The dance of life

Movement represents fluidity of time, propelling one minute to the other. Time is movement, although it disguises itself in stillness. Nature is movement. The human heart pulses even if the body seems still. The earth spins around the sun. The invisible air around us is not static. The lighter air moves upwards and the denser air downwards. This is the infinite swaying of the ether that binds us to the galaxy of life. When a human being dances it is a reclaiming of the binding synergy of life. Dancing means wellbeing,

The earliest forms of dance from the age of the Sumerians were directly linked to medicine practice treating complications such as intervertebral disc and sciatic problems. This is aligned with the ancient medical philosophy which held that dis-ease (disease) was a result of the imbalance within the body. As proclaimed by Hippocrates in the 5th century BCE, and by the ancient rishis of the Ayurvedha tradition and those of the Unani medical practice, among others, health was an internal balance of the body’s humors as well as the balance with the cosmos and the environment. 

The epicentre of the zone of balance within the ecosystem of the human body was believed by ancient healers to be the hara, located two centimetres below the naval and seen as the source of optimum strength. Indian thought held that the root chakra is the core point of the body at the base of the spine where the energy runs through. Dance and disciplines such as Yoga is said to rejuvenate these energy tracts of the human physique but when these are blocked and impaired, physical, mental and emotional problems are thought to manifest. There are many forms of dancing in different cultures that are thought to lift the energy to different dimensions.

In ancient Egypt fertility rights were represented by belly dancing which was used as homage to the great Mother Goddess and significantly to make the birthing process easier. 

Dance, music, best forms of mass communication 

The use of dance in ancient medical practices is a research sphere that could revive its medical significance in the modern world. Also, the potential of dance, as in music, to bind the world in peace and understanding is vast. In these troubled times when killing is normalised in many parts of the world, a humanistic requirement is to uphold all forms of arts to promote goodwill and unity among human beings. Dance, with its sister art form, music, is one of the best forms of mass communication to get social messages communicated to the human heart. Both dance and music have evolved over time, blending tradition and modernity in diverse innovative trends of fusion. Within the modern economic tapestry, dance as both an art form and industry can kick-start many other forms of art based entrepreneurship. This could range from choreography and music to costume design. The more it is adopted into the mainstream of social entrepreneurship and incorporated into diverse sectors such as education and health, the more potential there is for dance to be sustained as a viable and influencing form of mass communication and art based industry.

NOTE: This brief article on dance is a precursor to the upcoming interview with Kapila Palihawadana, founder of nATANDA, Sri Lanka’s pioneering contemporary dance company which initiated annual international dance festivals in Sri Lanka, identifying and showcasing local youth dance talent to the world. The interview to be published in our next week’s edition, would focus on global and contemporary dance forms and its relevance to tell stories of peace, harmony, kindness and forgiveness this world needs as well as examine the globally relevant economic prospects of the dance industry. The interview will also trace the past two decades of Kapila Palihawadana who made the distinct choice of making a life and a living through dance and helped others to do the same, especially, by breaking gender based stereotypes associated with dance.

References: Among the general reading for the above article the main book was Belly Dancing, The sensual Art of Energy and Spirit by Pina Coluccia, Anette Paffrath and Jean Putz, translated by Nick Win Myint, published by Park Street Press, Rochester, Vermont in 2005.      (SV)