Ahhhhh, spaciousness. I’ve been ruminating about that glorious sense a lot lately. Heading into year 2 of the pandemic, into the universal challenge of confinement, especially here in the northeast during a snowy winter, I’ve also felt deeply the constriction of space in the context of dancing. Doing big movement in the inviting expanse of a studio? Love it! And have lost it for the past year.
Yes, I was so fortunate to have danced outdoors in the warmer months (which carries its own toll on the body). Back at it, dancing in our homes, how to keep cultivating the freedom and roominess I so adore? Many thanks to the terrific meditation coach, Jeff Warren (on the Calm app), for reminding me of the answer. Developing expansiveness inside ourselves. Sure, we no longer have available all of our usual escape routes on the outside. The journey within? Always there for us…calling for us to explore and expand. So, today in dance class, we practiced again and again opening up internal space, in the face of the limits of our rooms, our bodies, and, of course, our minds. Breath after breath, releasing, reaching. And again. An invaluable practice for dance and for life.
Having abundant space or roominess. Being large in range or scope.
These qualities have been my focus for quite awhile for my dancing and teaching dance. Taking up more space when we move and constantly striving for the most expansive range of movement within our bodies–those are two ways to create exciting dance that is full of possibility.
Spacious dancing.
Recently, I’ve realized that this somewhat obvious notion of capaciousness is only part of the picture. That roominess in our minds, in our thought processes, are at least as important.
For instance, when we take dance class, if we keep our minds and hearts more open, more available, we can learn new ways of moving, of both “the steps” and how to execute them. We are also more efficient in our learning because we haven’t boxed ourselves into a smaller place, a place of “no” or “I can’t,” which we…
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Sirena Tales 
Good to see you back here again Sirena Tales and yes, quite a different prospect to develop our inner space. The covid restrictions have shown other paths to dance along, learning different movements of our internal spirit, an expansiveness that crosses all boundaries, opening the heart to receive more infinite space and joy. Keep dancing.
Lovely and wise words, maskednative. Thank you very much for gracing this space with them. And your presence. I hope you are well!
I’m glad you’re still dancing, even though it’s more difficult. Soon it will be warm enough you can dance outdoors again. I am always thankful that I live in southern Arizona, but with the pandemic I am even more thankful. I have a lovely patio and was able to use it for very small group gatherings until the end of November. Through the winter, I could have an occasional afternoon get together on days that were warm enough and without wind.
Soon I will be having coffee on my patio in the mornings and will begin having small group gatherings again.
That patio, and your coffees and small gatherings there, sound wonderful, Emilie. Here’s hoping you are back at it very soon! Thank you for visiting and best wishes to you.