‘My first intentional practice of Tai Chi began years ago on a rainy day in the month of June. The sweet cadence of the rain in all it’s rhythmic glory, the cleansing nature of the rain was just as wonderfully comforting as much as the experience of Tai Chi, with its movement in stillness and the stillness of its movements.
As I tried to move in unison with breath and learned to direct the momentum for the movements from the central core of the body to the outward, I could draw the parallels of the simple yet profound principles of Tai chi giving a lifetime’s guidance.
A life lived in the middle path gives one equanimity to see beyond the obvious. To envision the duality of existence enough to understand joy and sorrow, are not something eternal. Life becomes simple and just as easy to live as we make it , letting go of excesses of any kind, which ultimately works towards healing oneself from within.
It only adds to the fact that this moderation makes you want to work at building progressively, instead of pushing the boundaries and stretching beyond your abilities to the point of probably injuring yourself and giving up altogether.
The rain’s rhythmic tapping on my open window sill, the occasional bursts of cool breeze surrounding me now and then was in tune with my learning to release and melt away the accumulated stresses through conscious gentle outward movements . I felt a few varied sensations coming to me vying for attention, but as soon as my focus returned to simply witness the flow of breath in the movements the very same sensations completely vanished.
It was so peaceful to end the practice with breath awareness and mindful movements that I must add that like everything else in life, Tai Chi must be ideally learned under the guidance of a good teacher to experience the gamut of life enriching experiences it surely has to offer.
As I completed my practice for the moment , suddenly there was thunder and lightning signifying the release of feel good endorphins and hopefully parting with some of the tensions within me. This is after all the essence of Tai chi , to be one with Nature and learn to nurture it .
A humble dedication to Tai Chi form and the powers of the supreme in and around us.
When I started listening to my inner calling, I realized all that which makes me happy to be in this present moment … makes me at my receptive, attentive, creative, connective, positive best.
At this juncture I guess the moment I feel most centred is the moment I connect with the art of dancing whether with words or movement … 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. I am thankful to those who have helped to be where I am … and hopefully evolving in the being!
We are all beautiful unique beings, and it is important to understand that which makes us unique is our distinct differences…
Likewise, with regard to partner dancing, there are many different perspectives as far as learning is concerned.
A Beginner Dance workshop
From Social Dancing (which I identify naturally with,possibly due to my own personal traits) to Show dancing at performances, an 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 according to and 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 an applied very creatively in Social dancing … as you learn the art of partnering for e.g to lead and follow, no matter what the age, gender, height, weight or proficiency level is. This call’s for a heightened attentive response to stimulus …(average response time to a 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 a 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 the 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 the 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 Dance a Spatial Art, for I do believe that it’s so much more than just a floor craft.
All across the world April 29th every year is celebrated as the International Dance Day… as I share this as a dedication to the Art of Dance …do remember to keep the spirit of dance in your heart and keep on dancing!
Wisdom from souls who know
Say angels fly, as they take themselves lightly
A matter of being at ease..so that you will traverse far
Fly knowing the roots are steady on the ground
Soar in the sky sensing the wind in your wings.
Stay on course… you will find yourself.
Life is better the moment you realise
Its value in every now.
So when worry and despair imbalances your thoughts
When anguish and self doubts rocks your self esteem
Rest assured it shall all pass and time will get you over the brink
Just care to have faith, ease up your thoughts
And choose to live, dancing lightly with life .
Resonated deeply with this lovely visual shared by Sanja Sremacki so resharing it along with my verses above as a dedication to this very beautiful reflection of ‘Living life in the lightness of being’.
A day of Silence Can be a pilgrimage in itself. A day of Silence Can help you listen To the Soul play In marvelous lute and drum. Is not most talking A crazed defense of a crumbling fort? I thought we came here To surrender in Silence, To yield to Light and Happiness, To Dance within In celebration of Love’s Victory!
I do believe the journey of life, broadens the mind and brightens the spirit if we are ready to acknowledge the unfolding gifts of connections. along the way.
In my journeys across the world earlier, as a Dance Educator teaching and speaking about dance applications and approaches there have been some amazing people both in the dance circuits and otherwise,who I have had very fascinating conversations with…
I want to share a bit here about some of these beautiful people from across the world who I had a chance connect with, nothing planned,yet meeting them was truly soul enriching to say the least.
Would like to begin the first in these series of posts with Emily Berry who is now a dear friend.
Emily, the beautiful intelligent woman with an Indian Soul all the way from New York … who dances with all her heart and soul 🙂
Emily Berry is the Artistic Director of B3W Performance Group, which has performed in the US, England, Greece, and Mexico...
We met in 2014 Greece, while we were representing our own countries at the World Dance Research Congress.
In her own words…
“I strive to create a safe space for students to learn, explore, question, and become independent thinkers and movers. In technique courses, I address each individual student’s unique body in order to help them develop their technique through muscle re-patterning. Students learn anatomical awareness and tools to help them move past road blocks.
In theory, improvisation and composition courses my main goal is to help student’s find their own voice. Creating a judgment free space is essential so students are not afraid to explore new movement possibilities.”
Berry’s choreography has been tackling such issues as race, the glass ceiling, domestic violence, women in prison, and war since 1995.
Today, brought in a beautiful memory of a time when I had an amazing afternoon walk with her, while at the Acropolis museum Athens.
I remember how a shared a common love for all things dance… got us interacting post our dance workshops and rest just fell in place!
We conversed like we have known each other from years ago…
Personally speaking, I have a deep interest in the art of movements, especially the ones that elucidate the flow… perhaps that is why I love dancing but on the other hand I have been equally captivated by the beauty of Tai chi and more so Qi Gong.
The healing energy of movement has often been a subject of deep passion, respect and research for me.
Likewise I am especially fond of the flowing Waltz as well. Since childhood, dancing comes naturally to me but have always found myself grappling to understand why martial art is even necessary.Until much later I started exploring the potency of energy in each of us…through a little introduction into Tai chi as well by conscious choice.
Allow me to present my reflections on this subject in a flow….
In a dance
There is an interconnect
Of emotion and movement
As to emote is to sense
The feeling in the flow…
In dance there is an awareness
Of moving in response
Without anticipation.
As in one step less,
The music moves on
And you are left to improvise
On how to match the steps in rhythm.
Yes, truly to dance is to enjoy the life in the moves.
In martial arts
There is flow too
But a flow that is ever in alertness,
In strategic moves and self defense
The speed and swiftness
In reaction and response.
Martial arts often feels like dance… t
But often the difference
Is between life and death.
Both are connected in the deepest sense and yet distinctive like chalk and cheese.
The intention to dance and to fight…is what differentiates.
We dance to let go, to enjoy this now and celebrate it.
In awareness is a flow that merges in harmony to synch in with now in artistry of the moves
The warrior is fighting for peace for survival against all odds
Not knowing what is the next move but yielding to the now to decipher the countermove and strike.
Here too there is often a display of extreme artistry of motion in accuracy of time.
To learn both, takes dedication and practice in patience.
But most of all is the need for relentless will & passion to persevere .
Yes, there is a dancer in a warrior
And a warrior in the dancer.
Choice rests within you.
Just remember, to dance is to live the moments and explore its most aesthetic potential in the flow… choose not to make dance a fight.
Stay joyful in peace.
To learn martial arts is to get into the arena and survive.
Attack or in self defense with least possible harm to get out of harms way to stay in peace.
Both may have their own relevance in purpose
To negate one is to look at only one half of the circle
Just as much as joy is part of life
Safekeeping the freedom to be
Is equally important in every now…
Do you want to dance in peace
Do you want to fight for peace.
Choice is yours to make
Peace or war!
