March 1-May 9, 2021 // Farnsworth Park
Wind Down
The Wind blows to the Southeast tonight. Carrying billows of clouds with her. Hurling across the sky and blanketing the moon like running water. The place where the moon shines like a rainbow where the clouds pass. Translucent water and mist. I sit under the Pine tree and look up. “Look for water in the East”, says the Wind.
Wind Down is a dance research piece where Lollie uses observation and movement exploration to deepen her connection to the Wind and Red-tail Hawks outside her doorstep. In her self-guided Research + Development Residency, Lollie picked up her movement practice outdoors, both solo and with dance artists Stephanie Zaletel and Jordan Saenz. Walks, hikes and dancing in the park were part of Lollie’s weekly process as she learned more about how Wind moves, speaks and supports the birds around her. Lollie has found that by being outside, nature is able to help with processing complex stories that cannot be rationalized. She believes that by taking time to witness nature, always in communication alongside us, we can receive messages and transform our personal narratives. For this project Lollie’s vision is to create a relationship with these Spirits and to share parts of the journey through dance and storytelling.
More about our 2021 Research + Development Residencies HERE.
Observations and Messages from Wind Down
Hunt
I walked inside and sat down near my window. Restless but eager for stillness I looked up and out into the bright blue sky. A Red-tail Hawk flew into view, just above the trees on the horizon. “Hunt for the well water”.
Whispers
If there is too much noise you can’t hear her.
The wind carries messages and whispers.
From the tall Pine to the low leaves.
The Hawks glide in her whispers and soar in her light.
When she is loud and roaring the birds wait, making no movements or flight.
They bear down in their nests and hold onto the branches in the screeching.
Leaves overturning, trees shaking and trash cans buckling down.
Nothing is left untouched in the outdoors.
And small wisps of wind move through the cracks of framed doors.
The rumble can be heard from underground.
Can you hear her?
I Look For Them
Sometimes the Hawks seem like they are absent. Not in their tree or flying. Those days feel more empty. I look for them. I go inside. Some of those days blend together like one long day. I worry that they have gone somewhere else, for good. Then when the sun is out after the rain I see countless birds sometimes. Out at the park I stretch my arms to fill the outside space. Under the rolling clouds I feel safe to express myself. Small gusts of wind on my face. The Hawks travel in pairs of two, West, North and East. They fly in unison with their wings spread all the way out long enough to catch a small cloud. Often switching places, it looks playful from the cement below. They are silent. I have never seen their faces. I imagine the Red-tails as smiling.
Hunting
When a Red-tail Hawk sees her prey she has a moment of drifting in the sky. Time slows down for a moment. Then she dives forward, wings folded in and is gone. Cutting a straight line across the sky, only getting faster as she closes in on her target. I never see the target. It is too far away. She disappears.
Two
What looked like one bird split into two.
Return
I return to an outcrop I like in Rubio Canyon in the morning, facing East. The Red-tail Hawks like this area. I see them here often, making sudden appearances from the rocks in the hillsides. These are mountain Hawks. Today there is a warm cloud storm moving overhead and I hear the thunder. The clouds are a blurry dark grey, making no distinct shapes. The Wind is loud and cold as it moves through the canyon trees blowing up dust. I close my eyes to avoid dust and sand and wait while this storm passes. Then I walk down the mountain to rolling words tumbling over, tumbling and falling, cascading and falling, falling and fleeting, down and urgent, down into my bones, into my memory, tumbling together and apart into a song…
“Return. Return to the land.”
“There is medicine here.”
“Return. Return to the land. Return to Nature. You don’t have to go far.”
“There is medicine here.”
“Return. Return to the land. Return to Nature.”
“Return. Return. Return. Return.”
About Lindsey Lollie
Lindsey Lollie is a Mexican/African American dancer, teacher and choreographer from Altadena, CA. She enjoys teaching and practicing movement as a way to connect to the community and exchange energy. Over the years she has found refuge in movement through various forms and styles, from house to contemporary dance to yoga to chicago footwork. Lollie’s pieces have been selected for festivals and art happenings in Los Angeles such as LA Dance Festival, Celebrate Dance, REDCAT Studio, The Lightning Series, Hi Solo, Home LA, CalArts Commuter Fest, and Face the Music Dance Festival. Lollie has worked closely with artists Stephanie Zaletel/szalt and Jordan Saenz, dancing and teaching together for many years. She has also performed for Liz Hoefner, Sarah Elgart, Rebecca Bruno, Jay Carlon, Nguyen Nguyen and Mollie Wolf.
Our 2021 Research + Development Residencies were supported in part by a grant from the California Arts Council, a state arts agency.
