Ask yourself this... part 2

As Emily’s and Lasso’s work evolved, they reached out to the musical life in Memphis to listen carefully to what our community could bring to their search. The dancers are asked to give very internal, individual responses to the music and then take that feeling and widen it as they dance in groups. Lasso’s experience in Africa, Emily’s in the U.S., and the work built in Memphis are all steps in a process Emily and Lasso are producing at Yale University and in Burkina Faso. Now, they have added Ballet Memphis – and we are glad to support them. I would say that their deliberate, thoughtful process itself is a manifestation of work in community, among people reaching across barriers to go forward to create avenues of understanding.

Jane Comfort’s new premiere I Will Follow Him: A Brief History closes our program with a romp through the women’s story since 1950, and part of her preparation was Susan Douglas’ work Where the Girls Are and Gail Collins recent best-seller, When Everything Changed. For many of us, this will be a trip down memory lane, and a birthday celebration of sorts. But look carefully, and think carefully. How much more must be done? What do we expect of ourselves, of our daughters, our partners, our leaders? Who is listening? Who is seeing? What are we saying? How are we, in effect, continuing to present ourselves? According to us, according to others? Are we continuing to encourage both men and women, all children, all people, to support one another’s dreams and journeys?

If we believe our work as supporters of one another in different kinds of community is important, how do we help our nation look at community as something just as important as self? Are there glass ceilings because community still isn’t valued as much as the solo winner, pushing self forward above all else? Is there still too much “winner take all” mentality rather than “how can all become winners?”

I mentioned earlier “a place at the table.” The kind of table we set, and whom is seated there has mattered very much in our culture. We find women and men of all races now around our dinner tables, corporate conference tables, and operating tables. This is something all Americans can be proud of. We celebrate that progress together and still keep in mind that there are still many not at the feast. Let us keep creating, attending and supporting art that remembers this. Let’s support those journeys of new voices, new ideas, and expand the number of seats at our tables. Let’s make room for the voices which may be less powerful, and hear what they have to say. Let’s learn that those who are busy taking care of others are busy supporting us all.