'Yidam' choreography Ihsan Rustem. Northwest Dance Project

Yidam
Choreography by Ihsan Rustem
Northwest Dance Project
Music: Michael Gordon
Lighting: Jeff Forbes
Costumes: Lindsey Reif
Dancers:
Ching Ching Wong
Viktor Usov
Elijah Labay
Samantha Campbell
Lindsey McGill
Franco Nieto
Andrea Parson
Julia Radick
Yidam is said to be a contraction of the Tibetan phrase yid-kyi-dam-tshig, meaning "bond of mind" to an enlightened quality.
Inspired by the act of observing mind and the practice of attempting to tame mind. When I first began to meditate, I naively expected to have this immediate 'zen' like experience. That I would simply close my eyes and all would be calm. The reality could not have been further from this expectation, resembling more of a stormy chaos with thoughts and feelings vying for attention. The work is a reflection on these initial stages of attempting to find the 'nowness' in this circus of limitless space.
I fell in love with Michael Gordon's electrifying score 'Weather One' many years ago and have been patiently waiting for the right moment to take on this challenging and exciting score. The roller coaster of complexity seemingly a reflection of the dance of mind as it returns to itself again and again.

[@jermyc1035]

Awesome work!

[@hannoverlapiedra]

Really nice work Ihsan!!!