Greetings!
A quick report on a highly unusual Tai Chi event in Chicago.
My first week in August veered in an unusual direction. Why? An invitation to perform Tai Chi at Lollapalooza!
It all started with an email from a business manager for the Australian artist Harley Streten, known as “Flume.”
That initial contact ultimately led to four of us from Chicago Tai Chi on Lollapalooza’s main stage with Flume, in front of an estimated 50,000 people.
For some sense of what it’s like doing Tai Chi on a rock concert stage, here’s a 4 minute video. We enter at 0:47.
Quite a venue for Tai Chi, don’t you think?
For me, the preparation process was challenging and exciting.
It involved coordinating my team of instructors, planning the performance, drilling to synchronize our forms.
Then adapting the plan on the spot after a short briefing by Flume’s staff.
As you can see, the environment was dynamic. A sharp contrast to our serene Tai Chi studio.
But we are Tai Chi professionals, with the movement sequence deeply wired into our nervous systems. I knew we could do it.
In my final moments backstage, absorbing the booming music and dancing lights, looking out on the massive crowd, after giving my team a final fist bump, I stood, breathed, and sank my Qi.
Much gratitude to:
Harley Streten and his staff for the wonderful idea of including Chicago Tai Chi in Flume’s show.
Instructors Jeanne, Susan, and Doug for joining me and doing an awesome job of performing Tai Chi in a highly unusual environment.
My main teacher, Master Bruce Frantzis, for designing the Wu Style Short Form, ideal for performing in the tight space between Flume’s mixing decks.
With that, it’s back to my day job, leading classes during our Summer Session, and quietly practicing Tai Chi, Qigong, and Taoist Meditation. 🙂
Chris Cinnamon, JD, MS
Head Instructor
ACSM Certified Expercise Physiologist
chris@chicagotaichi.org
visit our website www.chicagotaichi.org