Dance: Its Own Language

For anyone who has taken dance classes or watched a dance performance, you know that dance has it’s own language. It’s an amazing thing to see, and even more amazing to experience.

I came across a video from Jubilee, called “Between Words” while perusing through Facebook one day, and it became the inspiration for this blog post. This video is a great depiction of dance being its own language. Two people from different countries, that speak two completely unrelated languages were able to come together and create a beautiful dance. *Link not shared here due to mature language in the music/lyrics used*

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen other examples. Maybe it’s a video from YouTube that has a guest instructor from another country, who is still somehow able to teach a room full of students in the host country an entire routine with minimal discussion in a common spoken language. Even without speaking, and without planning, beautiful, emotional dances can be created.

Here’s an example from the style of dance that I currently compete in, West Coast Swing. This is an event that took place in Budapest, and the dancers are French (Emeline Rochefeuille) and Russian (Semion Ovsiannikov). The dance is completely improvised, just dancing with one another according to what they feel in the connection between the lead and follow, and the connection that they feel with the music. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B3semnFDoTY

Or, one of my personal favorites – a waltz performance by Susan Kirklin and Gary McIntyre, a professional couple out of Texas. The song has no words or lyrics, but the performance creates an entire story, full of comedy and tragedy, ultimately resulting in compassion and friendship. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AfE_RPS_HKw

No matter the style, no matter the match-up of dancers, dance is able to transcend any and all languages. Particularly if done well, you can’t help but to feel *something* when watching. Even as the dancer yourself, you can sometimes feel as this happens. You get lost in the moment, or even overcome with emotion. If you’re already a dancer, you know what I’m talking about, and, hopefully, reading this post and watching these videos has made you smile – remembering when you’ve had these experiences yourself. And if you’re not a dancer yet, maybe it has inspired you to go out and take a dance class somewhere. Or, at the very least, maybe you’ll watch a dance show on television or buy a ticket to a performance.

Go out and share the language of dance!

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