I can’t speak for wherever it is in the world that you are reading this from; but it’s springtime here in Germany.  Things are blooming, the earth offers up her fertile wonders and suitcases, packed with t-shirts, weigh less.

With this general added lightness,

I’d like to talk about sharing.

Yes, sharing.

The thing we learn to do in kindergarten because it is nice, it makes the other person smile and you feel good too.

Sharing.

The thing we are taught to do with our feelings, problems, so they don’t get bottled up and cause indigestion.  Sharing.

The thing depicted in movies as either beautiful, shocking, depressing, or too much.

Sharing.

There is a type of sharing I experienced recently that made me contemplate the topic further.  There is a sharing we sometimes miss.  That with a complete stranger.  A connection in simple conversation that allows us to reflect, which brings out words otherwise not uttered in such a particular way.

I know there are many articles telling us to put away technology because it is removing our connection.  This is not one of those.  I mean, from my standpoint, writing this on an Internet platform, it can’t be; that would be me completely invalidating myself and disrespecting your action and attention taken to read it; but hey to each their own.  And don’t worry it is not a ploy from liberals to steal your money and make everything a communist haven….well, maybe. Actually, I believe connections can still work here.  Between humans.  Here, in this place that exists not here nor there, but everywhere internet can be found.  Because even though I spend most of my time in this place alone and sometimes watching videos of a dude putting on pants without hands, there are those beautiful moments of learning by reading and watching, receiving a note from my friend in Guam or a video of my baby nephew walking around the house wearing only one shoe.  What we are often forgetting here is dialogue.  Even in person.  Questions posed, answers given.  True answers.  Answers from the heart, answers that come up when we give our respect to the conversation and jump in. I’m not saying all must be a deep intellectual serious pursuit, but when attention is fully there a spark can be ignited.  A glimpse of magic might be found.

Let me preface the rest (and main point) of this post with an anecdote from my “recent sharing experience”:

After a rather last minute request from an employee of the Pina Bausch Foundation and moment of general good-naturedness and team spirit on my part, I found myself in the current Pina exhibition in Bonn.  Seated at a cafe table in a replica of our rehearsal space, “the Lichtburg”, slightly anxious, awaiting seven rounds of “speed-dating”.

No, this speed dating was not for romantic pursuits.  It was to allow the public of the exhibition a chance to sit down, face to face, and ask people from Tanztheater Wuppertal questions.  I found the idea nice but to be honest, expected a rather run of the mill time: the questions we always get, the answers I always give.

Yet, it wasn’t that at all!

I found myself diving into conversation with complete strangers, laughing like old friends, giving insights I hadn’t even realized until that moment.  Round after round I was speaking freely, from the heart, from my experiences, from what I believe.

Afterwards I felt open.  I felt kindred thankfulness to those who spoke with me, to the exhibition, to my colleagues, even to Pina.

There were connections made, and they grew their spindly strings and made more connections.  In the air, in my brain, in our day.

We didn’t exchange details.  It wasn’t about making new friends and keeping in touch.  It was about that moment in that space, meeting and having a dialogue.

Now I realize that this experience is not going to take place at every bus stop.  Its glory is largely due to the fact that I am a dancer for Tanztheater Wuppertal Pina Bausch and these people were visiting a Pina Bausch exhibition.  We were mutually happy to see one another.  We were there under the same tent.

But I can’t completely ignore it. It felt too right.

And so, I’d like to ask of you something.

I would like to ask to engage you in a conversation. An internet dialogue.

Here in a place we’ve entered where we share a common interest.

Here is my proposal:

Below in the comment section you can write a question.  A real curiosity. It can be about me as a person, dancer, writer, whatever you like, or not about me at all.  (Although I will answer from my mind…. I’m not looking to take on your research papers).  In return I will jump in.  I will answer honestly, candidly and as best I can, from that place I found in speed dating.

Then we will go from there.  If it’s mutually interesting we can continue the dialogue. Perhaps it can become the next post (with your approval of course).

But before I get ahead of myself, let’s try it out.  Let’s have an Internet speed date.

You’ve got my details.

After all, it is ‘Interview En L’air’, right?

Main Photo courtesy of Chris Haring