She wasn't feeling well. Large doses of medication made her face puffy. Still, Emilie agreed to be interviewed. I could not be on the West Coast. I knew time was of the essence.
On an early November morning in 2013, Sharon Weil began the interview before Emilie's weekly Tuesday class. The subject was creativity. David Gilbert and Russell Mulock were there to film. At the beginning, Emilie felt quite ill; passion and discipline kept her going. Sharon, David and Russell provided loving support. After teaching class, Emilie felt better and asked to continue the interview.
Back East, with editorial and technical assistance, I crafted the video over the next several months, using the interview's audio and video footage, as well as excerpts from Emilie’s dances Nijinsky and Kafka in Love and the stunning photographs of Emilie by Lauren Devon.
The video's title, The Spirit Soars, comes from a question Emilie posed, speaking of the creative process. "There are moments in our lives," she says, "that crystalize something that is inexplicable, that touches our soul in some way. You know, what makes the spirit soar?”
Speaking of the unlikely path that led her to the creation of Continuum, she goes on, "... All of a sudden, you're engaged in something that in a way, your spirit is being ignited, and that starts to take you on a journey that you didn't know you were going to go on ... There is an ignition of something that is recognized, that is not really explicable, that is like some deep ... deep knowing. And you're called to fulfill it in some way."
Now, two years after what would have been her 80th birthday, each Continuum Movement Arts live performance begins with the vocal clip of Emilie asking this potent question. It is not only to remember her, but also to "re-member" ourselves and re-ignite the creative spark awaiting in each artist and in every member of the audience. That inexplicable and real source of all inspiration and endeavor.
Today, I offer you the small gift of this video. Whenever you would like some inspiration, spend a few minutes with Emilie. I learn something new each time I watch and listen to these 8 minutes. As she says, "The creative spirit is what saves us."
Sincerely,
Elaine
Photo by Lauren Devon, 2011
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Continuum Movement Arts' next live event
Dance, Poetry and Visual Art
Inspired By Continuum
takes place on
Tuesday, July 5, 2016 at 8 pm,
in Stillwater Studio at Omega Institute, Rhinebeck, New York
as part of
The Continuum Immersion,
Honoring Emilie Conrad’s Legacy.
If you are in the area, we would be delighted to have you join us.
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