Start With The Heart
The heart is the very center of our being, and the powerhouse of emotion. It is a muscle that keeps time, circulates oxygen-rich blood throughout the body, and holds the key to our ongoing emotional state. It is also the first place to focus our awareness, so that we can tune in to where we are at at any given time, on any given day. In a sense, then, it is the very core of where any dance begins. Dance can be used to examine and express our dynamic emotional state, and by doing so, our movement becomes a moving meditation.
Seeing often comes at the expense of tuning into to alternate senses. so in order to feel where your heart is at, begin by closing the eyes. Place your focus on your heart center and examine what is there. Does it feel tight or expanded? Warm or cold? Anxious or relaxed? No matter what the feeling may be, it is the starting point for self-expression in dance.
Once you have clarity about your present state of mind, begin to ask yourself how to translate this into movement. If the feelings are intense, then the movements will most likely match, being more staccato, sharp, angular. If the feelings are soft, then the movements will reflect that.
Every so often, we need an alternate emotional outlet for self-expression, and dance can fulfill that role. Consider using dance as a therapeutic salve, a means of moving energy out of the body, and a map to connect us with our higher selves. When we need a way to say something important, sometimes it’s easier to let our body do the talking.
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Why We Dance
January 29, 2010 by admin
Filed under Inspiration
For as long as we have been upright creatures, human beings have been dancing. Dance is a form of expression that supersedes verbal language; it is possible to convey far more meaning in a sweeping gesture than a simple phrase. But why do we dance? What compels us?
Celebration. Every culture across the globe celebrates for many different reasons. Social events, such as birth and marriage are two of the most common causes for festivity. There are also dances to praise the merits of each season. In Africa, for instance, there are dances of praise for fertility, of both crops and offspring. Other dances may be more specific to a particular area, or tribe, such as dances to celebrate a recent victory. One could argue that dance rituals of death fall in this category. While dancers grieve over the loss of a loved one, they simultaneously celebrate the life of that person.
Communion. Most humans believe in a Higher Power, and with this belief comes the desire to communicate and receive blessings from that entity. Sacred dances have been practiced for centuries, and are still quite common in places such as India, Asia, Indonesia, Africa and the Middle East. Dancing for communion is intricately linked with prayer, as well.
Connection. Humans are social creatures, and dance has long been a way for people to find connection and community. The array of group dances over time is staggering, from the simple maypole dance of spring, to waltzing, contra dancing, square dancing, and the ubiquitous conga line. Never has the old adage “no man is an island” ever been more correct than on the dance floor.
In the end, the simplest reason of all may be that it feels good to move our bodies to music. It is one of the most natural forms of expression, and a common language we all share. Young children are the most accurate barometers of how innate dance is for humans. If they hear a beat, they move their feet. Or hips, or anything else they can think of. Dance is not only our heritage, but also our birthright.
Dance as Expression
When we dance, we use our bodies to express feelings and ideas. Movement is a powerful alternative to speech, and can often say much more in a shorter amount of time. Helping children learn how to use their bodies as an expressive tool can give them an entirely new emotional outlet to deal with feelings, which at times are intense or overwhelming. It is important and healing to have positive ways to deal with feelings and to move that energy out of the body, instead of squelching or repressing it.
Naming a feeling is the first step. Help the children get in touch with what they are feeling by standing still in one place, closing their eyes and focusing on their bodies. Ask the following questions to help them get in touch with their emotions. Do they feel heavy or light, hot or cold, hard, or soft? What is their face saying right now? Are they smiling or frowning?
There will probably be a range of answers, and of course, the ubiquitous, “I don’t know”. Use whatever clear answer comes first and work from there. As an example, suppose the answer is “Mad. My friend said something that I didn’t like.”
As a teacher, any feeling that arises is something to work with. Put on music and let them create a dance about how they are feeling. The response can be, “Great. That sounds like a very clear feeling. You are mad. How can you show that with your body? Can you show that feeling with movements instead of words? What does your body want to do when it is mad?”
We all need healthy ways to deal with intense emotions, and dance is a potent alternative to hitting a pillow or yelling from the peak of the nearest hillside. Humans are emotional creatures, which is both our greatest blessing and our largest challenge. Having the proper tools to ride those powerful currents can help make the ride a whole lot more fun.
