Encontro 2010 Videos

Encontro 2010 Videos

Juba do Leao at the Welsh Encontro Samba Weekend. I love the sixth one down best. Brian and Ile do Egba.

And...

Actually, this is the crux of The Monster Belt as well. Bit of a theme running through everything I write it would seem ...

Nothing left to lose

What I'm concentrating on - had a revelation last night of something I haven't covered in Leaving Coty and it's a major theme in Erosion, what people who have nothing left to lose do? A newspaper guy offers Tessa a big sum of money to tell her story of Coty. Of course she says no, but what would happen if she was so destitute that this would save her from the streets? No welfare system, no family, no back up. What would you do? What would I do? I've always wondered how I'd react if put to the test. Save myself rather than someone else? I think it's my biggest nightmare. I don't think I'd come out very well morally if I was in say, Belsen or Auswitz. I hope I would, but I don't know. Save myself at the cost of someone else, when really pushed to the limit?
So, when a sum of money for selling your story to the papers would save you from selling yourself, then would you do it? Would I do it? Would Tessa?

The Physical

Editing

I've axed down to 80,044 words. Book agents and publishers have made me obsessed by the word count. I feel as if I'm on the bus in the film "Speed." If my book touches 80,000 words, the bomb is triggered and if I fall below that number, the bomb goes off.

I'm editing now for grammar, spelling etc on the computer. Can look forward to tense shoulders, stiff neck, aching back, heavy head...lots of long hot baths to ease the muscles.

Thankfully, it's Juba tonight. Will dance it all out. Need the physical to combat the cranial.

Axing words

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh Editing. Have axed down to just above 80,000. What am I doing? My back hurts. Sitting at a computer is hard work...Will there be anything left?

Editing Leaving Coty

Yipee. The end is in sight. I'm typing up the big edit onto the computer and then will check it through purely for grammar etc. Then another look to check the story, then print up for another read...imput changes, send off...
I'm excited.

Juggling the real world and the world of last weekend in Cardiff. In my head. Making sense of how these are both part of who I am. I know I'm not alone with this. After any momentous occasion there is a shift. Could be a downer, often is, a low after a high, but then of course, that will shift again and another high will come.
And it was such a high. The entire Welsh Encontro. I was only there for the Sunday evening show at The Coal Exchange but that was sufficient to come away with feeling that I am part of something unique, empowering, life enhancing, exhilarating and that is passed on in a vast chain. If my insides could smile they would be reeling with laughter.
What made the evening was the joy that erupted through the room. The sound of the drums, all the instruments, the singing, the dancing on stage and off, the moving bodies, the smiling faces. One big mass sharing of appreciation.
And now, sitting at the computer, will soon be downstairs editing a hard copy of LC, quiet, the house quiet. In the mind, not the body. And after being in the body completely that night.
And that is what Tessa has in LC. I read an article, will talk about this tomorrow as don't particularly want to get into it now, but it was about how the journalist hates working women only 'getting what life is about' when they have a weepy moment and see that love and a man is what life is really about.
Made me think what I was doing with LC. And what it is about is like juggling the dance with the real world. The physical with the cerebral. Tessa has her dream job. She is a career girl. She lives in her head. The dilemma is, is that she begins to feel that she wants to listen to her body. And her body is telling her to dance. And dancing is doing what your body is telling you to do.

Samba Encontro, Cardiff

Sunday, May 2nd 2010 at the Coal Exchange, Cardiff, Wales.
What an evening. Every band playing offered something different from the others to make up a completely fulfilling event. Love the Buena Vista Social Club, music, looks, attitude.
Then our band, Juba do Leao. What to say? The audience were fantastic. This brought home even stronger what has been spoken about before. As one of the dancers, positioned between the crowd and the drummers we are in a unique position. Facing the crowd facing us and picking up the enthusiasm, spinning around, making eye contact with the band, passing the energy and picking up theirs, spinning around back to the crowd, passing the energy, picking up theirs and on and on...
Fantastic.

But first, entering Wales over the beautiful bridge. We felt we were going abroad! Stunning bridge. And then entering Wales and all so easy until we reached Cardiff. We came off the motorway, followed a sign for the Bay, then no other signs to direct us to the Millenium Centre of Cardiff Bay. Asked a couple of people who were lovely and helpful. Drove around and around the Millenium Centre trying to find the hotel that had looked so close. In the end pulled up at the Travel Lodge to ask. The Future Inn, Cardiff Bay was tucked away behind Pizza Hut and Chicitos and the Red Dragon Shopping Centre. But very nice when we eventually dropped off our bags before heading, couldn't find, then eventually found The Coal Exchange where we were performing that night. Amazing mix of new builds, old, neglected beautiful buildings complete with plants growing out of chimney stacks, and imposing, run down facades. Tucked away around the back, again, is The Coal Exchange. Very impressive. Fantastic music venue, complete with all the original signs etc showing its former use.
And the event was very, very well organised. Compliments and thanks to all in charge of that. Great stage manager. Felt looked after, safe and welcome.

Okay. Enough. Another day.