“Laughter, song, and dance are so woven into the fabric of our everyday life that we can forget how much we value the people who can make us laugh, the songs that inspire us to roll down the car window and sing at the top of our lungs, and the total freedom we feel when we ‘dance like no one is watching.'”
Brene Brown, The Gifts of Imperfection
Brene Brown describes dancing as “full-body vulnerability.” It’s about letting go, moving how we want to move, and possibly looking uncoordinated, uncool, and out of control.
Our children do it all the time. They love to dance, and they don’t care what they look like when they do it. My children dance to the Wii, they dance before getting into the bathtub, they dance in choreographed recitals and competitions, they dance outside in the leaves, they dance in the checkout line at Target… they just dance. They don’t care who is watching. They move how they want their bodies to move, and express whatever the music {internal or external} inspires them to express.
“Dance can reveal everything mysterious that is hidden in music, and it has the additional merit of being human and palpable. Dancing is poetry with arms and legs.”
Charles Baudelaire
As we grow up, we often lose that ability. We become self-conscious. And I think it’s a bit sad to reach the age when spontaneous dancing is no longer socially appropriate. I once saw a stand-up comedian {I don’t remember who} say that he wished he could be in a business presentation and say something to the effect of “Our 4th quarter profits are up 20%.” And then just break into a celebratory boogie.
“To watch us dance is to hear our hearts speak.”
Hopi saying
Dance can be a part of your mindfulness practice. In fact, it’s often when we engage in something physical and free-flowing like dance that we can become fully present. The worries about our to-do list fade away as we become ever more conscious of the movement of our body and the beat of the music and the pattern of our breath. We participate fully in the moment with embodied presence.
“When you dance, your purpose is not to get to a certain place on the floor. It’s to enjoy each step along the way.”
Wayne Dyer
When was the last time you danced? Whether it’s at aerobics or Zumba class or a concert or just letting loose in your kitchen, just dance! Brene Brown believes “dance is in our DNA.” It doesn’t have to be worthy of a televised competition, but we all can feel the “strong pull toward rhythm and movement.”
“There’s just something about dance. It’s like a primal thing in all of us.”
Patrick Swayze
See if you can make it your goal to dance this week. Have a dance party! (Even if it’s just you in your living room). I love this post from Abundant Mama Shawn Fink with suggestions for a family dance party. She writes, “dancing is a great way to get playful, feel alive and release some serious grumpies.”
“Nobody cares if you can’t dance well. Just get up and dance.”
Dave Barry
About seven years ago I stepped out of my comfort zone and signed up for a “mom’s dance” at my daughter’s studio. I loved it. Fast forward to today and I’m a member of two performing and competitive dancelines. I get to spend several hours a week dancing with amazing and talented women, and we absolutely have a party when we get together to practice and perform!
“When I dance, I forget everything else and just feel completely happy.”
Katherine Jenkins
Dancing, like language and story-telling, is a cultural universal. It truly is an expression of our humanness and aliveness.
It’s a shame we don’t do it more often.
Dance is the hidden language of the soul of the body.
Martha Graham
Dance is about letting go of inhibitions and allowing yourself to be silly and playful.
“Life is sweet when you pay attention. When it doesn’t seem sweet, put a sticker on your nose and do a funky dance.”
Whitney Scott
Dance is about release and freedom and creativity and spontaneity.
“To dance is to be out of yourself. Larger, more beautiful, more powerful. This is power, it is glory on earth and it is yours for the taking.”
Agnes de Mille
Whatever’s on your agenda this week, see if a little bit of dance can be a part of it.
“Let us read and let us dance – two amusements that will never do any harm to the world.”
Voltaire
Just Dance!
- A Mindful Approach to New Year’s Resolutions - January 13, 2020
- Just This Next Step - December 16, 2019
- WAIT: A Mindfulness Practice for Waiting in Line - December 9, 2019
