DANCE

Every single culture is made richer by it is unique bond with music and dance. Dance as an art form is means to express emotions and the grace and movement that is integral to dance also outlines  history, culture and  tradition. Through dance, one can get over one’s inhibitions, give vent to ones expressions, relax and cheer up and surprisingly in the rhythm and vigor of the activity one can also Discover Amazing New Cheerful Energy

What is common to all dance forms are the following facts

-          Every dance form invariably is a celebration

-          There is rhythm, grace, movement and timing that binds the performance

-           Involvement and enjoyment are essential requirements to heighten the quality of the performance

While the sense of rhythm, grace and movement are individual specific, learning the art is a prerequisite if one wants to get fully involved and immersed in the beauty of the dance. Unfortunately many are inhibited by the fear that one has no natural talent or ability to shake a leg.  Equally damning is the reluctance to be patient, the inability to keep rehearsing to attain mastery and getting cocooned and being wary of experimenting to evolve. The beauty of dance lies in its inspiring ability to capture moods, emotions, expressions and interest of both performer and audience. 

The uniqueness of dance lies  in :

Its ability to keep a person grounded. Every dance form has some norms, movements and steps which are by and large predefined. It is therefore essential that anyone attempting dancing be well aware of the movements, the beat and the style if one has to gracefully execute the dance. Whether a person learns the dance form formally or by sheer observation and practice is immaterial but the discipline and rigor of the activity makes the person realize the importance and value of form and structure that holds the movements together and gives it the finesse to make it visually appealing.

The freedom it gives to express one’s creativity. While form and structure ensure that there is uniformity and conformity that makes the dance rhythmic and coordinated, the grace, style and improvisation that an individual brings to the dance floor is completely a function of ones personal style, creative outpouring and personal preference and passion. That is the reason why we tend to appreciate some people as natural dancers while others would be clinical in execution but the soul would be missing.

It allows one the to experience the exhilaration of being liberated. The joy of dancing often usurps the ground rules of form and substance. This is evident in the way little kids exude in the joy of sheer spontaneous movement when listening to catchy tunes and dynamic beats of music. The little child in us also comes out when we too join in the fun and frolic when we cannot resist the lure of the gaiety, the rhythm, the mood and the beat  and spontaneously sway to the exhilarating emotions that overcome us.

In no other art form would many indulge in a public display of their inadequate abilities so spontaneously and that is when they DANCE and Discover Amazing New Cheerful Energy

Action Points:

1. If you had to learn dancing which form of dancing would you love to learn? What is it that you love about that dance style? Have you made any efforts to learn that dance?  Outline a plan of action to learn that dance form.
2. Outline the various types of dance forms that you have seen or heard of.  Attempt to see some of those dances that you may never have witnessed, let alone participated in. To help you get going here are a couple of dance forms that are listed for you to focus on and you can add to that list.

-          Indian classical dances – Mohiniattam, Kuchipudi,

-          Western classical dances – Tap dancing, tango,

-          Indian folk dances –  Cheraw Dance, Koli Dance,

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MUSIC

Music must have always existed since the time of creation. The melodious chirping of the birds heralding the new dawn and the mating calls of the birds have always awakened romanticism in human beings and brought about a harmonious peace and tranquility to everyday living. We find music in the lashing of the waves on the sea shore, in the pecking of a wood pecker, the pitter patter of rain drops and the creaking of the bamboos in the wind. The MUSIC is felt because the Melody Uplifts Stimulates Inspires and Captivates us.

Over time, man has developed the musical notes and ever since music is an integral part of human existence. Perhaps our ability to appreciate music could be a key differentiator between our world and the animal kingdom. What is noteworthy is that like the seven colors of the rainbow there are seven notes in music irrespective of the style of music or its genre. The ambit covered by those seven notes is humongous and so divine that it has spanned generations, has opened up innumerable styles, brought into focus an array of musical instruments and has even us hope in every situation through Music Therapy. While the vast majority of us would be slightly tone deaf and musically challenged if asked to keep time or sing, all of us have that music inside of us which makes us sway and enjoy the melodies that we favor. Yet, we need to be aware that there is a vast repertoire of music which we have never been fortunate to hear nor enjoy.

Each of us may have our favorite styles of music, our personal choice of singers and songs, we may be partial to certain musicians and musical instruments and we may find it hard to appreciate other genres of music, more because of our perceived bias rather because of a first hand dislike. It therefore is important for us to attempt to listen to as many styles as possible. This takes time and effort but the end result will be well worth it. There is as much ecstasy in Western Classical music as in Indian classical music, in the rock and roll of old and the country music be it of the west or of the east or orient. There is divinity in the chamber music, the choral music, the sufi music, the qwallis, the gospel music and bhajjans that pay obeisance to the divine powers. There is mischief and brazenness in the lavanis, the mujras, the cabarets songs and the raunchy ballads of seafarers. This is juxtaposed by the heart rendering gazals and pathos filled love ballads. There is an alien rhapsody in the music of heavy metal, rap music, trance music and the current rage of remixes.

Every possible human emotion is captured by MUSIC and this should spur us to attempt to enjoy as many flavors as possible. Almost all of us are simply taken in by the deluge of Hindi film music and the regional film music apart from the Western album releases. Music in any form liberates the soul and clears the mind touches a chord in the most hardened person and softens the aches and pains of everyday life. The MUSIC is felt because the Melody Uplifts Stimulates Inspires and Captivates us.

Action Points:

1. Check out the local newspaper and identify the various music performances that you must make an attempt to attend. Currently in my home town of Pune, there is the 4 day Sawai Gandharva Classical Musical concerts featuring world renowned Indian classical musicians and singers. There is also the 3 day Western Band concert featuring 50 bands this week. In the coming week there are two different Christmas carols programs and every week end the Poona Music Society features a Classical performance often of international artistes performing Western Music. Make it a point to attend those styles of music that you really haven’t been exposed to so as to give it your undivided attention and perhaps you may discover a treasure trove. 
2. Make an attempt to get to know performing artistes from close quarters to understand their life style, motivation and above all the effort and practice that goes into each performance. You can also attempt to be part of a choir and may suddenly discover your own latent musical talents. If you can beg/ borrow/ buy a variety of music from friends and make it a point to try and appreciate it. If possible take the help of a knowledgeable person to get a better understanding of the nuances of the music.

Power Act - from http://www.actspot.com/  is focused on -

Powering your Spirit to ACT Now.

You are also invited to visit our DAILY inspirational and motivational blog

http://www.actspot.wordpress.com/