Energy shifting
I have been thinking about and noticing energy a lot lately. I have been rehearsing with a company that I have been working with for several years, but for the first time, with a smaller group of us. The difference in time and space with three (versus seven) is really so amazing – I think also particularly, because it is the same studio space that I am familiar and comfortable with. I have to admit that, at first, I was nervous that working with fewer people would somehow make some moments more awkward or make time drag by. However, what I have found, is that the energy in the room is free, it moves well, time passes promptly, and negative tension in rarely ever present. So, just as I had thought about this ‘great energy’ that the small group of us had found, the choreographer made the artistic decision that she needed a fourth dancer to complete her vision– and it needed to be a male; another huge change in the studio, since I have only worked with females within this group. Today was the first day with the ‘new’ dancer, and although there was a new energy brought into the room, it really amazed me that the energy we had established remained strong and I think slowly instilled into the ‘new’ member. To me, it was such an interesting concept– that an existing energy can sustain even with a change in environment.
Outside of the rehearsal process, I think that teaching dance has also made me hyper-aware of energy. Students constantly depend on their teachers as their feed of energy. I would even say that it is one of my responsibilities and a priority to give out a positive energy. That being said, I have to make my energy appropriate to the group I am with, based on age, ability, location, etc. Because of this, I think that I have found ways to transform my energy to the place it needs to be- no matter where I am coming from or what happens/is happening before or after I am teaching. This change happens subconsciously for me, but as I think about energy, I am more attuned to the shift.
What creates energy? For me it’s: moving, dancing, fresh air, people, yoga, water, light, color, smiles, music, eyes, breath, grass, cats, shoes… for everyone it’s different- but it’s nice to identify at times.
Energy is different from attitude… energy can shape attitude, but they are not the same. For me, energy has a deeper root… I can feel it from the core – but this may also be different from person to person.
Are dancers more aware of energy? Are teachers more aware of energy? Are some people more aware of energy? We all have different energy… and there are ways for energy to shift, through both external and internal causes and motivations.
- Amy
Filed under: General, Individual Evolution | 1 Comment
Great post Amy.
I often reflect on the energy I’m projecting out into the world as well. I think about how it impacts perspective; not only in terms of how one is perceived by others, but in how we personally shape our own stories, and how we perceive them. In this sense, I think perception and energetic shifts create attitude and our I believe our attitudes can then carry through to effect culture and mass opinion/behavior. It is powerful, we are powerful.
This notion (personal energy’s external impact) is something dancers and dance makers are often toying with through research, experimentation, improvisation and of course, in performance. I was recently really moved, during a keynote speech made by national cultural activist Arlene Goldbard, when she implored the artistic community, to shift the way we perceive our impact on our surrounding landscape to one of acknowledgement and proud acceptance of our ability to teach and inform the culture around us that is suffering and to lead the way for future generations by imparting our intuitive capacity for empathy, inquiry, collaboration, appreciation, etc. If this sounds compelling to you, here’s the link to view live footage from Arlene’s speech at The Field’s recent “We Are No Longer Strangers,” book launch event http://www.economicrevitalization.blogspot.com/.
Thanks Amy, for bringing your energy to the table. I think it’s the most important thing any of us can do.
- Cara