28 September 2012

Dancing ....The Art of Space Art

Dancing ....The Art of  Space Art
When  I started listening to my inner calling I realized that, which makes me happy to be in this present moment ... makes me be at my receptive, attentive, creative , connective, positive  best ...At this juncture  I guess the moment I feel most centered is the moment I connect with dancing ... in whatsoever way possible, be it in thoughts , action or deeds like learning a new dance form , practicing , teaching dance techniques to the interested , imparting  a workshop ,sharing a dance , creating new patterns  or even writing about it.. Somehow a sense of serene alertness sets in and  yet  it manages  to keep me  in the state of joyous flow.


  I realize this space to be my healing abode , that which lets me be me , as  expansive as I want to be ! I am aware how  much my  connect  with dancing is growing and am thankful to those who have helped me to be where I am ...as a  happy being!

We are all  beautiful unique beings ,  and it is important to understand that which makes us unique is our distinct differences....Likewise with regards to partner dancing , there are many different perspectives as far as learning it is concerned . From Social Dancing (which  I identify with naturally ,possibly due to my own personal traits) ... to Show dancing at performances which is ideal platform for people who like to be at their theatrical , glamorous best  and love to entertain , to Competitive dancing which would be ideal for those who would like a rigorous and vigorous , athletic approach to dance training, where the syllabus is watertight and there are judges to keep scores and evaluate your training in different levels and where there are certificates awarded for levels completed  with proficiency in perfect execution of well rehearsed patterns .
 Each of these are beautiful pathways  and has its own takers as per the individual's nature.... . the scope of each is very different and yet the health benefits are common to all  with consistent practice .

 But my point here is, that among them  the important factor which differentiates Social dancing to choreographed sequences of the Exhibition and Show dancing  and the Competition dances  , lies in the expansion of the ability to accommodate , adjust and act according to the needs of the situation , which can be  developed very creatively in Social dancing ... as you learn the art of partnering  ie to  lead and follow with just about any person, no matter what the age , gender , height , weight  or proficiency level is ... This calls for a heightened  attentive response to stimulus ...( an average response time to visual stimulus for the human  brain  is about 1.23 seconds or so  for the human brain to body connection  and response to happen). Dancing socially  is natural  way to bring out the creative potential in  the dancers as there is no room for monotony to set in after a while, which could be possible in rigorous performance based dance training , or with strict adherence to syllabus in competition dances..








And yes...I love the fact that no longer is the old rigid viewpoint true of the leader being always in the lead  and the follower always the follow... I hope to reach out and  train and send out more people on the dance floor who realize the importance of  equality in partner connections .. after all without a follower there can be no leader...I  hope the word 'Hijack 'which technically could mean a follower taking over the job of leading ... is replaced with responsible 'Alert Partnering  ' which improvises the creative quotient of the dance partners .....and brings out the essence of great dancing!


Let us join hands to promote the simplicity of Spatial Art,( I do believe that it's so much more than just Floor craft )... Keep on Dancing !
Savvy
danceconcepts@rediffmail.com

26 September 2012

Dance to what moves you....












  First of all it is  essential to find that dance form  which moves you ....but before that  a good idea would  be to ask yourself  if you are the kind of person who is a team player or someone who enjoys solo dancing ...








  If you like dancing with a partner there are a plethora of dance forms you can indulge in , but yes the ideal situation is that you have a willing partner who has the same bent of mind . Often enough we are better off knowing to dance on your own as well as learning some partner dance forms .

Its important to remember that just like  our relationships are not static but actually change with time,  in an ever evolving dance , similarly dances too evolve with changing trends and generations .. it is the study of the concepts and techniques that play an important to develop your skills and enhance your dancing skills !
 If you are interested in learning to dance ..it would be good to be aware of the depth of your interest , whether its just as a passing fancy , a fad to learn something new , or to try to learn because of a deeper connect that you feel every time you dance yourself , or even as you watch  other people dancing . An honest appraisal by yourself would be helpful in deciding what the next course of action should be .... If you feel the connect I am talking about ,  get going .... start of with some dancing lessons for yourself now!
Savvy 
danceconcepts@rediffmail.com

10 September 2012

Magic of Partner Dancing !


Gazing in each others eyes , moving in synchronized perfection, yet in opposition the beauty of a partner dance is in the ability to translate the knowledge of dancing on the floor as you dance...



  Knowing where to go , where to pause, its all in the  knowing  just in the nick of time where to move and that too complementing the music playing !





A dance between two partners  is a blissful feeling only when there is trust in each other, just as much as the passion ... as only when there is the letting go can there be the flow  manifesting itself in beautiful movements of the dance !
Savvy


07 September 2012

The 3 Ps of Great Dancing: Practice , Perseverance, Patience





When u dance  , you got to persevere till u get it right , sometimes u falter, again and again , but with each time you do , you challenge your creative genius to greater depths... you've got to be willing to start over and over again ...eventually the actions, movements  that resonate with you grow , and  you learn to let go the ones that needn't be there ....The point is that  in every dance that is a treat to watch or dance , there are many moves that  paves the way and yet may not make it to  the final moves....And yes its good to remember that not everything we do is wonderful , there are always shades and degrees ... they are necessary  to accept and let them happen as how else will you know how far you have progressed :)

Practice ... is an invitation to welcome  perfection ! Whether its an invite to be able to dance perfectly or live life perfectly ... its all a matter of convictions, but the more you practice , the more you want to and less it tires you .A sure fire way to steady a wandering mind , improve focus, as it brings you closer to the subtler and the finer sensations ,with greater practice greater the refinement of movement the better the dance ... almost as if spontaneity is also not random ! Remember talent is a starting point , but practice makes it better!


Perseverance: An ability to not lose hope but stretch oneself a bit more each time ....never giving up , no matter how many times you feel like it.
To reap internal and external rewards of achievement  this self restraining quality is a backbone of survival  against major disappointments and adversities ... including the learning curves that most dance trainers go through at one point or the other .  After all ...life persists !





Patience :Good Dancers  must develop a quality of endurance that can sustain itself without provocation , almost like a level of forbearing without negativity . Its a natural state of mindfulness that its conducive for effective advancement of learning processes and well organized thought flows . Patience creates the quality of confidence while impatience breeds fear of failure , disappointments. The art of patience is a method of taming the thoughts whenever they become too unruly worrying about outcomes emanating from  false expectations  and thus  creating a positive approach towards success .. Savvy 
danceconcepts@rediffmail.com