Anna and I had an opportunity to watch a dance performance at a cultural evening in an institution, last week. The artist above performed different dance items belonging to different traditions.
We had an opportunity to meet the artist after the performance and listen to her journey into dance recitals. She had long years of training from her childhood and became used to body movements to illustrate the story line, accompanied by music. What amazed us was the confluence of musical intelligence, visual spatial intelligence, body-kinaesthetic intelligence, linguistic intelligence, emotional intelligence, intrapersonal intelligence and interpersonal intelligence that she combined to express thoughts, emotions and moods through her body movements and posture. It was an instance of watching a dance performance when multiple intelligences were displayed impressively. Thanks to Dr Howard Gardener, who described the theory of Multiple Intelligences, which was well illustrated in this musical dance performance.
I realised that there was an internal experience within the artist which she was expressing in action. The ability to capture the story line and musical notes and to transform them into movements, gestures, rhythm of steps, and synchronisation of the facial and eye movements with the body posture enchanted the audience.
The dance transcended the artistic plane. It brought a serene inner composure where thoughts ceased and inner awareness of something solemn and spiritual came to stay within. The dance movements heightened the inner attentiveness which stilled the soul and made the inner silence an experience leading to meditation!
The soulful mood of the dancing artist carried an exuberance that filled the air! I felt a resonance of joyfulness and comfort which stayed on within well after the dance recital! The artist became present to the audience for us to feel the inner rhythm which her movements created.
Such occasions bring an epiphany!
M.C.Mathew(text and photo)
No comments:
Post a Comment