The Control Enthusiast

See? It’s just natural. It’s just science. Not all that kinky after all.
Now. Don’t you feel better?

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I’ve registered. Excellent. Happy Birthday to me!

Now I just have to reserve my room & figure out what classes I’m going to want to take…

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An interesting article here from a few months back. Quite a few names I recognize, namely Lochai and Midori, as well as Jimmy (Jimi?) Tatu. All people I hope to meet, when I’m at Shibaricon this upcoming year.

At one point in the article it tries to describe shibari, saying:

“Depending upon whom you talk to, it’s a creative way to get off sexually, it’s a compelling visual art form, it’s a magnet for serious photographers, it’s an ancient set of sado-masochistic techniques, and it’s a prototypical male-domination fantasy that makes feminists’ hair stand on end.”

Do we have to choose?

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I got tipped off to this dance performance clip by Graydancer while I was at home for the holidays. I figured it wasn’t something I could necessarily watch while my parents were around. I was right. Of course, as soon as I got home I threw it up on my TV… and was immediately blown away.
The company is called Unmata, and this piece was performed at an afterparty for something called Tribal Throwdown. Absolutely amazing. They’re all fantastic movers; the body control is remarkable. I’ve seen enough belly dance to appreciate good form, I think. But more than that – and Graydancer says the same thing – what’s so wonderful is how much they all just totally throw themselves into the piece. I love when performers can take a traditional style like this and just totally play with it (italics totally intentional). I’m going to be keeping an eye out for this company, if they ever come this way – or if I ever find myself in their neck of the woods – I’ll be going to see them, no question.

Tags: Performance, Video by control
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A picture from last night, first time tying someone new. She’s a photographer who’s interested in doing a shoot of me tying, both the process and the results. Last night was sort of a pre-shoot workshop, in a way. We got together so I could show her some options, what’s possible – and also so that she could feel what it’s like to be on THAT side of the tying. It was the first time she’d ever been tied up in any sort of serious way. As well, the first time I’d ever spent Boxing Day doing anything close to that. Fun, to introduce someone to this kind of bondage. Fun, and a little bit daunting…

It was three hours of: Do a tie, take pictures, review. Do a tie, take pictures, review. Started up with some really basic things, kind of easing our way into it, and ended up with a karada. We got some fantastic shots, the above one being probably my favourite.

What was most interesting for me (here’s a reveal) was the degree to which I knew what I was doing. In many ways I’ve still felt like I’m stumbling along, gathering information and skills and stuck in this notion of Not Doing It Right. Recently that’s changed. Not just in regards to last night, but before that, the past two or three weeks. My process has changed. There’s no more referencing manuals or books while I’ve got someone in front of me – I think that aspect of my rope exploration is almost done. I’d talked about a similar thing with Manda, a few nights before. The idea of wanting to do that particular tie isn’t something that grabs me any more. In a practice context, maybe. But not as a part of play. Practice contexts also don’t seem to happen as frequently. Now it’s less, “I want to try this one on you” and more “I want to play with some rope, let’s just see what happens.” I think this is a part of the integration process that all ropefolk go through.

And really, how glad am I to be here right now?

Tags: Images, Rope by control
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