I needed that....

This morning I taught a dance class. A friend has put together a twice-a-week dance class for advanced dancers in Utah county. A lovely woman has generously offered the use of her studio free of charge, which means twice I week I get to dance for free.

Did I mention that it's only ten minutes away from where I live?

Awesome.

Those involved will rotate--taking turns to teach a class. We will have both contemporary/modern and ballet classes. Today was our first class. It was great to teach and dance with people that I've grown to love over the past seven or so years. It was great to reconnect. To meet new people. And it was awesome not to worry about grading, taking attendance, or teacher evaluations.

But every more amazing was the reminder of how it feels to dance. I love the kinesthetic sensation of movement. I love connecting to spatial pulls, feeling bigger than my body, and learning the supportive powers when gravity is danced with in the right way.

I love momentum.
Carving out space.
Shaping my body.
Breathing with intent.
Shifting my weight.
Discovering nuance.
Feeling connected.

I love the community that comes from dance. I'm always amazed at the friendships that I have because of this beautiful thing I am able to do. I am looking forward to this bi-weekly outlet, and so grateful to Tom who is so supportive while I leave for a few hours to do something that really is just for me.

You Can't Stop the Beat

I went to Hairspray tonight. Loved it. Seriously, it was so much fun and made me smile the entire time. It's funny because as I was watching it, and I know this is cliche', but I seriously wanted to jump out of my seat and start dancing. This isn't the first time I've had the urge to get up and move this summer. I've also (brace yourself) become addicted to So You Think You Can Dance.

I guess it shouldn't shock me that these two shows make me happy. I mean, I am a dancer, right? And every summer I go through this same "Wow, I love what I do!" feeling because during the summer I don't get to do it very much. But I think there is something else to this joy I feel when I watch people move with so much energy and joy and who are having so much fun. What I see is the human spirit.

That's not to say that all dancing is spiritual, or that dancing is the only way to feel that mind-body-spirit connection; but for me it makes sense, and when I see someone dancing with their whole heart, my spirit wakes up and wants my body to join in the fun.

(and let me tell you, it is fun.)

I could have danced all night...

I attended the UDEO conference (Utah Dance Education Organization) at UVSC today. I have to admit, I was not overly excited to go. I hate giving up my Saturdays, especially when it involves driving (yet again) to the Orem/Provo area. The conference, however, proved to be a good experience for me. It gave me the opportunity to reconnect with some old friends, colleagues, and teachers who I haven't seen for a while. The keynote speaker, Sylvia Waters, was really interesting. She not only spoke of her experiences dancing with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre company, but she taught some repertory from Revelations--the piece of art that actually sparked my love for modern dance.

But the highlight of the day was in the afternoon session. I went to a contact improvisation class. What I love about contact improvisation is that each experience is different and new. You work as a community. You move from within and learn to communicate and trust people who you may or may not know. Within twenty minutes, you're moving in new ways, experiencing new kinesthetic sensations, and seeing the room, people, and yourself with new (or perhaps just different) eyes. It is beautiful.

Throughout the improv, I would meet up with one of my students from BYU where we developed some playful interactions. At one moment I was running toward this student, "ready to rumble," when all of a sudden she wrapped her arms around my waist and lifted me off the ground. There I was, upside down, suspended in the air. This short girl was able to hold me there for some time. In one of those fantastic moments where physics and art combine, I felt completely weightless; my student empowered. And in that brief moment that lingered like an echo, I was reminded once again why I do this thing called dance every day.

I am a dancer, but somehow that term--dance--just doesn't seem to do justice to the reality of what it entails. It's more than pretty shapes in space, cool steps, or sophisitcated coordination. It's movement that seeks to fill the fullest potential of the body that carries the motion through time. It's accepting what is and living out the energies of life through purpose and intent. It's emotional, physical, mental, and spiritual. It's not about being pretty or skilled or perfect. Rather, it's about simply being. It's about being Me within a community within a world where time moves on, lives pass by, and moments are constantly lost or overlooked. And yet, as I take a moment to breath out beats, step with purpose, and carve out a place in space where my Being can connect to everything that is willing to be touched, the dance bows out and life (time, space, and energy) forms into a visible shape that I can not only see, but feel. It is a feeling that goes as quickly as it comes, but it is those brief moments where I not only know I'm alive, but can feel life in every cell of my body, that motivates me to keep dancing. I dance because it connects Me. All of me.

I move because I'm alive, but I dance to feel life.