Dance Forums

[drj]

My teachers often said that “dancing” is so beyond words and that there are not enough words in the world to describe it. Even if you tried to explain it with words you would always fall short. They said that it is like the center of the universe. You can talk about it, draw theories about it, calculate it and study it, but you will never really know what it is like, till you have been there. We as teachers can get you close and walk you all around “it” but you have to do “it” to really understand what we are talking about. Yet, once you have experienced it, it is so beautiful, wondrous and special and yet so “SIMPLE”.  It just “IS”. It simply “IS”. They would say “IT JUST IS” and when you are doing it, all that comes to mind is “I AM”.  

How do you explain “I AM” to somebody that doesn’t know or understand that experience?

Dancing has to be experienced in person to really be understood.

DSV

And this is why I seldom post about dance on DF. I think it would be difficult for me to do so; I seek out the I AM, and don't give a damn about where the book tells me to put my foot or how many degrees I should sway. They once started a thread about "how long does it take you to memorize a step?" to which I almost posted a smartass comment: "which one did you have trouble memorizing? Forward, back, or to the side?" but decided they would'nt get it, and I was not interested in picking a fight... If, in a DF thread about "how are your lessons going" I were to say, "Today, I experienced timelessness, effortlessness, and the magnificence of being heavy in the air and falling, and then came back to earth and discovered I'd been doing foxtrot," there would be damn few on DF who would understand me. There is a place for everything, true. On DF, I post about other things; life events, shoes, rhinestones... On PDO, I try to post about dance, when I post at all.

Back to lurking.

[elisedance]

My teachers often said that “dancing” is so beyond words and that there are not enough words in the world to describe it. Even if you tried to explain it with words you would always fall short. They said that it is like the center of the universe. You can talk about it, draw theories about it, calculate it and study it, but you will never really know what it is like, till you have been there. We as teachers can get you close and walk you all around “it” but you have to do “it” to really understand what we are talking about. Yet, once you have experienced it, it is so beautiful, wondrous and special and yet so “SIMPLE”.  It just “IS”. It simply “IS”. They would say “IT JUST IS” and when you are doing it, all that comes to mind is “I AM”. 

How do you explain “I AM” to somebody that doesn’t know or understand that experience?

Dancing has to be experienced in person to really be understood.

DSV

And this is why I seldom post about dance on DF. I think it would be difficult for me to do so; I seek out the I AM, and don't give a damn about where the book tells me to put my foot or how many degrees I should sway. They once started a thread about "how long does it take you to memorize a step?" to which I almost posted a smartass comment: "which one did you have trouble memorizing? Forward, back, or to the side?" but decided they would'nt get it, and I was not interested in picking a fight... If, in a DF thread about "how are your lessons going" I were to say, "Today, I experienced timelessness, effortlessness, and the magnificence of being heavy in the air and falling, and then came back to earth and discovered I'd been doing foxtrot," there would be damn few on DF who would understand me. There is a place for everything, true. On DF, I post about other things; life events, shoes, rhinestones... On PDO, I try to post about dance, when I post at all.

Back to lurking.

If you only post once a decade its worth waiting for posts such as this one!

"which one did you have trouble memorizing? Forward, back, or to the side?" ROFL!

"Today, I experienced timelessness, effortlessness, and the magnificence of being heavy in the air and falling, and then came back to earth and discovered I'd been doing foxtrot," BANG ON!!

Of course, I'd like it even more if you posted such every 5 minutes ...  

[Some guy]

Yes, please!  Post like this every 5 minutes! 

That was definitely a ROFL moment like Elise pointed out. 

How wonderful it is to hear about your experiences drj.  Please keep posting!  There are some new folks here who could really use, and even identify with, the descriptions you so perfectly give. 

[orangepeel]

Totally want to dance like that someday...hopefully I'm getting there

[elisedance]

Totally want to dance like that someday...hopefully I'm getting there

the time is now OJP (oops!).  You can do this at ANY level of dancing, its not something for the future, any more than walking 'properly' is.  Go over some very basic steps - rumba walks, or a feather, feather finish in foxtrot say until it feels comfortable.  now do it without thinking about your feet - if you let yourself go it is actually easy.  The key is to not worry about screwing up - - 'errors' are normal its how we deal with them that introduces abnormality...

[Some guy]

Very well put Miss Elise!

[elisedance]

 

Very well put Miss Elise!

 

[Dora-Satya Veda]

I have to say "WOW" guys. You have all come a long way. I remember a time where talks like this was strange to all of you. It is wonderful to hear you all talking with such great enlightenment.

I LOVE IT!!!!

DSV

[Some guy]

It felt like just yesterday when you were trying to teach us how to walk DSV!

[Dora-Satya Veda]

It felt like just yesterday when you were trying to teach us how to walk DSV!

Compared to most people your journey has not taken long. Most people take decades to get where you all are now.

It sure is wonderful to see how fast you all have woken up to the wonders of dancing.

DSV

[elisedance]

We all owe you an enormous debt of thanks DSV.  Even if we wished to (and I think inside us we did) we would not have been able to open our eyes without your sage advice.  

Of course we - well at least I - have a long way to go!!

BTW I've changed coaches again.  The last one really did get the rudimens of BoS but has been out of competition dancing too long and it was starting to grate - besides he was way too short for me.  Still, I am indepted since that really helped get over the loss of DP.

The new one is really two - I wrote a bit about it elsewhere - and even if the formal training is not BoS the outcome is very satisfactory indeed - an emphasis on letting go and just dancing that is surely the real essence of the goal we are all aiming for.  I can honestly say that I have danced more 'all out' and without conscious interference with CoachNew than ever before.  I can see that a little more of this and I will be spoiled for an AM partner ...    Unless, that is, I can get them similarly trained.... perhaps....

[Some guy]

I can see that a little more of this and I will be spoiled for an AM partner ...    Unless, that is, I can get them similarly trained.... perhaps....

I'm doing my best to keep the crops growing.    Very few male takers... 'though that should change soon once there are enough ladies to lure them in. 

[Some guy]

And this is why I seldom post about dance on DF. I think it would be difficult for me to do so; I seek out the I AM, and don't give a damn about where the book tells me to put my foot or how many degrees I should sway. They once started a thread about "how long does it take you to memorize a step?" to which I almost posted a smartass comment: "which one did you have trouble memorizing? Forward, back, or to the side?" but decided they would'nt get it, and I was not interested in picking a fight.

And fight you would!  This reminds me of a quote from the movie "The Matrix":

Morpheus: "You have to understand, most of these people are not ready to be unplugged. And many of them are so inured, so hopelessly dependent on the system, that they will fight to protect it".

Another one that doesn't directly relate to this, but why we can only sit back and wait for them to want it:
Morpheus: "I'm trying to free your mind, Neo. But I can only show you the door. You're the one that has to walk through it".

[Some guy]

We all owe you an enormous debt of thanks DSV.

Chiming in with what Elise said!   

[Dora-Satya Veda]

You have all made it worth while. It is a challenge to free minds from the Matrix. It is however well worth every bit of the struggle. The gifts of joy that is seen in the people once the mind is free is worth more than my words can describe. The more people that can stand up and say "I AM" the more joy this world will experience. 

DSV