Matt Thompson
Matt Thompson
Clubs & Associations
El Camino Reelers
Western Star Dancers
Wilde Bunch
Quick Facts
- participated in Square Dancing Stained Glass, 2004
In Their Own Words
Venus and Mars
Choose to dance. What is dancing? Who dances? Do I dance alone? Do others dance with me? Is there a reason to dance? Shall we dance? Would you like to dance? Dance with me, please. Who are those two guys across from me in the square, my opposite or my mirror? My partner's handhold is warm and casual. We chat lightly, waiting for remaining squares to form completely. Raucous laughter occasionally bursts forth from other squares, causing heads to turn with curious smiles. Half of the square I have dances with before. The other four are total strangers although two seem vibrantly familiar. They have become difficult to recognize with theiwork in progressr clothes. I step closer to others in the square, releasing my partner's grip, greeting the other dancers with a bit of chat or a hug. I glance at two dangling nametags and say hello to their owners. A Faerie dusting of electricity floats over the dance floor as the Caller publicly notes the last square is complete. Leaping back to our respective partners, we find the reassuring handhold, sometimes relaxed, sometimes firm, sometimes just barely touching, aware yet independent of the other's presence. No time left now for anxiety, we bow to our partners, bow to our corner, smile at everyone and dance naked to the first call of this tip. At once we lose ourselves to mental and physical reverie yet dancing find ourselves and each other. We dance our elemental dance. Clearly we are having fun. A stained glass window whimsically provides a view of woodland waters, two dancers meeting naked in a 'Highland Fling' Do-Si-Do. Their styling showing restraint or physical intimacy as the voyeur wishes. The two dancers playfully engage, momentarily forming part of a fantasy Moonshine Tip dancing to the Caller. Venus and Mars cast diamond points of innuendo from above, the yin and yang of our beings softly backlit by the moon, sometimes cast in shadow, sometimes prominentlyMatt working displayed. Venus and Mars exchange dancers from neighboring squares in a star tip spin of the gears. The call is rooted in early original American Square Dance choreography. The dance is preserved through time as Callers of Gay Square Dance move the dancers through this wonderful flowing tip. Albuquerque, New Mexico is credited as the founding home of Moonshine Tips with Gay Square Dancers. Bill Eyler preserves much of the American Square Dance genre, including the Venus & Mars call.[1]
Photos
2004
Stained glass panel "Venus and Mars" made by him, 2004
