05.23.08
Dancemeditation, the weekly class
A couple of years ago I was speaking with Dunya about dance technique and teaching dance technique. She related to me that she was so much happier with Dancemeditation because she didn’t have to put as much ‘thought’ effort into it. Perhaps those weren’t her exact words, but the sense was that Dancemeditaiton is restorative (more so than many movement forms) from a teaching standpoint, while technical classes can definitely be a drain if the student/teacher reciprocation is not working.
In January of this year I began a weekly Dancemeditation class at the studio and we’ve only missed 4 classes since then. I’ve got to state what a triumph this is (regardless that there are typically only 3 students, a different 3 most weeks though) Last night, while stuck in traffic and completely unable to get to the studio in time for Dancemed, I realized what this practice means to me; even if I cannot go as deeply into a session as a teacher than as a student.
One of the participants is a 15/16 year old, home schooler who showed up earlier last year with her mother for one Dancemeditation session, we’ll call her ‘K’. She didn’t come back for about nine months and it was then I found out that this girl (wisp of a girl) dances…everything. She was so busy with her other dancing that she didn’t have time for Dancemeditation. After I had the opportunity to speak with her, K informed me that this type of dance/work wasn’t new to her at all. She had already been involved in Somatic practices, contact improvisation and energy work…and K has probably done more at her age in these areas than I have yet to do! Fortunately, there are actually a few things I can show her she hasn’t yet seen.
A few weeks ago, I had that …thing…I’m still not sure what to call it…tap me on the back of my head and say, “hey, we need to whirl.” And so they did, or rather, I asked them to and they were thrilled to do so. Granted we only had two participants other than myself, but holy guacamole….
When I am ‘running the show’ I only get to watch instead of participate, but there’s an extremely beautiful thing that happens during a group whirling - and it never fails - when the whirlers are momentarily synched up and for one or two revolutions, they move as one. I know they don’t realize what is happening, but from the observer’s point of view, the visual is stunning.
This past Tuesday during Dancemed, we had two brand new souls to add to the session. They had never done the practice before, but I knew they would be alright the instant I said “Close your eyes and let your body move however it needs to move.” They just rocked the place. Perhaps that is my biggest joy in bringing Dancemeditation to our little corner of the world, I get to watch people who say they have no focus, or who say “I can’t dance”, or who, for whatever reason, resist other methods of meditative work finally let go and reach/touch that space that is deep within each of us calling and begging for our attention if we will only slow down and listen. The room lit up and literally crackled with energy, an energy so palpable the participants commented on it later.
This particular posting has been going on for exactly one month now…due to lack of focus toward writing on my part… but everything here needed to be said.
