through movement.

The culmination of this project was nothing short of a creative convergence—a dance with the collective life force. To all those who participated and witnessed, this experience was a treasure, a transformative journey, and, above all, what the heck.. It was a good time!

Thank you to everyone involved in Green Silence - a heartfelt reminder of the power of dance, community, and our connection to green spaces

By Claire Burgess, CCP Participant.

ART & GRAPHIC DESIGNED BY PHEBE MANDER