Meeting an old friend A kindered spirit Or a loved one …
The joy of uniting After being afar Speaks of interconnections… Where time and space Evaporates without a trace In the moments together.
Its often said Absence makes the heart Grow fonder… So is it the distance That makes reunion sweeter? Gibran wisely said… Let there be spaces In your togetherness
So whatever the relationship With another or with the self , the very act of reconnecting with an old hobby, that you were once passionate about, makes it truly memorable. For what is truly meaningful, is never lost … it’s simply awaiting a return.
Savvy
PS: The word Retourvaille (often spelled Retrouvailles in French) is a beautiful, untranslatable French word that perfectly captures a specific, deeply felt human experience. Literally translated, it means “rediscovery” or “the finding of something again.”
An artist leaves much more than creativity in the artwork.
There is a voice in every frame, speaking deeply if you care to listen.
That voice carries the artist’s choices of color and composition, of style and strokes, of moods and feelings breathed into the birth of art.
The artist speaks through the work. The energy of the artist is embedded in words, in lines, in shapes and forms.
When a piece feels complete, the artist releases it to the world. And yet, the energy lives on, transforming itself through time and the spaces it inhabits.
Art is transformed again in translation and interpretation, reshaped by those who encounter it.
As creators, whether of images or words, our work continues to live, each viewer or reader sensing its energy uniquely. And so it flows… transforming itself in time.
I wrote this piece earlier but it was in my drafts as I missed posting it. Better late than never they say and I hope the movie is still streaming on Netflix.
As a lover of dance and as a ballroom and latin dance educator for two decades and more, I have always been delighted to watch any good dance related movies, especially those centered on partner dancing. Having enjoyed wonderful movies like’ Shall we dance’ and ‘Dance with me’ and so many more, I eagerly await such rare kind of movies. As the love of movements runs in my blood and passion for dance in my spirit and soul.
They are truly far and few good movies in this genre. So in these holiday times while exploring Netflix , I stumbled upon 10 dances as a movie to watch and immediately set a reminder for it .
The film depicts all the Ten dances that are danced in the Ballroom & Latin dancing repertoire. I have been teaching them socially over the years. So from the first poetic sequence I was hooked.
Though the movie is set in the backdrop of the world dance competitions, at its heart is partner dancing which is my favorite of dancing forms. It captures, the sheer joy and thrill of dancing with another, matching move to move… I loved the beginning of the movie, the introduction to the dances and also the way it brought out the distinctive difference in both styles.
The movie at its core is based on competitiveness and the complexity of human emotions. The entanglement of love & rivalry in personal relationships & most of all the importance trust in and between one another. Though at times I did feel the narrative steered too much into their personal stories, that I felt it diluted the dance essence.
Yet the movie also revealed the truth of how much adaptability is the key and how challenging, it can be for different personalities who are dancing together, be it as a learner or a teacher and how difficult it is to unlearn to learn…
Someone trained in structured forms finds it so challenging to let go and dance from the heart. Whereas someone who dances with all their heart may feel stifled by excessive structures.
Over all, it was compelling to watch the changing dynamics portrayed at times, so very poetically in a dance movie to say the least. Do watch if you love dancing and especially so the magic of partner dancing.
Every thought has its own flow Every word finds its own space Every space has its own synchrony Every sound its own frequency Every element, its own energy Lets enjoy the space between the steps. And acknowledge the harmony in the synergy…
Are you the kind who travels back in time, Rereading pages you’ve already turned? Sensing memories and vivid imagery Reflected in the lines.
Do you leave a bookmark behind, Making your presence felt and remembered?
Or are you the kind who reads on the go, Welcoming whatever comes your way? The kind who leaves yesterday in its place, Eager to explore new horizons… Aspiring to look ahead, to move forward, And experience so much more of life.
Sometimes we turn back the pages to honor the words that shaped us.
And sometimes we choose to look forward at the horizon ahead…
The truth of love is acceptance… The kind that is unconditional. It asks not another To change and fit a mold, Nor expects you to compromise your values.
The truth of love is realization Of your heart’s expansion, And seeing the possibilities Amidst life’s myriad challenges.
The truth of love is freedom From control and suppression. True love breathes free And lives life lovingly.
In reflection… Ultimately, love is not a destination or a demand; it is a quiet, daily momentum. It is the conscious choice to move through a complex world and simply live life lovingly.
Love is not a bond that ties us down, but an expansion that sets us free…
If love is an expansion rather than a bond, what is one unspoken demand you can release today to let your relationships breathe freer?
The inspiration for these verses in flow arrived in the moment I started commenting on this interesting poem and its take on love.
I believe every life has an inherent uniqueness that makes us who and how we are it is the very essence that allows us to be all that we are. Likewise, every single one of us possesses a unique sense of movement.
Just as how we treat another reflects who we are, the way we choose to dance with another too often reflects who we are. Dance is not merely a physical exercise; it is a mirror to our inner self.
As a dance teacher who has taught many styles, I have seen a beautiful truth time and again. When a person is learning to dance with the music and moves that resonate with their being, they feel completely at one with it. Even if they may not master the exact technique or choreography, they are still experiencing the joy of the expression. It is as if every cell of their being becomes alive in those moments.
Yet, not all are able to know or decipher what is their kind of dance style, or what form suits them the most. Often, I have been coaching my students in choosing their suitable dance styles, helping them look inward to decode their own unique movement personality. It certainly has been an absolute joy to watch them learn to dance what they love the most.
To find your own way, it helps to first look at how you relate to the world around you. Think about your answers to these reflections:
What kind of a dancer are you?
Do you like dancing alone?
Do you prefer dancing socially on a moment’s notice?
Or do you freeze when in front of a crowd but love to dance when you are on your own?
Do you fancy yourself to be a performer on stage, a cynosure of all eyes?
Or do you love dancing because it makes you feel better inside out?
Do you crave attention and recognition from your audience?
Do you prefer to dance in a group setting?
Or are you just a dancing soul who waltzes with life?
Your natural comfort zone in life often points directly to your natural comfort zone in movement. There is no right or wrong answer here. A performer craving the stage and a solitary mover dancing in their living room are both experiencing the exact same truth of human expression.
If you are a beginner and are wondering what dance form would suit you best, here are three practical questions that might be helpful to answer for yourself.
1. What dance style do you enjoy watching?
Often, what fascinates your eyes is what your body secretly longs to try. Look at the styles you gravitate toward as a viewer.
2. What kind of music do you enjoy most?
Your favorite genre dictates your natural internal tempo. The music you naturally play at home or listen to when you relax will tell you what rhythm your body wants to follow.
3. What is your level of fitness?
Choose a style that honors and respects where your body is today, whether you want an energetic workout or a mindful, grounding practice that lets you build strength at your own pace.
Whatever is your way, keep dancing with all of you. The way you want to!
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