DANCE THE NIGHT AWAY

By Christine Jayakaran

I had the awesome privilege of being part of an International Dance Conference a few weeks back and boy did it blow my mind. I had assumed that I would come home with a plethora of dance techniques under my belt. Instead I came back with something quite different.

I got to meet dancers from every continent some of whom had given up jobs just to follow their passion for dance and the arts. Many of the dancers were veterans who were well over 50 but their movements were as graceful and limber as a young ballerina. I watched the workshop trainers sit in others workshops when they had the time in order to learn a new dance form and to enlarge their sphere of knowledge. The international delegates soaked up our Indian culture and heritage inspite of a very basic stay and simple food. They ate on banana leaves, stayed in steamy hot rooms and braved the intense Indian summer all just to be part of a community of like minded people.

I learnt that excellence in dance doesn't come from an abundance of skill but from an undying passion for the art and an ever teachable spirit.

I learnt about the importance of a learning community for learning rarely happens in isolation. A community of diverse people with diverse backgrounds but with a common gift creates enormous synergy!

I discovered the gift of safe spaces for our dreams to be shared where we can be ourselves and find encouragement from different quarters. Finally, I learnt to embrace solitude as it helped me quieten myself and meditate on God's word and allow him to speak into my heart.

My greatest learning over that week has been to be the dancer I was created to be. I don't need to copy anyone or model myself on anyone else's style. My body and my style are all mine. I just need to own it and unleash it the way I'm meant to!

If you're a dancer you know the liberation that dance gives you. If you're not a dancer I urge you to try it. I mean right now! Why don't you get up and turn on some music that gives you all the feels and just begin by swaying to it. Then raise up your arms and stretch your legs slowly and allow the music to carry your movements forward. You will find that as you move, your mind will decompress, your body will relax and you will feel younger (I guarantee you this!) Dance until you need to catch your breath and then some.

You don't need to look pretty or put together as you dance (unless you're a back up dancer for the likes of JLO), just let yourself go and you may just find yourself!