It's a very exciting moment

Not only did the estfest.org web site go live, but this week was a special week of connections and chance meetings. This week alone we've brought on three directors: Kimberly Senior returns, Noah Simon gets all estrongen-y doin' it Dillman style, and hopefully the hook up between Lisa Portes and Marilyn Campbell will prove to be fruitful. Monica Payne is looking at directing the 365 plays section of the fest. Kristen Cox (of Chicago Dancemakers Forum) and I spoke, knocking around excellent ideas and contacts for panels and workshops- she has such exciting ideas to offer on dance and theatre collaborations. This morning I met with Renee from the Chicago band Gamine Thief and Girls Rock! Chicago who we are trying to get on the program. And then to top it all of, tonight I'm in this old Lutheran church in Bridgeport at a weekly art/music event called The Orphanage. For a $5 donation we are fed, and fed well. Artful trees grew from the tables, my daughter laughs and jumps around the dancefloor, and following the joyous groove of MiLkBaby, two women took the stage dancing with hula hoops. And I mean dancing! It was fun and sensual and athletic and quirky and beautiful. I approached one of these women, who I can tell has a great sprit, and this yoga instructor named Mercedes tells me how she has found balance within the masculine form of yoga exercises and the feminine, circular motion of hula hooping. I want to hug her. Instead I give her my card and told her I'd love to get her to perform and run a hula hoop workshop at the fest.
So this is the kind of energy I always hope will come out of this festival. It strengthens me to see it taking shape and reaching out farther and farther. As Angela Davis said, "It's a vey exciting moment."