Revival

Coming out of a long comatose, the MIL is back. It wasn't a lethargic comatose though. More like a just-got-hit-by-a-train-gotta-lie-down-for-a-bit comatose.

A reminder that the MIL was created to explore forms of improvisation and provide a place for discover, exploration, experimentation and collaboration. It began with a group of individuals from both Denver and Boulder who shared their chops and raised the stakes. I see non-hierarchical forum, a quality of the MIL, as a valuable exchange for theses two communities.


A group of individuals have decided to get together at Naropa University once a week to improvise together in an incredibly open score. There are no limitations on movement, sound, spoken text, music, recorded or live. At the onset, people are wary of structure and show their affection for little outline. It seems that as the weeks pass, and the group matures, the group may eventually become more structured, carefully sculpted. I see structure here as a possible for more freedom, rather than less.

I see the MIL as having its own body. And the MIL as a guest for the group for now; taking up residency in a mostly empty room with wood floors and live bodies. Taking it one week at a time.

Moving on to the good and gritty now...

Photo by Amelia Charter

• Introductions... why are you here?

• Warming Up...(without it actually being named as a warm up) Working in a dark room with orange street lamp glow. Music in the beginning. Quickly turned off.

• Moving into the awkward, distance, stretching, yawning, struggle and shaking which eventually became familiar, spatial awareness, movement, exploration, play and community.

Some moments that came through. Moments that stood out:

A diagonal journey across the room continuously speaking, pushing to use words. Something like, "Well it feels like Tuesday, Orange spaces that rise and fill, travel the world and be rich and famous."

RICH AND FAMOUS. RICH AND FAMOUS. famous. fAmOUSs. RRRRiCH and FAMOUS famous

Exploring dialogue. The use of words. Really being able to go there and be in it, versus, being just a step back, not quite in it all the way.

Happy Birthday. Party Hats. Living in a Hostel. Giggles. Circles. Women.

RICH (rich) AND FAMOUS. famous.

Sewing up the arm and the heart. A little nip and tuck. I am using a circular needle and I noticed that you are not. Much better. I feel better. You look better. Better. A sale. I am a sale. For sale. Just a little gust of wind. shhhhoooooooooo........

Near the end we all ended up on the floor. Some contact. Some not. We lied there for what felt like a nice moment of finding chords together. Vibrating against the floor. Relaxed. Calm. Listening. Communicating. Simple.

Questions: Warming up? The beginning? Middle and End for that matter? Naming things and not naming them?