01/06/2020
A few years ago, I watched perhaps one of the most powerfully moving dance pieces I've ever had the privilege to photograph.
An audience circled the performance space, and there were glass jars full of water placed around the perimeter.
The dancer started on curled in, unfurling slowly and crawling on their hands into the middle of the circle.
Slowly breathing, they stretched and went from crouching to standing, billowing at full height.
From the centre of the space they made their way to the perimeter, finding a jug of water and splashing their face with it. Then washing hands, then drinking from the jar, reaching over and finding another jar and drinking from that one, then picking up the biggest jar and pouring it at themselves so fast that it drenched them. One after another, the jars were poured out, around and over the dancer as they span in the space and finished collapsed back catching their breath.
I cannot tell you how many people were crying watching this piece. I was one of them. I have never seen catharsis embodied in such a simple and profound way before.
The moving from lethargy, depletion, grief but then flowing into renewal, refilling, joy and overflow.
There are many people at the moment in a place of depletion, numbness, grief and lethargy. Maybe you have your own words for how you'd describe it. But it is my hope and prayer that you're able to step into the spaces where you are renewed, encouraged and refilled.
Brimming
Dancer - Hayley Thompson
