The title for this post is something I say (in some form or another) with reference to the process of breathing at the start of a release-based class. The notion of breathing in fresh oxygen/energy to every cell of our being and of emptying on exhalation unwanted tension and clutter from mind and body. A process akin to a practical working environment but equally I feel in the process of drafting essays, proposals, literature reviews; to continue to draw in, to be open to fresh ideas/thoughts and recognise how they may fuel your writing, your research, and (possibly harder) to be able to let go of the clutter, editing your drafts, being able to lose what is not so relevant, to really find the essence of what it is you are trying to say. This, I believe, is a huge learning task in itself, finding what you want to say, how you are going to say it and not being too precious over all your have read, experienced and learnt, if it is not relevant to the purpose of the particular piece of writing you're engaging with now. That is ok, hang onto it, it may well come to the fore in another task, or in another context altogether of your practice. The knowledge is still with you, but you need to make choices as to where it is shared most appropriately.
Like the process of making work choreographically. I am in the process of making a new work for our BA Dance Performance students show on May 23rd and was talking to dancers this week about not being precious over material they/we create if it is not then used in the final piece. It is not wasted. The process of creating it has still been of value, and the resulting material is (in my mind) theirs to use as they please in their own work, in another project when/where it may be more relevant.
So, as the essay writing for you as well as the choreographic process for me comes to the editing and refining phase, embrace the 'in' breath, let go of the 'out' breath, keep breathing, keep learning, seek relevance and clarity in mind, body and on paper!
Helen
