New Shoes
So if you are a classical dancer I would assume that you know that to be able to do classical dancing you need to literally give your soul away to dancing. The irony lies in the fact that the time you pledge yourself to Classical dancing of any sort is the time when you actually begin to have a soul.
I can still feel the tension in the muscles of my neck & my legs when I think about my Kathak dancing days. Those were some beautiful days- when dancing was not a serious art but just an energy release; a daily practice; a thing that connected its pulchritude with it’s inner meaning with a rhythm too complicated for a 6 year old to learn/understand. But I danced…not because I understood the beat; or because I had any deep or philosophical thoughts related to it. I did it because I simply enjoyed it. I felt as if I would dissolving into motion in such a way that people will not be able to see my body… my arms or legs as separate entities…
My spine used to straighten itself in a subconscious gesture of getting ready; the mind would start syncing itself with a rhythm which was so well practiced that I didn’t bother to think where it’s coming from- my heart; the stamping of my feet or the tension of the thin sheet of stretched skin on the tabla. I had a feeling where I could not remember anything else because somehow the mind used to settle in and manage a rock solid focus on the notes. The outside world remained outside leaving just a fierce rush of energy gathered to be released.
That was then…Kathak…done barefooted. Now I have worn some new shoes and have changed- from intense stamping of feet to fragile movement on toes and heels- my style has changed from being earthy to dreamy. The motion has changed its face and I have started revolving, closing-in real tight, to move in circles- faster and faster till I become the focus myself as if… if I come to a stop it would be to release everything and fling it into the air- like sachets of colors tied to a wheel bursting when it comes to a screeching halt.
I have acquired a new soul…a new kind of motion…a new style of dancing- Jazz with a blend of Hip-Hop and I am loving it.
Tuesday, November 20, 2007 at 02 , 11
that was beautifully written. This is my first time to your blog so forgive my intrusion if it is unwanted. I have always wanted to dance and have just started ballroom and ballet. It is beautiful. I love how the experienced people move. I wish i could get to that standard. I have only been going for a few weeks so i am still crawling, but i hope to improve with time. I can do it three times a week so after the 3 years i am with this class, i should be starting to understand it.
I wish i was better, but it will come.
Tuesday, November 20, 2007 at 05 , 11
Hey Alice,
Thank you so much. I didn’t realize that I had published the blog. It was just a rough draft. But thanks again for struggling through all the bad grammar and some really confused expressions.
I have joined Jazz pretty recently and one of the several reasons of loving it so much is the challenge that it throws at me. The difficulty sometimes helps me separate the regular me that would get frustrated on a simple failure and the real me that would just want to keep trying until it is right.
I wish you all the best for your dancing.
Cheers
Thursday, January 24, 2008 at 03 , 01
Never could timing be more precise for me to push my likings on another person. I’ve just started loving hip hop music and a fusion of ballet/hip hop myself. What I’m going to push on to you is to watch the movie called ‘Step Up’ if you haven’t already done so. I loved the final dance sequence (altho’ critics beg to differ).
Didn’t know you had a blog. Will add it to my feed.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008 at 03 , 03
Did you just delete a post you just made? Curious coz I just read it but couldn’t find a place to comment on it. I like the layout and colors on your blog.