I’ve been asked this question several times in the last few weeks. The folks at Jacob’s Pillow are asking the question, it was posed in a casual exchange last week, and at the forums on Dance Advantage Interactive… I get the feeling I’m meant to answer! I’ve had to truly think about it though. Frankly, when faced with the question directly I’ve come up sort of empty. I’ve been immersed in dance my entire life or at least from the time that memory begins to serve me. Has there been an option not to dance?
I can tell you that I have not and do not always love everything about Dance as a career, as a path of study, as a goal, as a means to an end, as an activity, as a process. But at a point early on, I discovered a deep passion for moving, discovering, and exploring, for communicating and connecting in this language, and for watching others do the same. That affection for The Dance has prompted my pursuit of and pushes me onward in Dance.
I’ve never felt I have a gift for dance (and I’m quite sure there are others that agree with me). Rather, I’ve been given a precious gift. Namely, the people in my life that have enabled me to experience both The Dance and Dance and also the capacity for participation in this art form. There have been many moments that dancing for myself (i.e. participating in The Dance) has taken a backseat to passing on the gift but, always my participation fuels the vehicle. I can’t drive on ‘empty’ for very long.
But why, Nichelle? Why do you dance?
As cliché as it may sound (and I assure you this comes from a very real sentiment), you might just as well ask “Why do you breathe?” Dance is nearly as essential and involuntary. When I’m not dancing, I’m talking about dance. I’m watching dance. I’m sharing dance. I’m thinking about dance. My other interests all have a way of coming back around to dance… even this computer sitting at my fingertips.
(okay, here it is…)
Why?
Because, like the air I breathe, dance has been a life-giving, life-sustaining force. Each inhale has been a new experience – sometimes sweet, sometimes bitter – but always taken in and then sent forth into what I accomplish, what I create. I’m quite sure that only when I exhale my last will the dance in my mind and in my body cease. And even then my essence may will dance on.
So tell me, Why Do You Dance?
Photo by D Sharon Pruitt
Share it in the comments below.
And why stop there? Be sure to let Jacob’s Pillow know why you dance. Enlighten the lovely members at DA Interactive, too. Shout it from the mountaintops, for that matter! We could use a few more people doing that because, you know what?, answering this question reminded me why I dance, something I know I need every once in a while to renew my purpose and motivation. Do you need that too?
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About Nichelle (admin)
Dance is the language which surpasses all barriers…
dance for me…dance is before me …after me…with me… without me…it always flowing with the nature… in you …in me…the eternal truth of life flowing within…
still you want to ask why do i dance!!!
you know… 5 years ago I’d ‘ve never say I’d start dancing, but I… I just fell in love with someone and… well ^_^
i started dancing because of this someone, and I thank her every single day for makin’ me take that path; I dance because… I don’t really know, but I think it kinda makes me think I’m something else, not really me the one that makes headspins, swipes and all that stuff… but someone else… someone way better than the “regular” me. That’s the reason y I dance, don’t know where I’d be right now if hadn’t decided to take up breakkdancin, I just needed to express myself some way, and I just found it.
“Dancing = universal language”
“someone way better than the ‘regular’ me” — so many people feel this way, I’ve heard this described again and again. But sometimes you rise to the better you because of dance, don’t you? I’ve found that anyway. Dance makes you better than who you were when you started. I’m happy that you found dance!
I rose to this “better me” because I fell in love… not dancing really… I didn’t just took up dancing… but also piano, guitar, painting… many things, just for her to… at least look at me.
But anyway… I think the reason why I dance right now is to somehow forget her… I think about nothing when I dance, so she’s outta my mind for a while. Not one of the best porpose for dancing, but life’s got me into this, and… I’m just tryin’ to get out of this hole the best way I can… other guys may get a whisky bottle and get drunk every night, but I dance, hahah how cool is that? xD
I dance because I’ve never dedicated so much time and effort into anything like this. When I dance I’m not pretending. There are som many things in the world that want to push me down over and over but when I dance I know it’s where I’m safe and I belong here. Dancing can change a whole generation if it wanted to. Just ONE move. My parents never really liked me dancing but everyday I turned on the tv and tried copying Michael Jackson. At night I went to the garage and practiced while everybody slept. Dance to me is like breathing and walking. Without I’d be alone all the time. When I dance I can express myself. Whether it be happy, sad, angry, hopeful, bad; dancing gets me into my own little world.