Poetry as Dance
An interview with Hoshi on Poetry in Dance
We met with Hoshi Tamura to discuss her creative style of dance. We list 3 of her works at the end of this article. Though her writing is not seen in the books, or book form, I appreciate creativity for exposition style dancing, or where the format allows. In that regard I consider Hoshi as the founder of a new genre of ‘Poetry faction’. Not every need view it if it’s not to their taste, but I challenge audiences to relax for 8 minute and enjoy it while you can see it.
My Snow and I met with her on several occasions from Sept 2015 to March 2016 in addition to attending her performances. We began as we entered the place she works.
Hoshi - “This is Hoshi's place of composition and inspiration”
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| Hoshi in her private dance dojo |
Hoshi: Master girl can no more give up her style than girl could stop breathing and live.
Koardan: Well said Hoshi.
Question
Koardan: “What inspired you to write poetry with a dance?”
Hoshi: that is easy. it is how girl thinks
Koardan nods. “Well answered.”
Koardan: How do you write good poetry, that fits dance, as opposed to something that does not work well?
Hoshi: good poetry is the heart’s song. Do not over think. Just listen to the song
Koardan: What about those who cannot hear?
Koardan: You successfully convey the FEEL, in spite of that
Hoshi: Then they are in deeeep podo. everyone can hear their heart. the song is the love and joy in each person.
Hoshi: love of a parent. a mate, a child. or life in general
Koardan: beautiful.
Question
Koardan: How much is inspiration - coming up with the idea, vrs editing and rework?
Hoshi: Ummm do not know. what girl dances is what girl has written. Am I supposed to rewrite it?
Hoshi: Sometimes the idea is a picture. or a word. or a feeling. each has its own mind tone.
Hoshi: Hard to explain as I do not know what sound is
Question
Koardan: Do you use a formal structure for your poetry? Iambic pentameter, (chuckles), or from your heart?
Hoshi: just girls emotions and what girl feels
Hoshi: no real structure. to over think it damages the feel and the flow of the emotions passed to the audience
Hoshi: the only correcting girl does is spelling and perhaps commas and such. the words are as they are when written they remain.
Hoshi: All girl does is write the poem. then write the emotes to Match in a Gorean theme.
Question
Koardan: So (leans in,) Hoshi, how much time goes into composing a Poetry -dance?
Hoshi: in girls case due to her personal difficulties about 200 hours Master. Sometimes more, sometimes a little less
Question - Prep surroundings
Koardan: How much does nature fit into your style? I know it is an essential part of Haiku, for instance (As we look around we note Hoshi’s beautiful dance composition area, filled with waterfalls)
Hoshi: as Master can see with where girl chooses to work Nature and natural surroundings are very important. To write properly one needs to be relaxed and comfortable even in SL
Koardan grins. "Sounds like secret sauce, and good advice."
Hoshi: please excuse my English Master at times it slips
Question - How to Relax
Koardan: "Hoshi, I suspect you, like many, bear many difficulties. How do you relax?
Hoshi: In RL I have a dojo for working out and releasing stress. In SL by creating Dances even if they are never used
Koardan: Excellent (Dojo - place of study, usually a martial arts school or where martial arts are practiced)
Question - Trove
Koardan: so, do you have a trove of dances you could share with us? some people have not yet read or seen?
Hoshi: girl has a few of her favorites if Master wishes.
/// - tell us about the dance in general (your inspiration, challenges, etc)
Dance Example: “Alegria”
Hoshi: what caused that one was my Daughter. she is into gymnastics and loves that group.
[17:59] Hoshi: So I wrote that one for her.
How about this Emote?
Joys flight. A dance of life.
Fighting against cold endless night.
Dreams held, a future veiled.
The dancer moves with determined stride.
Slipping from shadows hold into unfiltered light.
Koardan: can you comment on what it was like to write that?
Hoshi: that was also because of my Daughter. girls illness was causing problems and my daughter was crying. So I promised I would fight with all I had Heart and Soul so I did not leave her alone.
Koardan: so very touching Hoshi. This explains some of the power behind your performances.
Hoshi: All my emotes and dances are written from personal and emotional events some past like the loss of an owner of eight years. to recent of fighting to stay with my daughter
Hoshi: Well when a seven-year-old cries no one with a heart can say no.
((See appendix for the "Alegria" dance, as well as others by Hoshi
Koardan - How do you feel people react to your dances?
Hoshi: Master girl is going to be honest in this answer and some may not like it.
Hoshi: But in all honesty girl does not care if they like it or not. I dance for myself and my owner. the rest just happen to be present if they enjoy it fine. if they do not that is also fine.
Koardan nods thoughtfully. "I agree, and well stated. I feel it in your work - pure expression - driven from fire within. A Gorean dancer before her Free. “
- No doubt, no fright.
- To her world, like all dancers, a brightly burning light.
ﻜησѡ (Snow): “aaawwww, lovely.”
Hoshi: I have three people in SL that I consider my inspiration. The first was CuriousDeb Writer, second, Dominque Rayna, and my third inspiration is Babypea von Phoenix
Hoshi: Sissy Deb asked that I dance for her as she was no longer able. that was the day before she left both worlds. I keep my promises.
Question
Koardan: What about Deb inspired you?
Hoshi: Her fire and delight in dancing and teaching is what drew me
Hoshi: I would watch her as she worked and then when no one was around I would dance to try to create the beauty as she did.
Koardan: I feel you have honored her request. Tell us more about that - watching Deb
Hoshi: I own the sim that she lived on. Ir is Named Rainbows End.
Hoshi: She was always helping me when I had a difficulty or somesuch as close to a real sister as a person could get except for blood
Hoshi: but I have known her for many many years as she and I were at the same kajira school when I first came to SL Gor. it was named Iaomai. It has been gone for many many years now. But it taught well. Fiona was also there.
Snow: Hoshi, please... how do you handle writer's block if you get stuck or if you don't get stuck for a dance idea, how do you come up with an idea for a dance?
Hoshi: Writer's block?
Koardan: (I am inspired by how you honor Deb's memory, Hoshi. And still interact with Domi and Babypea, so know how amazing they are )
Hoshi: I assume you mean when I can not find words
ﻜησѡ (Snow Mistwood): Yes, a loss of words.
Hoshi: myself I come here and I sit and think. I chat with my family when they are on, Babypea and Sissy Domi likely think me a huge pest at times. But in general I listen to my heart. I let it sing its song and I put the feelings into words.
Example
Hoshi: Master girl is going to share one more dance with you. it is very special as it is one of the few written for my present Owner. and was created during a raid.
Hoshi: I have always been a taluna kajira. the Wa Ngao is the tribe I am connected to. my present Mistress is a friend of the tribe and my Mistress.
Hoshi: So as such I fight when I am needed. that song was written during such an incident. Hoshi: Most of my Time is spent in the City of Cartius. As my Mistress can not be on as often as she wishes so I was told to pick a favored city and claim it for when she could not have me with her. So I chose Cartius.
Excerpt (by Hoshi)
The flash of steel.
The beat of drums.
The earth runs red with foreign blood.
Hidden in leafy shadow two emerald eyes.
Searching the fallen for what she desires.
Are you the One?
Question
Koardan: Why put the /me at the beginning?
Hoshi: it is how it said to do it in the scroll I read when teaching myself
(Snow also recommended this)
(Snow also recommended this)
Another Except (by Hoshi)
The life of the village not found yet.
A heart pounding, hope fading in her search.
A Longing deep and burning in its hearts perch.
Are You the One?
Hoshi: there are many things I likely do wrong. but I have done my best to follow the rules of writing.
Hoshi: Sometimes not so well.
Example
“In a roar to freeze the strongest soul, together they join battles call.
A Mistress and her girl, together always in future, present or past.
Words spoken softly to all or no one at all.
What is found at last.
SHE IS THE ONE!
Hoshi: the Are you the One. refers to my search for my Owner and not finding her. looking at many people to see if she was in that group during the fight
Question
Koardan: Hoshi, I notice in Alegria you have 4 lines per Stanza, Souls is 5, One is variable
Koardan: do you have some guidelines for yourself about how much to put in each Stanza?
Hoshi: no Master. the words come and girl puts them into the light. I do not change the works very much from the original writing. mostly punctuation or a single word now and them for flow or image.
Hoshi: but usually the dance is written the first time as you see them
Hoshi: what takes most of the time is working with the chosen music.
Question
Koardan: so,Hoshi, what rules do you have for yourself, for writing your dances that were NOT rules you learned? Any rules you made for yourself?/
Hoshi: As I can not hear it I work with the beat. that is why most of the music I choose is drum heavy so I can feel it
Koardan: Originally that was what made me interested in you. Now it's just that your poetry is so powerful.
Hoshi: only real rule girl has is to be honest when writing. Never over think. and follow your feelings
Koardan: Good words - I may make a tattoo layer out of that
Hoshi: blushes
Snow chuckles
Hoshi: one quote given to me long ago was from Master Samos
Hoshi: I do my best to keep it in mind when creating a dance which is why I do not do book dances
Koardan: you use the beat to 'hear'
(we discuss how the classical composer Beethoven was also deaf when he wrote is 9th symphony)
Hoshi: did not know beethoven did that. but it works well
Koardan: grins, I don't know that he used the beat, but he did well with this 9th Symphony - which was written when he was deaf
Koardan: like you, he was inspired by poetry, and borrowed the words to Schiller's poem - “Ode to Joy” where one lines is “All people are brothers”.
Hoshi: Then he followed his heart's song. that explains his works
Koardan: can make an artist more effective, as they excell in some senses to complete what was lost
Comment
Hoshi: Master may girl say one thing that girl finds important?
Hoshi: When girl was trying to get people to let her dance they would turn girl away. their excuse was that it would be unfair to make me compete against dancers that can hear.
Hoshi: to girl a Handicap is only a Handicap if the person lets it be one. I do not. I can not hear the music but I can feel it.
Hoshi: I experience the music when most can only hear the sounds
Koardan: GRINS, that is what puts the music in your words
Hoshi: thank you Master
ﻜησѡ (Snow Mistwood): yes, my Master, very soulful!
Koardan: What else would you like to say about that ?
Koardan: Sensing rather than hearing
Koardan: or living in a world of music w/o hearing it
Koardan: (or at least dancing - big topic I imagine)
Hoshi: to the dancers only that be yourself when creating your art. and don’t listen to anyone but yourself. you are the one that has to be satisfied with your work. no one else matters as they do not know the pain and effort of its birth.
Closing
Koardan: Any other thoughts or general comments you wish to add Hoshi?
Hoshi: Dance is like breathing to most dancers. they can not live without it. do not think of prises or fame or glory. you dance for the freedom. not the accolades and you will be far happier with yourself.
Koardan: like breathing, love that
Koardan: Grins, okay ... Mine? Another question please
ﻜησѡ (Snow Mistwood) snickers, a girlie question... "Hoshi, you always look so elegant whether dancing or not. May I ask who are your favorite silk designers?"
Hoshi: Umm that is hard to answer in a way. I find that Soedara is where I most often go but they are not purely of the people that make them. at times I will make a piece or an addition to make it look how I wish it to. Or see something that fits my mind's eye of the outfit and will add it
Hoshi: So they are pretty much from all over
Koardan: I think wardrobe is very important in dance
ﻜησѡ (Snow Mistwood): how talented you are, Hoshi!
Hoshi: the one I am wearing now if for a dance I am working on
((TO DO // Add picture of her workspace if we find one . later))
Hoshi: A dance pit is fine for doing the finished dance. but a Dance needs to have a place all their own to be comfortable in to create it.
Hoshi: I have never been asked before about my dances
Hoshi: Hoshi: a dance pit is fine for doing the finished dance. but a Dancer needs to have a place all their own to be comfortable in to create it.
Koardan: I wonder what would make a perfect spot?
Hoshi: it depends on the person
ﻜησѡ (Snow Mistwood): yes, I do agree
Hoshi: to me this is as close to perfect as possible but it is girls nature to seek beauty when working
ﻜησѡ (Snow Mistwood): have my skyboxes scattered but they are mine to create dances
ﻜησѡ (Snow Mistwood) giggles, bowing head, "yes, my Master must track me down at times"
Hoshi: Giggles
Hoshi: I have several spread around as well. my main one is at Meiji
Koardan: Hoshi you know I love my Snow's dance, but I have also always been a fan of yours. I am grateful to have this chance to share your spirit, none of us ever know tomorrow's paths.
Hoshi: this is true Master
Koardan: I even read it in one of your poems.
Hoshi: Live life don't analyze it.
ﻜησѡ (Snow Mistwood): yes, open your heart to life and just live is what my Master has taught me
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| Hoshi dances at Cartius in June 2016 |
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Appendix
“Alegria”
/me
Standing straight. Unafraid. Proud, and, strong.
A sudden twist. Hair freed in an explosion of crystalline white.
Body moving in cascading waves of sensual delight.
Tears of the muse blur her sight.
/me
Joys flight. A dance of life.
Fighting against cold endless night.
Dreams held, a future veiled.
The dancer moves with determined stride.
Slipping from shadows hold into unfiltered light.
/me
Velvet lips of rose petal softness.
A tear streaked face.
A heart of passions, in a desperate race.
Hips that ask a lovers caress.
But the Dancer in her pain her fondest dreams dare not seek that quest.
/me
In its supple fullness the dancer’s chest rises, and falls.
Soft strains of love to drum and string.
Her body to the music sings.
Offering what she is. Her joy to freely bring,
/me
The tears found today.
Tomorrow will be shed.
A heart that dare not lose its fight.
Never frozen with grief or fear.
For all our tomorrows are borrowed till stilled in that long dark night.
/me
Petite feet carry.
Eyes of Emerald fire light the way.
Silken tresses caress delicate tipped ears as the lithe body sways.
The dancer with long slender fingers counts slowly the years.
Thanking the goddess for the gift of another precious day held dear.
/me
With a cry of defiance the dancer finds new strength.
In a storm of movement of swift twists and turns she streaks.
Across shifting sand beneath dancing toes a single face she seeks.
Eyes burning bright. She finds new life. Determined to continue on.
Her attention turned to one alone. Her passion burned into her very bones.
As she dances for her Mistress and their home.
/me
Tears no longer of anguish, but of joys sweet touch.
A soft voice sings words unheard past smiling lips.
Arms spread and beacon to none and to all.
A girl determined to fight while remaining strong.
/me
A grin of impish delight sparkles in a world so often lacking light.
No Darkened shadow falls upon this beating heart.
For this is where she was meant to be.
Practicing her art.
/me
Pleasure, beauty, knowledge on which to lean.
A Gorean dancer before her Free.
No doubt, no fright.
To her world, like all dancers, a brightly burning light.
Dance of Souls by Hoshi
/me Soft like springs whispers warm and enticing.
Violin and string do lead a hearts muted song.
Small movements of feet and hands.
Tears on silken cheeks as the girl begins her dance delayed so long.
/me A breath of innocence. Hair cascading waves of winter frost.
Skin a golden hue, smooth and soft.
Eyes of emerald fire to drive away the bone deep cold.
But the dancer feels not the heat of the bold.
/me Silken flow. Starlight flash's of pearl in each offered smile.
Hips slowly sway to music’s demand.
Feet so delicate are placed as not to mark the sand.
Hands weave, fingers drag slowly over curves not of man.
/me A dance of simmering passions.
A treasured desire to be tightly held and caressed.
Soft sighs of silken cloth as it whispers its longing over satin chest.
/me Arms rise, slender fingers seeking what.
A soft cry of anguish.
A heart torn inside supple breast.
A loss profound that threatens to destroy.
The dancers heart drained of its once burning joy.
/me Ancient souls long bound.
Dreams of tomorrow drift into shadows silent sound.
Fears of a dancer’s loss, of a world of sadness long fought.
A life fading oh at such great cost.
/me A death of spirit.
Though the body lives on.
No joy now shared in dance or song.
/me A girl bereft of guidance. Lost and crying in fear.
The dancer’s sun now dark. Her life reflected in cold crystalline tears.
A kajira left alone. Her hearts love like her will gone.
/me No sound, no hurry, only seeking loves sweet caress.
A cry. A visage of great worth. Is this some evil test?
The flinging of joys sweet tears.
A Mistress returned to crush the sundered girl’s fears.
Again in sweet peace the dancer rests. In the loving arms of her hearts quest.
Tears in the Rain - by Hoshi
“Tears in the Rain”
I hear the songs of life.
I watch the pain and strife.
I hear the words of hope.
I see the bloody knife.
I feel the joy of laughter.
I know the price of grief.
I wonder at the worlds insanity.
And I cry warm tears.
I watch the children playing.
I see the filth.
I hear the old ones singing.
I know their fight.
I see the people laboring.
I share their fear.
I see those that have lost their way.
And again I cry warm tears.
I read the words of society.
I experience the worlds anger.
I see the blood filled streets.
I see the dispair of the people.
I hear the innocents as they cry.
I feel the frustration.
I feel the rage.
I want to hold them to me.
But I know there is no way.
And again I cry warm tears.
I hurt for my family.
I know their pain.
And through all their growing I can do but wait.
I give them the grains.
I give them my sight.
I give them my strength.
I give them my heart.
I give them my compassion.
And I know they feel none of this.
So I give them my warm tender tears in the rain.
----
Hoshi’s Rain Dance
/me Pipe, Drum. Sword to Shield the thunder comes.
Shouts of bravery, steet to steel is the song delivered to battles field.
In step they march the men of glorys might.
Shining silver no fear to feel. Brothers in arms. these men of steel.
/me Love in eyes of emerald fire. Anguish in what is seen.
The girl in passions grip dances in a land of pain.
Men fall, arrows fly, tears are shed. stepping like a zephyer as her vissage splits the sky.
/me On blood slick parapet an image in white. A stunning visage like the valkyries of old dances to hold at bay deaths deep cold
Hair set free in the breeze as the dancer draws the eyes.
A body lithe and strong. A voice of siren song.
/me steps sure and strong placed in a dance as old as man.
guiding those that pass to their rest. as she calls to the power of dream. As she sheds tears for those that fight.
praying all the while they will find the light.
/me a Gentle touch. a soft lingering kiss. a kajiras offering to those that gave the final gift. A Neck clad in cool steel. but a soul as free as any tarn. No weapon held but a heart all warriors hold.
/me Full breasts heave as a voice breaks the chaos. Arms entwine hips sway, feet twist a dance is done this day. Honor shown to those who protect and die. Begging they cease as she cries.
/me Turns of exquisite grace, legs strong and firm keep pace. a face turned to heaven to beg for safety for those whom her heart is placed.
/me Silks flow, flowers bow. the dancer gives a small rending cry. Suddenly all is silent. No sound or word or arrows fly. Faces turn to the Parapet at the girl standing straight and proud.
/me a soft sigh. a smile on gentle rose hued lips. A stain of the goddess spreads as the winds cease to blow.
Tears of men fall as the tiny dancer to her rest is led. A stilled heart that felt for all. Now two at war together in lost loves sorrow.
/me Peace a gift from the girl that danced for all her worlds Free.