"What a good feeling it is to follow the truth of your heart and how lucky for all of us when someone chooses to do so, to be different, because it liberates not only the individual, but all of us too."
-map to the imagination
-map to the imagination
Well do you wanna dance under the moonlight? Squeeze and kiss me all through the night.
Oh baby, do you wanna dance?
Do you do you do you do you wanna dance. Do you do you do you do you wanna dance?
Do you do you do you do you wanna dance.
What propels people to dance? Is it innate? Something primal from the beginnings of time? First a finger begins tapping, maybe a foot, and then the head or hips begin to sway back and forth keeping rhythm. Sometimes rationale is overridden, the whole body leaps, surrendering to the music.
And bodies dance in all kinds of unique and interesting ways to their own style, rhythm and logic. The dance and its movements strike a chord of meaning, feeling and expression from within the dancer. Together with the music, the dancer intuitively guides herself and her body through the song, as an artist guides his brush or a writer pens his words.
The music, the movement and the experience all have the ability to transport us somewhere else. Or at times it can feel like a celebration of being alive and of life, an act of purely being in the moment, of something larger that we share with those around us; as if we all feel the energy and magic of the music and each other. It is no wonder that in many cultures, dances and music are an integral way of socializing and sharing within a community. I was at a concert recently where for most of the night people enjoyed the music while sitting in their seats until the artist began to play one of his more popular songs. It was then, as if by some mass consciousness or tipping point when people couldn’t take it any longer, they began to rise up and fill the isles to dance. The camaraderie between the musicians and the dancing revelers was apparent. It seemed everyone felt larger, more of a community by sharing the experience together.
And bodies dance in all kinds of unique and interesting ways to their own style, rhythm and logic. The dance and its movements strike a chord of meaning, feeling and expression from within the dancer. Together with the music, the dancer intuitively guides herself and her body through the song, as an artist guides his brush or a writer pens his words.
The music, the movement and the experience all have the ability to transport us somewhere else. Or at times it can feel like a celebration of being alive and of life, an act of purely being in the moment, of something larger that we share with those around us; as if we all feel the energy and magic of the music and each other. It is no wonder that in many cultures, dances and music are an integral way of socializing and sharing within a community. I was at a concert recently where for most of the night people enjoyed the music while sitting in their seats until the artist began to play one of his more popular songs. It was then, as if by some mass consciousness or tipping point when people couldn’t take it any longer, they began to rise up and fill the isles to dance. The camaraderie between the musicians and the dancing revelers was apparent. It seemed everyone felt larger, more of a community by sharing the experience together.
It definitely takes some courage to dance in front of other people. Although, some people dance without thinking too much about it, others need a little coaxing or encouragement. Certainly, when we think of Elaine from Seinfeld, we can understand why. I mean, we’re not laughing with her, but at her, right? And pretty much enjoying ourselves too. Part of our laughter comes from her funny, crazy dance moves and those wacky thumbs. But maybe, we laugh from the uncomfortable feelings she brings up in us. Those self-conscious, everybody is looking at me feelings that we probably have experienced before. You know those times, when you dared to do something different, to be different. Dared to turn left, when everyone else went right, dared to do the unpopular thing, but the thing that felt right to you. But what a good feeling it is to follow the truth of your heart and how lucky for all of us when someone chooses to do so, to be different, because it liberates not only the individual, but all of us too.
While it’s not really much fun when others are laughing at us, I believe it’s important to cultivate the attitude that’s it’s okay if they do. Because we know part of finding joy in this world is over coming our fears. If Elaine is a dancing fool, she certainly is oblivious to it and a happy one at that..…that can’t be so bad…can it? I say go ahead and laugh, as loud and as happy as you can. And dance, dance anyway, to your own bliss, to your own authentic rhythm and logic of life and living! Do you? Do you wanna dance?
“While I dance I cannot judge, I cannot hate, I cannot separate myself from life. I can only be joyful and whole. That is why I dance.”
-Hans Bos
