For some time, I have been working to bring greater musical qualities to my speaking. Then, near the start of the pandemic, I decided to go all-in and turn my DIVERSIFY talk into ‘a musical for the keynote stage’. It’s been (and continues to be) a journey!
One leg of that journey began in May of last year when I was struggling with sleep (like many of us!). I took to listening to a bit of music when I first laid down in bed to take me out of my own head. One of the tunes was ‘Nuvole Bianche’ (White Clouds) by Ludovico Einaudi. But one night it didn’t take me out of my head – instead it took me to a different part of my head. One where the image of a contemporary dance piece was forming. Initially, I assumed that it was just a dream-like musing and would pass from my memory like most dreams do. But each night this ephemeral vision became just a little bit clearer and possessed greater urgency.
I was seeing dancers from different styles, ethnicities, genders and body types as a metaphor for people in the modern workplace. An analogy for leaders that struggle to get their teams dancing with passion and purpose began to take shape.
At first their movements were like so many of today’s working environments – together but robotic, uninteresting and with few of the qualities of their individual uniqueness. Then something truly beautiful begins to happen. One at a time they become an expression of who they are…but without losing the cohesive reflection of the music that drives them all.
Among them there is one who is more different than the rest…that isn’t among the demographics that people are fighting to elevate. But because her team has now seen the value in their differences, they SEE her. They lift her up but realise they must allow her to stand in her own light…yet as a part of their shared light.
This vision wouldn’t leave me alone. It kept re-visiting me each night that I listened to the Einaudi piece. Since I know sweet FA about dance and choreography, I went in search of a choreographer to help me bring it to life. After several months of dance studios, creative arts schools and choreographers not returning my calls, emails or messages, good fortune smiled upon me. I met the amazingly talented Evie Morris, a choreographer out of Sydney. She ‘got it’…and was as passionate about making it a reality as I was!
Of course, this was just about the time that COVID reality was finally landing for Sydneysiders. But after an excruciating wait, Evie and filmmaker, Adam Williamson (https://awolproductions.com.au), finally filmed the piece in December and I received the finished product a couple of weeks ago. I was moved beyond words…blown away by how they have nurtured this seed of an idea into its full flowering potential.
Anyway, lots of words just to say, here is the latest addition to DIVERSIFY: ‘Nuvole Multicolori’ (Multicolored Clouds).
I hope you enjoy it! �
Music: Nuvole Biache by Ludovico Einaudi
Choreography and Direction: Genevieve Morris
Filming and Post-Production: Adam Williamson/AWOL Productions
Dancers: Zaniah Fae, Chantelle Landayan, Liam Berg, Ryan Ophel, Madi Young
