Awareness Through Dance

We Become Aware of Our World Through Our Sense.

"What is necessary for change is for a person to change her awareness of herself." Abraham Maslow.

Dance is the ideal tool for awareness.

We become aware of ourselves through a continuum of our body awareness and practiced behaviors. We can only perceive the world we inhabit through the body we have. We use our senses of sight, taste, smell, sight, smell, touch. We become aware through muscle memory, sweat, tears and movement. Awareness is being in touch with emotions that are in our body and experiencing the world with ALL our senses. The real persona emerges when as the emotions within you are allowed to flow. Like the rocking movement that sooths the child, there are natural rhythms that can sooth or invigorate us in life. Like the Johari Window, our well being is enhanced when we are open to all life.

"When consciousness is expanded, every tree and plant seem to be dancing that to average eyes seemed to be still." Rumi. Each person experiences change as events that switch from for ground to background in a rhythmic flow. This gives understanding that we are all in a constant state of change and there are continuous inner changes. We discover our true self and otherness by being viewed as an important part of the larger group. So it is necessary to move among a loving and nurturing group.

People Danced before written language. Moving like the birds in their mating dance. Those who are truly aware know that 90 percent of communication is from body language. When doing dance therapy with Schizophrenics, it is often possible to visibly see a split in the body as the person moves. With Borderline Personality Disorder, the disassociation is often so large that self-inflecting pain is the only way release the endorphins to bring the awareness back within. Dance gives us a way to go back and gently rock the inner child for healing. Dance therapy can offer the soft eyes of encouragement.