There is a dream...

[Sahand Sahebdivani]

Hey everyone,

There's a video I saw for the first time just a few days ago. An octopus in a water tank lies perfectly still, deeply asleep. Then while she's asleep she starts to change colour in rapid succession, as if fireworks are going off, just under her skin. The voiceover tells us, this is the octopus dreaming, the colour schemes correspond with activities the octopus would remember: leaving the bed of the sea for a hunt, grabbing a prey, hiding to eat undisturbed. A moment of beauty really. 

It is especially touching since with my own kids we passed that threshold. Just a few months ago I asked them if they remember dreaming. They asked me what that word meant. I told them, well, when you're asleep maybe you experience being somewhere else. Moving around. Yes! Said one of my daughters: I remember falling asleep once in the car, and then waking up in bed. I moved in that sleep! No matter how I tried, I couldn't make them understand what I meant by dreaming. And today they will tell me vividly their dreams: being characters of their favorite cartoons, spending time with their school mates. Sometimes they will just make up stories and tell me it's a dream, because, how does dad even tell that's not true?

The tragedy of the octopus (other than the big one, which is that we still consider them food), is that they die after fertilizing their eggs. No generation knows the generation before. All their intelligence, knowledge and resourcefulness is the result of a generation going through the trials of a life. No parent octopus to tell them, I know you dreamt, I saw you change colour in your sleep. 

And then there's us, humans. Not the strongest of creatures, not the ones with the sharpest teeth or claws. No ability to change the pattern of our skin to impress or hide. But with an unusually wrinkly brain and the ability to live for many years after we are able to reproduce. Even the close relative, the Neanderthal, stronger and faster than us, died at an earlier age. Which meant that we kept our old around. Extra mouths to feed, definitely too fragile to hunt. But wise enough to sit with our little human kids to tell them stories or sing them a song. Remember the times before them, and help them imagine what is yet to come. Which might be more colourful than the world we live in today.

Yes, we evolved to tell stories and make music. 

- World Storytelling Day! When spring starts, on the equinox, when light and dark are in perfect balance, some celebrate the first day of the New Year, others celebrate world storytleling day. We traditionally hold a storytelling marathon around that time. Sunday March 22 is the day, from 12.00 till 24.00. Six hosts, many storytellers, there will be food and music as well. Tell your friends!

- Tomorrow (Tuesday March 10) we have the premier night of Mez-star Fer Rodil. He thought it would be nice to combine storytelling with theater in a night he calls TOP! (Theater off the page exclamation mark). Artists will perform, some script in hand, exploring the possibilities of writing and text. This, like world Storytelling Day, is free, but donations are appreciated. Doors 19.00, theater 20.00

- Thursday (March 12) we have a very special international guest. The famous british storyteller Shonaleigh, who carries ancient Jewish tales, brings us a very current story: The Fool of the Warsaw ghetto. I would love for you to see this. More info and tickets.

- On Friday (March 13) we have a special night in which students work for one full day with a teacher, to show their work in the same night: The Story Lab. A cosy experiment in learning and sharing. Teacher and host on this night will be Mezrab Storytelling School co-founder Raphael. This takes place in the OTHER Mezrab (de Wittenstraat 27). You can also join this evening as a student, there's a few slots left. More info on the school site. 

- Saturday (March 14) is time for music. This weekend with a Tropical Cumbia party starring the live band Baby Jaguars and DJ Baher. Look, listen and buy tix here.

- On Sunday you can join our monthly social dance in which you learn the old steps and connect on live music. What's that about? Read it here.

Then some highlights of nights after this week:

- March 19 / Mezrab Soul night with the band of Ukrainian Ola Rud. Listen and buy tickets here.

- March 21 / Mezrab Alt Comedy night. When we allow the truly bizarre to happen. It's what the ALT means in the title. Tix. 

- March 28 / Vintage Voudou Dance Night, with a listening in the dark session! Look. 

- March 29 / A very special music night with Saba Alizadeh (Yes, the son of the legendary composer and musician from Iran). He's here to present the album he recorded with Pietro Caramelli. The joy of playing music meets the cry of the soul. Just listen here, tell your friends and buy all of them tickets.

That's it for now. Keep dreaming your dreams. Share some with me,

Sahand & Team

www.mezrab.nl

PS Yes, for Persian speakers (and Persian speakers only, otherwise you will be very bored!), there is a Persian language storytelling event tonight in Mezrab. It starts slightly earlier than you are used to: We start the stories at 19.30. 

PPS Music is not just to listen to, also something to join. The amazing Armenian singer Mary Aygetsy (who dazzled us last Friday with Amit Gur, listen!) is still accepting participants in her choir. you do not need to be or speak Armenian, you don't even need to be trained in music. A love of music is enough! Practice takes place on Saturday afternoons. Send her an email if you are interested to join: marykar...@gmail.com

PPPS Do yourself a favor and read this article on the man who studied and lived with octopuses for more than thirty years.