Unconference, the word piqued my curiosity for a while now.
I checked it up on the internet only to find that the idea has gained tremendous momentum across the globe.
The idea of un-structuring the ingrained structure seemed interesting to say the least, in creating spaces and possibilities to honour the learning.
Suffice to say recently, when I came across an Unconference event in the local newspaper I decided I must make a visit.
The venue of this Unconference was the well known Symbiosis School of Liberal Arts in Pune. I reached just in time for the proceedings to untold.
A customary registration ensued and I was greeted by a few volunteers with a relaxed warm and welcoming attitude. Clearly, the Unconference had started right there.
The word Conference kind of stiffens people up. There is a formal attitude, a thick air of competition to perform at their very best. There are fees and strict rules to adhere to. There are super busy organisers scurrying through and tension is writ large on their faces and their bodies as well are stressed out with expectations of the outcome of the event. Suited men and women whizz through looking super important. And yes there would be a Chief Guest of honour and a coterie of important people who need VIP handling… Adherence to their whims and fancies and most importantly their speeches which may or may not be of interest to any. But all must endure as to get up and leave is an offence to the speaker.
On the contrary here, there was a prevalent free-spirited feeling in the first place that all were in it together. The sense of community always takes time to build so I stood in that room with a small group of people waiting for the (informal introductory practice,) the opening circle.
The Opening Circle :
Someone from the group had taken an initiative to design a pretty pattern made of flowers in the centre of the space and light a lamp there.
A few introductory rounds later which turned out to be icebreakers with a few games to let loose and get into the flow.
There was a board set up with a mention of few rooms and a time slot to boot. The participants were encouraged to choose to attend or conduct workshops or just wander around and network.
A few people got up to mention their workshops and claim their slot. On a moment’s impulse although I was not exactly in the right attire for a dance workshop I simply decided to go with the flow and offered a Dance connection workshop by me.
Encouraged by a decent number of participants I let the moment take the lead. As I began teaching I witnessed the flow of the energy in the exchange.
I spoke about the dance, hold, frame and positioning and started introducing them to partner dancing and some basic steps. Bit by bit people shed inhibitions as they were getting tuned into the moves.
The moment strangers began to hold hands and face one another… for many, there was harmony to be found in the mirror imaging. For after all the lead and follow were simply an extension of each other dancing as one unit.
The energy in the room turned up a notch with the Achy Breaky Heart country cha sounds of Billy Ray Cyrus for company.
All started sensing the tuning in to the rhthymic expression of music & movement with their partners at that moment.
After the dance workshop I asked what they felt in that moment and here is what they shared immediately…
Deeply grateful!
The Give and Take
Truly to immerse yourself in that which you love all you have to do is to take a step … for your own good as much as for the others.
Essentially the whole experience was to me simply about honouring life energy in all its uniqueness of expression.
Great experience being a part of this interesting initiative!
Hope to see more of such initiatives across the country and our world.
To dance is to acknowledge the living you at this moment
In every move, the heart and mind is looped in joyousness
In every flight is the beauty of lightness.
Words, we all have in our thoughts
But a trigger of senses in life and living
Brings it out in its own unique way
At times it’s a trickle
And other times a shower
As it springs forth a million thoughts and streams it’s way in a flow.
Poetry emerges from life in the living
The writer ought not to hold back
For it is powered by its own purpose
To be born and shared.
All it needs is a trigger
Of emotions in the sensing
Of feeling and witnessing
Of pain and of pleasure
Of being and doings
In life and living.
The poet is born in the expressions in eloquence.
As much as a painter waltzes with his brush on canvas
And like Photographers tango through the light and dark
Poets dance through the heart with words…
Art births itself in breathing in life
A little deeper every time…
And leaves imprints in exhaling from the heart
For Art is a matter of connecting hearts.
Wouldn’t you agree?
An Expression is full of intent
Full of focus and determination
Seems far removed from submission
Let alone the letting go.
And yet in the juxtaposition…
To flow with the eloquence of grace
Exists the enigma of the elusive
The surrealism of subtlety
Of approach & demeanour
Of action and intention.
For in the wisdom of every movement
Is the potential of the now…
To capture or to connect
To be bound or to blend
All is a choice within us.
My sincere thanks to Dr Sridhar for nominating me for a ‘3 day Lyric Challenge’
Please do check his wonderful blog at
Philosophy Through Photography
And dwell into the philosophical angle of his photos which is his interest as well.
Hence the apt title.
My choice for Day 3 of the Lyrical Challenge is
I hope you dance By Lee Ann Womack
This song is about taking chances and not being afraid to try something new.
I hope you dance
I hope you never lose your sense of wonder You get your fill to eat but always keep that hunger May you never take one single breath for granted God forbid love ever leave you empty handed I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens Promise me that you’ll give faith a fighting chance And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance
I hope you dance I hope you dance
I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance Never settle for the path of least resistance Livin’ might mean takin’ chances, but they’re worth takin’ Lovin’ might be a mistake, but it’s worth makin’ Don’t let some Hellbent heart leave you bitter When you come close to sellin’ out, reconsider Give the heavens above more than just a passing glance And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance
I hope you dance (Time is a wheel in constant motion always rolling us along) I hope you dance
I hope you dance (Tell me who wants to look back on their years and wonder) I hope you dance (Where those years have gone?)
I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens Promise me that you’ll give faith a fighting chance And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance
Dance
I hope you dance I hope you dance (Time is a wheel in constant motion always rolling us along) I hope you dance (Tell me who wants to look back on their years and wonder?)
Rules:
1.Thank the person who nominated you.
2.Share one of your favorite song/lyrics one at a time for three days.
3.Nominate three other bloggers each day.
And dwell into the philosophical angle of his photos which is his area of deep interest as well.
Hence the apt title.
My choice for Day 1 of the Lyrical Challenge is byLeonard Cohen’s
Dance Me To The End Of Love”
As you click on his name above, you will see the link to my earlier dedication to this wonderful artist.
Have posted one of my favourite video of this song here . Do watch!
Here are the lyrics…
Dance me to your beauty with a burning violin
Dance me through the panic ’til I’m gathered safely in
Lift me like an olive branch and be my homeward dove
Dance me to the end of love
Dance me to the end of love
Oh let me see your beauty when the witnesses are gone
Let me feel you moving like they do in Babylon
Show me slowly what I only know the limits of
Dance me to the end of love
Dance me to the end of loveDance me to the wedding now, dance me on and on
Dance me very tenderly and dance me very long
We’re both of us beneath our love, we’re both of us above
Dance me to the end of love
Dance me to the end of loveDance me to the children who are asking to be born
Dance me through the curtains that our kisses have outworn
Raise a tent of shelter now, though every thread is torn
Dance me to the end of loveDance me to your beauty with a burning violin
Dance me through the panic till I’m gathered safely in
Touch me with your naked hand or touch me with your glove
Dance me to the end of love
Dance me to the end of love
Dance me to the end of love
Rules:
1.Thank the person who nominated you.
2.Share one of your favorite song/lyrics one at a time for three days.
3.Nominate three other bloggers each day.
Communion: A boundless bond An artwork by Savvy Raj
When one reaches a realm where every thought trangresses the personal self and senses are transmuted to infinity.
Where there are no boundaries of feeling bound, where every connection is a give and the sharing extends much beyond the taking with unconditional love and grace in every action.
Where being in touch with one’s most conscious self, there are no disappointments,failures, stress or pressure of approvals or disapproval.
Where the body mind and spirit feels alive to every moment that life has to offer…in a nonjudgmental space that is acknowledging of one another as they are…
There is an acknowledgement ofSubtlety and Grace of Transpersonal Love.
Universally this stream of unconditional love is flowing in all beings and its just a matter of time and energy to bring this to conscious awareness.
And I reshare this post thanks to the lovely quote share by my dear friend Ashok Subarao who thoughfully sends inspiring quotes and pictures for me to write and paint on .
This quote share by William Blake resonated deeply with what I had written on Transpersonal Love . So I simply had to incorporate it here and what was interesting to me to note was how the image colours of the quote you sent and matched so beautifully with my painting drawn back in time .
As a Ballroom & Latin dance educator, many students have asked me what my favourite dance style is…
It is said that each style is like a language. Personally, I also think of different dance styles as having a “mood” that goes with them. I guess it’s not surprising that I do like lots of “happy” or “joyous” styles of dance. But I really do like the variety of dances for the variety of moods and it’s amazing ability in bringing a sense of balance. If I was stuck to dancing in one style, I would probably get bored after a while (I know that sounds strange). But it’s one of the reasons I really like dancing a variety of dances.
The Tango (for its intensity and passion at play as much as its fancy footwork)
And dancing the Waltz (for the heady glide, the rise and fall and its romantic sway).
Love the Rumba for it certainly is the dance of love… the song Everyday I love you, immediately comes to mind. But this performance by Slavik and Karina is quite riveting.
Happen to like the Cha cha for its stylish moves as much as its teasing spirit …that kind of speaks, this is my move … now, what’s yours?
I love the Jive for its lively spirit. You can truly never be sad after a little Jive/ Swing and Rock and roll. What say? At least it has always been a happy dance for me.
Really fond of it as much as the Samba for its lively bounce, so full of joyfulness.
Then of course comes the Foxtrot that feels like a wonderful conversation a dialogue between the steps
I also like the Merengue with its simple marching steps and executing many inter-looping turns almost feeling like a pretzel.
And how can I leave the Bachata for its engaging sensuality as those dancing hips don’t lie, they say it all and much much more…
Dances are so many and styling makes it even more unique.
In fact, I enjoy all these dances and more for their unique expressions – just one style would get boring.
The trick is to flow with the music and your partner whatever the dance and partake in the pleasure of dancing together in the now.
To actually be able to enjoy dancing to the varied music styles that would be a real treat. All the more reasons to learn and train in more than just one dance style :))
Do share your thoughts on dance and if you love to dance, what your favourite style of dance is…
Art can have different connotations and lead to diverse reflections. To propose peace, to promote healing, to propel the power of art or provoke is a choice in the hands of the artist .
Art : Creating in the Interconnects
In the context of conscious evolution, to value the thoughts that goes into any art is to accept and respect uniqueness of the being and value the tuning into the oneness in the interconnects.
From creating art, to assimilating and amalgamating the thoughts structurally, all are uniquely diverse yet interconnected expressions of the evolutionary process.
Savvy Raj 
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