Ilakkiya Mariya Simon: tredjeårsstudent på bachelorprogrammet i sosialantropologi ved UiB.
MEETINGS IN MOTION a journey through Parkour
LATIMER ROAD STATION One by one, we jumped over the fence from the playground and rolled onto the grass on the other side. We were all in dark clothes, with light foot wear, small bags on our backs; with only bottles in them. In front of me was Adam, behind was Graham. Before him, was Sebastien. We breathed the crisp October air into our lungs and ran in line, like a centipede, deeper into the dark, concrete urban jungle. The tall lamp posts cast lights over the maze of brick walls. Surrounding the walls were bushes and trees, like silent shadows in the background. Our formation changed as we moved along the paths, each finding our own way to overcome the obstacles; walls with rough textures, the narrow edges on the flower beds, and the slippery surface of the rubbish bin. The railings created for the pedestrian´s safety, became a test of balance and concentration. We moved over, under, and between; weaving ourselves in and out, like a thread, between the obstacles and the empty spaces. Against the concrete, our bodies orchestrated an improvisation of rhythms; jumps and landings let out tic´s and tac´s; gliding down the slanted wall said ‘shhh’ ‘shhhh’ ‘shhhhh’, subtle like the slow brushes on cymbals. Leaves were crackling as we moved on the narrow edges of the beds of bushes and flowers. In-between were the sounds of silence; the moments when our feet were off the ground; a moment defying gravity. We were on the threshold of being human; in a betwixt and between of human and animal. Our attentions were sharp, concentration crystalized as we
tracked back to something long forgotten, something ancient and primal, but that would always be deeply ingrained in our DNA. Blood and bruises would become imprints on our bodies. We moved, as if we were hunting or being hunted, following invisible concrete trails. Our pace slowed down as we came out of Waynflete Square panting, and onto Bramley Road, crossing the road to Latimer Road Station, where it all had begun. We said our goodbyes and went our separate ways; back to our lives, only to meet again the same day and hour, the week after.
Photo: Caroline Urbancic. Group picture after a Wednesday session. From the left: Adam, Ivan, Ilakkiya, Sebastien and Graham
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