The Bearable Lightness of Being; A Case for Dancing in Daily Life

To understand what I am saying, you have to believe that dance is something other than technique.

Nimbus Wellness

October 5, 2023

There’s nothing quite like it. Finding that groove mid dinner prep, car ride or morning walk that gets your blood pumping. The inhibition free feeling of shaking your thang in the privacy of your own bathroom, lounge room or Zoom pre-meeting room.

We’ve been doing it since the beginning of time and even Likki Li will attest to having been a dancer all along, but very few of us allow ourselves the gift of truly surrendering to the boogie when it comes. But why?

Life as we know it encompasses a kaleidoscope of emotions, experiences, and circumstances that all too often perpetuate and stem from a deeply rooted and heavily veiled sense of lack and fear in us - I’m not good enough, things will be better when [fill-in blank], I’ve been meaning to get around to it but the cat’s mother’s great third uncle has a co-worker who never once tried so nor shall I - does it sound even a little familiar?

Whatever our individual and collective hang-ups may be, we are all guilty from time-to-time of justifying our resistance (fear) with convenient, or not so convenient excuses. But we know what freedom from this looks like, sounds like and can feel like. It’s about getting out of our comfort zones, abandoning the self-conscious concerns and bringing ourselves back to the present moment, embodying ourselves wholeheartedly. Simply breathing in, and breathing out again. Dance is one of the fastest (and most fun) ways to explore and embody every corner, curve and fibre of your being. Forget the technique, or whatever daylight stagefright you think you might have, just try breathing in and breathing out whilst allowing your limbs to explore the movements they find to feel good (music optional).

“To understand what I am saying, you have to believe that dance is something other than technique. We forget where the movements come from. They are born from life. When you create a new work, the point of departure must be contemporary life - not existing forms of dance.” - PINA BASCH

The phrase ‘movement is medicine’ has always rung true, and as far as wholesome, physical and individually expressive mediums go, movement (dance) is the all encompassing, freedom generating and emotion releasing remedy we’ve all - often unknowingly - been waiting for. Whatever you’re feeling or working through, catharsis through dance can be truly liberating. It doesn’t have to be a regular class or even a particular style, just 10 minutes of cutting a rug around your lounge room on any given day would usually do the trick. If it’s a class you’re interested in though, we’ve rounded up a couple of online options below to get you started.

Not only does dance lower our inhibitions, increase self awareness and connection, but studies have repeatedly shown that dance of all kinds is hugely beneficial for our overall physical and mental health. It promotes cardiovascular fitness, cognitive performance, flexibility, strength, balance, creativity, alleviates stress and depression and can fight Alzhimer’s disease.

“The heavier the burden, the closer our lives come to the earth, the more real and truthful they become. Conversely, the absolute absence of burden causes man to be lighter than air, to soar into heights, take leave of the earth and his earthly being, and become only half real, his movements as free as they are insignificant. What then shall we choose? Weight or lightness? ….

- THE UNBEARABLE LIGHTNESS OF BEING PUBLISHED IN 1984 BY MILAN KUNDERA.

CAN YOU IMAGINE YOUR BODY AND MIND FEELING LIGHT, ALIVE AND BURDEN FREE?

FLOWING, 'FREE FORM' MOVEMENT - ALSO KNOWN AS ‘IMPROVISATION' - IS UPLIFTING, AND UNIQUE TO EACH OF US, LIKE A FINGERPRINT OR A SNOWFLAKE. IF YOU’RE WILLING, THEN WE INVITE YOU TO TRY AN EXPERIMENT AT HOME WITH US FOR ONE WHOLE WEEK WHERE YOU DANCE FOR 10-20 MINUTES A DAY. FORGET THE STEPS AND EMBRACE YOUR (PERCEIVED) AWKWARD GROOVE, BECAUSE MOVING YOUR BODY TO THE MUSIC FROM YOUR SPEAKERS OR MIND ALIKE WILL FEEL GOOD, IF YOU CAN LET IT.

IT MIGHT EVEN SET YOU FREE.