On relaxation and dance

April 26, 2006 08:18 PM

Spring is here and our “Under a Desert Moon” recital season is in full swing. Our show is less than two weeks away which makes for a very busy studio these days. So… I thought it would be a good time to share some thoughts on relaxation and dance. Given my tendency toward being busy, I realize I’m not the foremost authority on the topic of relaxation. However, I’ve been working with the concept in some of my classes and found it both useful and timely.

As performers, Eastern inspired dance offers us a unique opportunity to stretch the concept of time for Western audiences. We’re in no hurry. The heart of belly dance is rarely over-the-top, fast and furious. We share soft and subtle movements, sensitive to nuances in the music. Without rushing, we gently fall into each beat and allow the audience to be carried with us through the music. At its best, Oriental dance allows both dancers and audiences to savor the movement and music, transcending time. It may sound silly but, to me, this is the beauty of belly dance.

As students of this Eastern art form, it’s important to explore how relaxation shapes our medium. Though there are many dimensions to belly dance, I think relaxation is key to experiencing its essence. In the physical dimension of dancing there are two sides of every movement: activity and relaxation. The active side is easier to spot. Which muscles are you moving and what shape are you actively trying to create with your body? The second side of creating a movement is what is not seen. What parts of your body are relaxed and not moving? Are those areas full of breath and relaxation, or are the areas tight and full of tension?

Relaxation helps to channel our energies efficiently. Releasing non-active parts of our bodies (and minds) frees our attention to fully focus on the movement at hand. Belly dance can give us the experience being fully present in our bodies. Granted, these moments can be fleeting and far in between as we train and rehearse, but I think these moments of presence are universal in inspiring us and our audiences. So, with the firm belief that all good dance happens in the moment, here’s to a spring-training full of relaxation :).

Yours in dance,
Rachel

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