On Living the Dance
There are a few things that come to mind when learning many physical activities and these things especially seem relevant to the art of dancing.
When it comes to learning to dance a specific style there are a few things that initially happen. Firstly, you turn up and as the classic learning model would tell you, you’re in that “unconscious incompetence” stage. You then start the class and you soon find yourself in that “conscious incompetence” stage. You’re following the instructor as best as possible but your feet just don’t seem to want to do the same things as his.
It’s at this point that something changes and you start to really focus on how you move, the rhythm of the music, the way in which your hips move, your feet slide, your arms are held….all at the same time that you’re listening to the instructions from the guy at the front of the room.
In this stage of learning everything is stiff and mechanical and as you move, you do so in a way that specifically aims to follow what the guy in front is doing. Your arms are held up in an awkward position, you’re feet shuffle in an odd kind of way and you’re eyes are probably looking down at the floor in an attempt to “get it right”.
This is how a lot of people also operate their lives. They look at the guy at the front, the person they want to be like, and they notice how incompetent they are. Then they walk stiff, talk stiff, shuffle their feet and look down at the floor in order to spot each and every mistake.
That’s one way of living and for a lot of people it’s the reality they create for themselves.
The question is, what happens if you learn to dance your own dance. What happens when you feel the rhythm inside yourself and choose to dance the dance of life.
Ask yourself right now, when you think about and notice your own dance, are you shuffling along with your eyes on the floor or are you leaping and bouncing, shaking your hips, looking at where you’re going and enjoying the rhythm in the way only you can.
While you notice these things today, if you find yourself being a shuffler, take a moment to notice what it feels like being you. Notice the beat of your heart as it beats out a new rhythm for you to follow. Let all the tension out of your body and make a choice. Decide to dance a new dance. The dance of you.
If you’re already dancing your own dance, ask yourself, How can i make this dance even more fun.
Love, Jamie
