Changing Lives through Dancing by David Woodbury
Arthur Murray Santa Monica
“The tragedy of life does not lie in not reaching your goals, the tragedy lies in not having any goals to reach. It isn’t a calamity to die with dreams unfulfilled, but it is a calamity not to dream.” – Benjamin Mays (1894 – 1984) American Baptist minister and civil rights leader.
I’ll confess…I’m a dreamer. I dream in my sleep. Vivid dreams in color, with sound and dialogue and I feel in my dreams. I talk with people. I travel. I awaken to sometimes grab a pen and paper and write down the idea that I just dreamed of. I awaken from the horrors of nightmares. Two years ago, I was screaming in my dream and I woke myself up from that dream screaming. I still remember that dream.
That dream led me to purchase a “heavy duty” rosary made of parachute cord (Amazon). I hold onto it all night. I have specific prayers and nighttime readings to easy my mind into sleep. I realize that dreaming is part of living for me.
I also dream awake. Dream of future possibilities. Dream of writing a book. Dream of what the future will hold. Dream of living in better health. Dream of being a better person.
How can dancing help you become an active dreamer? First, once you begin dancing, your body experiences an awakening. You are holding someone and following or leading them. You are experiencing the direct connection between body and action. The expectation of movement with music through rhythm and dance patterns is overwhelmingly exciting.
How about the “terror” part. Leaders and followers both experience this all the time. The leader is expected and required to hold a partner correctly. Then, be able to move without the partner being under their feet and not ramming the follower into someone else and all the time staying on time to the music and looking confident. Did I mention floor craft and being able to TALK to your partner while dancing?
So, where’s the dreaming? Whilst not with your partner, practice alone and imagine (dream of) your patterns dancing with music. Take paper and pen and write out your steps. Use music to solidify your sequences of steps. See the dances in your mind and then practice with a partner to strengthen your muscle memory.
For followers, perfect the use of the dance frame so you are never surprised by a move and so that you can stop your partner if someone is careening into them from the rear.
Master getting your feet out of the way and be aware on the dance floor. Know your patterns and be able to dance all your steps in sequence alone with the music.
For followers (as well as leaders) you may only lead as well as you can follow, and you can only follow as well as you can lead. Followers, learn to lead the basics of all your dances and be able to lead any partner.
Leaders, want to be an excellent lead? Learn to and practice following all the dances. You’ll never be same, and you’ll understand a weak or a powerful lead.
What is my dancing dream? To be that seasoned dancer on the dance floor, perfectly poised and elegantly dressed, dancing with any partner at any level. Moving on the dance floor with poise, grace, carriage and composure. To be that partner that all the ladies want to dance with. To have a perfect lead with perfect rhythm and styling.
To defy age, illness, sadness, or heartache, and dance with youth, joyfulness, and with a song in my heart. That’s my dream.
Thank you for reading and Keep on Dancing!
David Woodbury
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