The Sufis advise us to speak only after our words have
managed to pass through three gates. At the first gate, we
ask ourselves, “Are these words true?” If so, we let them
pass on; if not, back they go. At the second gate, we ask,
“Are they necessary?” At the last gate, we ask
“Are they kind?” Eknath Easwaran
Hmm…Learning to rehearse the response….
No wonder they whirl in silence, think I might join them……
We
ll today was the first class for 2012 and we always start the year with the more advanced students. Everyone was clearly excited to be back in the space and ready to take the challenge of a new level. However within a short time I was getting the pouts and nervous side looks that generally accompany the realisation that the spirit is willing but the flesh is surprisingly weak!
‘Isn’t it amazing the difference the Christmas and New Year break
can have on the body?’ they say to me – and each other, smiling sheepishly…
It is a common theme of complaint among returning students every year, and interestingly, none seem to remember that the lament is exactly the same each year……’I've lost it!’ and/or ‘my legs are so weak!’ and/or ‘wow!, this is really h-a-r-d’ .
Everyone deserves a holiday, a break from something, a full stop, an extended luscious time of nothingness…….right? Yes and no…depends on what you want….poor, average or exceptional. There are many pursuits that will only demand a part of you, and from those you can have one of those long, nothing at all breaks. But from dance - (especially at a high level or when trying to achieve it) there are very disappointing consequences.
Chances are you love it so much your spirit and body scream for it in any case, so…. what are you waiting for – dance!
Anything you want – from Go-Go to Bollywood* in the privacy of your home (or not) is a great way to keep extremely fit and physically ready during a break. It is also a great way to inject some fun into the technical component of training hard. Iyengar Yoga is fantastic for maintaining flexibility, stamina and strength.
I remember reading once that the extraordinary Margot Fonteyn had
only one real break from dance in her life before her retirement. It was for 6 weeks and she claimed that her initial return to dance was so challenging physically and mentally she would never do it again.
There have been a few occasions in my dance life where I have had to have lengthy breaks and to move away from the studio and into the ‘everyday’ world. I have found that a disconnection, a kind of ‘dimming’ occurs as I lose touch with that special magic that offers relief from the mundane….the excitement of transforming space and communicating through dance …of-course it does return once you get back in there and start, but there is always that niggling fear the magic has left you… just being physically capable is not the same as creating dance.
One way I have of igniting the flame is going back to some of the most inspired performances I have ever witnessed. It can be any genre, but it will have one thing in common and that is the mastery of the performer. It can be raw and edgy or quite sedate, provided it is truly inspired and innovative and not someone else’s work rehashed. There is something very special about the performance of someone who is the creator – they are the source and it shows! Performances that transcend the mundane and fire your soul inspire you to also create and move! Another way to get moving is to listening to music that has been similarly composed from the spirit, the rhythms are too great a tease to ignore and before I know it you will be up and holistically engaged! Powerfully evocative images can also do it, even more so – because your imagination experiences the emotion, the next moment – a whole story. A great book can do the same. Lastly but not at all least, is immersing yourself in the culture of your chosen genre - chances are (like me) that was your first inspiration in any case – and it is your true source.
And now to my pouting, concerned and frustrated students – (that is,
until they find their wings again – which incidentally, never takes as long as they think it will), I say: ‘don’t worry – just let the music carry you and dance with me - it will come back’………….. but every year I also have to remind them ….’It’s not knitting you know – you can’t expect put it down and pick up exactly where you left off!’ It takes time to reacquaint and recondition.
The body/mind/spirit phenomena that is dance is a little unforgiving like that I’m afraid. The important thing is that you re-engage, as there is nothing of value that doesn’t require discipline, but the discipline is a little easier when it is fired by desire. Juliet x
*This would not be enough for high level Classically trained dancers – and they already know it!
Princess with offerings
An article by Suzette Hartwell is the latest addition to the History and Culture section of the EED website. It is entitled ‘The Role of Women in Ancient Egypt’.
In case you missed it, this link will also take you to her previous article ‘Beauty and Ageing in Ancient Egypt’ ……please follow the link for a wonderful read!
A big thank you to Suzette for the contribution, she is quite the multi-talented busy woman herself!
http://www.elementalegyptiandance.com.au/page/culture/index.html
What an extraordinary year it has been – a global ‘show’ I would find hard to believe if I had not been able to witness!
People apparently seeking a very similar final chapter – the right to justice and a fair go, to be heard, counted and considered – from countries through to relationships – the boiling point was 2011. Each day seemed to deliver a new episode that left me spinning – extraordinary bravery and sacrifice, juxtaposed against some of the most diabolical cruelty – sent to us via satellite in real time.
But it is the inspirational courage and selfless sacrifice I have witnessed which will take with me into 2012, giving me hope for the chance of a better future for us all.
A little something else I’d like to share apropos the media hype and shallow celebrity culture that seems to permeate our lives today: Have you noticed the world is littered with the regrets of those who failed to heed the words of more experienced souls – the wisdom of those unsung heroes who humbly walk among us? Oscar Wilde – arguably one of the most astute observers of the human condition – once quipped ‘youth is wasted on the young’.
But I would have to say any age could benefit from a few hours with a soul who has walked the walk, done the hard yards, fought the odds, traversed the depths and survived…perhaps even found ‘the grail’. Whomever that may be in your eyes, seek them out before the new year and show your appreciation by listening, I can guarantee an exchange you will not forget……
Wishing you a Joyous, Safe, and above all else - a Personally Meaningful and Satisfying 2012…… Juliet Le Page 2011
‘Intelligent people learn from themselves – wise people learn from others’ - Jim Kwik
I know I could never deny anyone the right to progress. But it is a little sad that the quietly unobtrusive, non-polluting shadouf has been largely replaced in Egypt by the very loud and incredibly smelly diesel machines for irrigation of crops along the Nile.
Here is a You Tube example of a 5,000 year old ancient Egyptian technology still operating today on a small plot of land in Egypt. It may be more manually intensive, but this juxtaposition of effective, soft and gentle set against intrusive, polluting and loud, really makes we wonder about ‘progress’ in today’s world – what are we really losing? and what are we really gaining??
Special thanks to Jane Akshar for obtaining this wonderful footage of a Shadouf in action:
Rumi - 13th Century Persian poet and philosopher
‘The Radiance that is neither east nor west
comes from a single moon……Infinite mercy flows continually’.
Rumi
™
Excerpt………….The juxtaposition of Deshret (the red desert) with Kamet (the black land) hints at the strong dichotomy that exists throughout Egypt. The juxtaposition of the bold geometric shapes with the Islamic Architecture and the fluid arabesque shapes of theCalligraphy, – water/desert; ; modern/ancient; tension/release; green/red; chaos/stillness; contemporary and traditional ideas do – inexplicably – sit side by side in wonderous harmony.
This theme of opposites is also reflected in the dance itself – a constant quest for balance and harmony through the expression of male and female energies.
I experienced this preternatural energy throughout Egypt – but particularly when traveling on, or when by the Nile in the South. There is an almost tangible sense of timeless balance and harmony between the female/male energies – a warm and wondrous envelopment, a strong impression of a great nurturing beauty and potent natural wonder. This sense of male/female accord that spans time and creation serves as an inspiration to what can be achieved when strengths are realised, rather than weaknesses exploited. ©
Excerpt taken from ‘About the Logo’ by Juliet Le Page on the Elemental Egyptian Dance website
Juliet Le Page - Contemporary Classical
Every soul needs to soar with music and take flight with dance.
Cocoons and safe and warm: why leave?
Two fine ironies I have found as a dance teacher:
1. Skill does not necessarily translate into Artistry
2. Knowledge does not necessarily translate into Development…
only the daring will brave the outer boundaries of their comfort zone, staying there long enough to shift and Transform.
Juliet Le Page 2011
