Dance

One of my lessons learned in life is regrets have no point unless you use them to change your mind. INHOToday, once you’ve used them, then cast them away and don’t let them visit with you. They are like a shiftless brother-in-law, hoping to live with you forever!

The biggest regret I am willing to put in flickering black and white is about dance. I always loved dance and wanted to be a dancer. Music is meant to be moved to even as your body stays in place. It shakes, stirs, rattles & rolls, and sometimes even cradles you as you listen. As a kid I just couldn’t handle any more ridicule than I was already taking for not being…..a sunbeam slice of bread; white, soft and perfectly shaped as all the other slices in the bag.


Quest Crew


So I ignored the dancer in me, though as I matured he did escape at every wedding reception and disco I could land in. Dancing made me feel free and happy and something beautiful inside me came pouring out, whether what you could see was good or not.

Most of my twenties and thirties I spent dancing in all different kinds of clubs and it has never ceased to be a joy for me. I have also always loved to watch dance; poetry in motion to the timed rhythms of the music. It is the best of life; math and music. It’s the physics of human anatomy and the intangible expressions of the soul.

The three videos express the span and greatness that dance can be. Believe me I could have posted thousands, but I picked three I hoped you might really like and may never have seen before. At least I doubt you’ve seen all three.

The first video, Quest Crew, is an amazing blend of the discipline of martial arts and the kinetic flailing, hops and squats of hip hop. They are brilliant and I have never seen a group dance better together.


West Side Story's Prolouge



Their Predecessors? The brilliance of a choreographer named Jerome Robbins and a piece from West Side Story. This was dance emerging from classical and popular training of the day used in more organic ways. The art form presented as an extension of natural movement, rather than a precise dance done to a precise beat. It so beautifully fits the cultural time and music of this play. You must watch for about 3 minutes before you start to see genuinely magnificent dancing. These guys appear to be suspended in time as they leap together.

The last piece is about more traditional dance, with a surgeon’s precision, and a musician’s heart. Notice the music is non-traditional; perfect art isn’t limited to certain parameters. The passion and discipline necessary to achieve greatness as a ballet dancer is as remarkable as climbing Everest!

So my lesson learned, forget what people think of you and do what brings joy and passion into your life. About dance? It will never stop as long as there is music to move you within.


Classical Ballet