People want to be ‘SEEN & HEARD’
There are various ways to achieve this, and one method is through body language or movement.
Sometimes individuals lack the language or means to express themselves, so they borrow from others. Using words might not be your thing and you might not be a pictures person; but when you need an outlet, you start moving your body…
In dancing, there are various reasons for wanting to engage in the creative expression and for me, there are 3 main reasons:
The Art of Movement
Competition: Pushing physical boundaries
Entertainment
The art of dance is focussed more on the journey of creation. The process affects the art almost as much as the final product. It is used as a preservation of history, thoughts, ideas & culture. Creating the art and working towards its mastery involves experimentation, exploration and challenging boundaries. Through this means of expression one works through the fundamentals and transcends them to create something that is deeply personal and subjective. The intended meaning of the artwork is interpreted individually, and its beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder. The art of dance is expressed or created from an internal catalyst and inspiration. It is about creating for the sake of it, not for external validation. It is intended to be provocative.
Dance can be intended to be entertaining. The focus here is more on the outcome and the finished picture rather than the process. This is for the observer: to create a means of escape and diversion and to present a spectrum of experiences. Sometimes it’s also educational. Dance for entertainment purposes often has a clear intention and effectively tells stories in a concise manner. It allows us to explore different ideas, cultures, and perspectives, broadening our understanding of the world and present it in a way that is easily digested and palatable. It’s meant to be fun.
There is also dancing for accolades. Competition in dancing is about achievement and encourages pushing physical limits and boundaries. Dancers are challenged to push beyond their comfort zones, to innovate, and to continually strive for improvement. Because of this, it drives progress, innovation and excellence because people are constantly striving to outperform on another. The ambition is to achieve a higher standard within defined boundaries and frameworks.
Yes, dancing is educational and, sometimes, could even be spiritual. But those - and other reasons for dancing - could probably fit in to the three headings mentioned above.
Whether you dance for the art & expression, for the physical challenge or to bring pleasure to yourself and others, we must acknowledge that we should not judge people’s reasons for dancing. We might not agree with it or it might not be for us, but we must appreciate the fact that they are engaging in this wonderful Artistic Athleticism and moving to music in various ways. It is a part of the human experience and is highly personal - and that should be celebrated.
Benefits of dance are:
Physical Health
Stress Relief
Emotional expression
Social interaction
Cultural connection
Self confidence
Brain health
…but those are residual effects, not root reasons for dancing.
What’s your reason?