do you know what? this week has been crap for dancing! Went to B's dance ensemble of wednesday and the empire on friday night and that was it! And actually this week in both B's class and the empire I didn't 'feel' the dance or the atmosphere or the night as much as i have in previous weeks. Yvonne Daniels says that it is through dancing that we understand the dance. well not this week. My feet may have been moving (and i might have actually danced better in the empire as someone i danced with a couple of weeks ago noted i wasn't holding on to him for dear life anymore ha ha) but i wasn't feeling the music. and i wasn't feeling the dance. am actually sure most of the music wasn't salsa as i couldnt here the beats i'm used to.
But the kinesthetic understanding wasn't there this week. well i'm sure it was since i havn't lost my body but my body might have lost its voice. But thinking about it. The many of the mix of people there were also not 'salsaing' only a few. many of the people i danced with were just freestyling. perhaps i wasn't 'feeling' it this week because nobody else was either. There wasn't the sense of communitas implicit in other nights and in the readings of dance and the dance scene.
So what can i say? are there any theories on dance for when people just aren't in the mood but do it anyway? or to descibe a misfitting audience? or for when dance just doesn't feel like yourself? or for when you dance to keep your friends happy? or for when there's not much option? or when is embarrasing and aukward? or when is just an automatic responce?it must be more than just habitus. but what is it?
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hi jeni - i like the expressions and reflections here - especially about 'voice'.
ReplyDeletewhat is it to 'feel' a dance - is it an emotion???
perhaps today's reading and the one on calypso from last week relate here?
hang in there - this is interesting and potentially insightful when it does not work out