Dance to the Rhythm....

A Story by Payal Saxena

Thought it is a short informal article, but since there was no option for article here, so I am presenting my writing in the category of a story.

Dance to the rhythm…

Anonymous said “Dance as if no one sees you”. Dance can be defined differently by different people.

For some, dance has been just some moves, for some it is just flaunting, some dance to remain fit, some dance to express while some do it just to remain fit, some connects themselves to God by dancing, for some it is meditation, and I dance to the rhythm of my heart!

Dance exists in this world for the life came into existence. The rivers came into existence and the waves danced, trees came into existence and leaves danced, a new born came into existence and heartbeat dance, coming over to the chemistry of this biological world, Oxygen came into existence and LIFE DANCED. It won’t be wrong if we say that anything which is live can dance.

Why to Dance: - People hardly have time in their busy life to listen to music, leave dancing. But just take a few minutes of your tight schedule and think about dance. Once just listen to your favorite track, close your eyes, and relax, in fraction of seconds, you will see your shoe tapping the floor, your nerves will start getting bounced and look your heart is already dancing. Find some tracks of the reason as to why to tap your shoe:-

1. Refreshing Dance: -

You need not be a virtuoso for this refreshing activity. Have you ever noticed, whenever you are in a mood to relax, you turn on your music system and your fingers begin to tap your lap. And after long scorching hot days, when on one fine cloudy day your finger tips touches those first few rain drops, and you see those tiny droplets trickling on your fingertips, your hands stretch automatically to fill you with that fresh air, that’s where your heart dance and ignites your body to dance automatically. Don’t you think that’s the most refreshing time. That’s what dance makes you feel!

2. Dance to remain fit: -

Lose weight, tone & strengthen your body, makes it flexible, improve balance & posture, build up your confidence. Do it all with dance. Do you know 150 Pound adult can burn 150 calories by dancing for 30 minutes! Yes, that’s true. Dancing increases the level of chemicals produced in the brain to help growth of nerve cells and learning dance steps boost your memory power. Dancing helps to reduce the risk of “Alzheimer”, not only this belly dance prevents lower back issues, ballroom dance keeps the heart in shape & salsa helps lower BP and cholesterol.

3. Dance is the oldest form of communication: -

Bharat Muni (Father of Indian Theoritical Art) in Natyashastra tells about dance in drama in the3^rd century B.C.E. All the classical and folk dances represent some kind of storytelling or giving a message it be Kathak, Kuchipudi, Bharatnatyam or even Bhangda.

Why Dance is connected to life:- Apart from above given reasons as to why to dance, let me tell you the connection of dance to our culture and our life which can give more teeth to your desire to dance:-

1. To offer to God: -

We all are well aware of the culture of Punjab. Apart from the land of Heer-Ranjha and Jassi & a glass full of lassi; Punjab is also famous for its Lohri and its folk dance. When the first harvest of the year is roped off they offer this harvest to God and pray for their prosperity and they do it by their special dance form. It is there from where we get our Bhangda and Gidda on the beat of Dhol. So Bhangda apart from being a part of prayer also gives us a style of dance of joy.

2. Mood swings: -

Dance is not just the form of communication for us humans but for deities too. It is said that, Lord Shiva when got furious, did “Tandav” to express his anger. This Tandav was nothing but a dance form to communicate with nature that it’s time to shake its plates and create a disaster. So we now know even God communicated through dance.

3. Love: -

Dance is a big way to show your love. When you are in love, your heart dance itself. There are many dance forms which show the love between the couple like ballroom, salsa etc. Besides this, mythology says, Lord Krishna used to communicate his love for Gopis of the village through the dance itself. We all know this divine, yet romantic dance form as “Raas-Leela”.

4. Meditation: -

People don’t only dance to the rhythm of the love and beats, they also dance to praise almighty and tell how much they love that supreme power. The dance is performed by Sufi saints in the name and dignity of their lord and the dance step is a Sufi whirling.

Dance is a beautiful activity which keeps your mind and body fit and fresh. So now, when you know what dance is, its benefits and relation to our culture, when are you breaking the Floor!