dance therapy

Part I

Last Saturday night I attended a "Community Dance Sanctuary" in Durango, billed as "An Ecstatic Dance Journey." It was actually my second time there, having gone with Chris last Spring. For various reasons -- timing, my hip, etc. -- it took me nearly a year to return. But I'm glad I did, despite a few drawbacks.

What I didn't like about the dance:

1) It started at 7pm, but the opening "ceremony" lasted over 45 minutes, so the dancing didn't actually get going until about 8pm. (It became apparent why so many attendees arrived after the first hour.)

2) The burning of sage. Yuck! One of my least favorite odors.

3) The music (World) was too fast-paced and not "trance-like" enough for my taste. I wanted something a bit more mellow, but still "ecstatic." I ended up leaving about 8:30pm because I couldn't handle any more. Not that I was upset, just a bit overwhelmed by the intensity of the music.

4) Feeling self conscious about dancing with so many strangers. What helped a bit was taking off my glasses. It blurred my vision just enough so that I couldn't see the details of the people around me, thus enhancing the sense that I was in my own world, unaware of whether other dancers were watching me or not.


What I really liked about the dance:

1) The majorly woo-woo/hippy vibe. I really dig that sometimes. Reminds me of drum circles I've been to.

2) The opening rituals/ceremony -- although way too long -- were grounding as well as provocative (in the sense of being thought-provoking). The woman who led the ceremony at one point asked us all to lay down and think about the passing of Winter and the arrival of Spring. And in so doing, contemplate what we want to leave behind from the last season, and what we'd like to usher into our lives in the new season. That really got me thinking. I decided that what I want to release is disconnectedness: to my body, my friends, my family, my creativity, and my spirituality. And conversely, I wish to recover connectedness to Self, others, and spirit.

3) Some of the World music was really awesome.

4) The free-flow, individual dancing was invigorating, liberating, and spiritually expansive. In a strange way, the dance provides an atmosphere in which I can be in my own private world while also amidst a group of others who are also in their own worlds. It's much like meditating in a room of others: each person accesses their own divine Self, which is mysteriously enhanced or supported by being in a communal setting. At least that's how it is for me.


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Part II

Another positive consequence of the Community Dance Sanctuary was my inspiration to bring just a bit of that spirit and energy home to share with Alex and Mom.

So, last night I invited them to "Nancy's Dance Party." In preparation, I burned a CD with a mix of danceable songs from my music files. (Madonna, ELO, Josh Turner, Michael Jackson, Lady Gaga, etc.) It wasn't meant to be just like the Ecstatic Dance I attended. Rather I wanted to give us all an opportunity to have some fun, and get a little exercise at the same time.

Alex took a little prodding (Mom was gung-ho) but he eventually agreed to take a break from studying and join the party. Here he is stretching in preparation for the festivities:



Mom and Alex start grooving:



I was way into it from the start:



Mom got creative and did some fancy dancing in the recliner:



She had a blast:



Even Ebony got into the spirit:



Lady Gaga couldn't keep Alex from hustling even while preparing dinner:



Kitchen knife as dancing prop. Unique!:



I am determined to get us all dancing at home on a regular basis -- it was quite energizing and tons of fun.