Savvy Raj

Live Life Lovingly!

Category Archives: creative expression


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On Dancing Ten Dances

 

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.

Savvy Raj


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Umbrella of Grace

Magnanimous grace

Of the divine infinite,

Blessings flow in its presence.

In this ocean of abundance,

Stay still in the tremors.

Keep the faith

In every moment..

Let go of fear & worry.

Know you have the universe

Within, with & around you.

Savvy


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The Art Of Noticing

In every now

There is so much to note

Notice the bigger picture

The grand plan of nature.

Notice the sky

Holding the sun & the clouds,

The moon & the stars.

Notice the transitions

The fleeting nature

The pain & pleasures of life

Appear and disappear.

Notice the expansive infinite

Widening in your thoughts

Notice your breath dance,

Finding its rhythms.

Notice how the movements

And the stillness therein,

Are all part of the dance.

Savvy  Raj


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Living Meaningfully

The challenge…

Often relationships are exacting,

at times to the point of saturation.

The heart & mind battle

in contemplations of  resolutions.

The space…

For your own well being,

create a meaningful space around you.

The renewal…

Fill it with all that you want,

be it a hobby or passion.

Let it be something, that gives emotional comfort. 

And watch it awaken your inspiration.

Savvy

In reflection, here are three questions, for you.

In the battle of the heart & mind which one do you usually  tend to listen first?

When the outside world feels just a little too heavy, what gives you emotional comfort?

If you could carve an hour out of your week just for yourself, what passion would you fill it with?


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The Gift Of Change

Here I share one of my own paintings and a personal  favorite fron my collection.
Savvy Raj

In the vortex of life

arrives the gift of changes;

the breaking of the bubbles,

Of long held beliefs,

Of false ego and resistance

Of fear that limits.

Like the wind that’s too fierce  to contain…

Cleaning the cobwebs of confusion.

And life transforms for the better.

Savvy Raj


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All in time

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…

All in time.

Savvy


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What kind of reader are you ?

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…

Whatever the way, simply know,

We have within us,the words and this now.

Reading is a mirror to living.

Savvy


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Truth of love

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.

Live life lovingly.

Savvy

 


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The Psychology of Movement: Finding Your Soul Dance

Listen

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!

Savvy Raj