We are just back from our trip to New York City, on invitation of Moon.Cat.Ropes and Temple NYC: tired, happy, full of impressions, grateful, touched.
New York – the city that never sleeps, indeed. When we were not sharing, teaching, performing, speaking – we walked in the streets. This big apple is just a melting pot – true diversity.
Pictures by Alexander MA
The rope community in and around Temple is young, developing, growing. In many aspects, maybe like Berlin 10 years ago. The community felt warm, open, curious. We were welcomed with open arms, with questions and an eagerness to learn. The rope scene over there seems to us in that beautiful “nascent” state, full of potential, full of opportunities.
“In USA we do not have our own teachers for Semenawa” – we heard this type of statement a lot. One of the few examples when it feel the USA is behind Europe – not vice versa. There are good teachers in USA, also for traditional Japanese rope. But yes, Europe feels much more developed and diversified in this respect.
We are definitely up for doing some contribution here.
Pictures by Alexander MA, except “Natasha on the hot tin roof”, by Masha
As we spend more time then usual in a community – a full week, including 2 weekends – we also could share so much more of our research.
Everything starts with a Gote… On the first Saturday, we presented our approach to a stemless Gote, capable to support Bottoms in challenging suspensions.
It was a good format – 5 hours – covering not only technique, but also intention, communication, and aesthetic.
Pictures by Femme4Rope
On the Sunday we shared our approach tying “outside the box”. This is a topic that resonated a lot, recently. How can we create our unique handwriting, still respecting a traditional style. How to find our own solutions – whilst keeping our bottoms safe and not repeating all the mistakes from the generations before us?
Pictures by Femme4Rope
Over the week, Natasha gave her keynote about “Surrender in Ropes” – and on Thursday we brought the Kinbaku Salon to NYC. We chose not to do another keynote this time (but we teased enough to hopefully get invited again) – but did a combined talking + intimate life show event, in the spirit of Naka Akira’s Nawa Kai, with sharing about what is important to us in Kinbaku before we tie, and opening for Q&A afterwards.
Pictures by Femme4Rope
Pictures by Femme4Rope
Our visit ended with sharing our most recent research in Kinbaku, 2nd time in USA now, with our 2-days “Bodies under Pressure” workshop. As many times before: we got the riggers sweaty and tired – calling this a success.
Day One Pictures by Femme4Rope
Day One Pictures by Femme4Rope
Time is flying, and as always, it was not enough, not enough sharing, not enough exchange, not enough opportunity to work with people individually, in private. Not enough walking, not enough Reuben Sandwich, not enough Jazz…
We are incredibly thankful for the opportunity to share our art, our craft, our ideas – our work. Thank you Mooncatropes for making this possible, for hosting us (you bedded us well in that city that never sleeps), for your assistance – and for all these late night discussions. Thank you Masha and William and Margherita from Temple NYC for creating this beautiful space and frame to make all the events possible.
And Thank You to everyone who trusted us, who wanted to learn, who wanted to see us. Thank you for your questions, but also thank you for your attitude to learn. You all are incredible.
I’ve been in love with that city since I stepped out of Penn Station on the icy-cold, sunny February day in 2001, and now, finally I could share this love with Natasha.
So why wouldn’t we come back? We hope see ya’all again soon! <3
