Discovering Dance Teaching as an Art Form
I had been teaching dance for years systematically and mechanically and until a series of experiences would shake this practice at the very core. I started an intellectual and practical exploration and I discovered that teaching dance was, unquestionably, art.
I had been distracted at first with class structure and methodology. I think most dance teachers are. I was absolutely obsessed with correcting technical imperfections.
Lost in the challenge of dance proficiency, of liberating from error.
Then
a moment of perfect artistry and inspiration happened in my classroom. I saw it flicker in my students' eyes. Dancers suspended in beauty
and time forever. The spell broken, the struggle and hard work return,
yet the dancer forever changed- the human vulnerable but louder and stronger.
Another day, it happened again. As Picasso would have described in his
own words, the inspiration was real and found us working. Through
reflection I discovered that the moment of artistic explosion had been created
by a delicate sequence of stimulating exercises, sensations, patterns, and
experiences. A perfect connection between mental exploration and the
embodiment of dance artistry.
I
started working harder. I started diving deeper and began creating a dance
class based on experiential learning beyond teacher direction. The dance and exercises in a structured
sequence lead the dance student to work on technique delicately woven into
artistic experimentation. Time created for class sections incorporated
and repeated. And repeated.
The
class carefully crafted and the dance technique a vehicle for exploration in
itself. The physical rigour when worked on through careful timing and
understanding leads to a meditative state of higher cognitive awareness.
True learning through discovery, feeling and physical challenges... And through
this process I now see my dancers become. I become witness to an artistry
and dancing evolve beyond my own as my students colour and texture their
learning to a unique voice and expression.
I
stand forever changed. I stand overwhelmed with a feeling of connection,
of heightened awareness, of grandeur and smallness, and trembling sensitivity
that only inspiration confers. I stand humbled. An artist
discovering a new vehicle and challenge to my creativity. A dance teacher
discovering, exploring, transforming the mundane work of the class into dance
art.
