The Yoga and Play of Dance

This year, I set the intention to play and have more fun.  And I’m happy to say, I’m well on my way.  One of the ways I like to play is by dancing.  I just came back from a Bay Area weekend workshop in exploratory dance and group process.  It was rich and inspiring and I had lots of fun.   I’ve been doing various types of intuitive, expressive dance since my early twenties, after being formally trained in my teens.  For me, dance is a wonderful form of self expression.  I love the way the music moves my soul and when I really listen, I can let my body be moved by the different rhythms.  For me, it’s also a great internal practice of listening for authenticity.  Especially in a group setting, I notice my ego wanting to be seen, to be appreciated, included, recognized, to perform, etc.  So I practice listening closely:  “Is my dance coming from the inside out or from the outside in? “ And I often enjoy dancing and playing in wild abandon.

In this workshop, with so many hours of dancing, I noticed my legs and feet getting tired.  I wanted to keep dancing, so I was thankful that I had the option to play in other ways than on my feet:  I did a handstand at the wall for a while;  I hung out upside down on a chair and moved my legs around; I crawled on my arms and legs like a lizard; and I played with moving on my back and belly.  I love all the creative possibilities available to me in my body and how each new song inspires different movements in me, especially when I commit to breaking out of my habitual movement patterns.

I attribute a lot of my body awareness, strength and flexibility to my yoga practice.   I think it helps me to stay safe and strong on the dance floor and gives me the ability to play in all sorts of relationships to gravity that I may not otherwise have.   And my meditation practice shows up on the dance floor too;  in the ways I notice my body sensations, my breath and my state of mind.   The dance can be like a moving meditation;  a conscious journey of listening in and responding to what’s arising in each moment.

I think yoga is a great compliment to any kind of dance and especially to Ecstatic or expressive dance.  The dance can be a great release of energy and self-expression, but it can make our bodies tight and bring up a lot of old emotional stuff.  Practicing yoga can give our bodies more options for play on the dance floor and mindfulness of when we’re caught in story or ego-driven movements.

One of my visions is to offer a regular dance exploration event that combines Hendricks’ practices.  I’ve done this a few times and I can feel myself gearing up to offer this more regularly.  I love the way expressive dance helps us face our issues around relationship dynamics, closeness and individuality.  I think the Hendricks’ tools can support this journey.  I’ll say more about this another time.  So stay tuned if you’re interested in this!

Ciao for now!

xo