Saw Tarantella, which featured performances by Alessandra Belloni, Antonio Fini and Joe Deninzon, at the College of Charleston's Italian Fest. I had been rushing about on a Friday afternoon, finishing my work, running to the bank, and arguing over getting everyone to his/her event and what order, then running too late to ride with my friend to the show.
"The Tarantella Dance music is one of the most recognized songs of all the Italian folklore music." Belloni, known as one of the greatest of percussionsists uses her own signature series of Italian tambourines - wonderfully large and some hand-painted to represent Ava Maria. Masks, live flowing music and changing costumes and characters made for a rich experience and step back in time. The lively dance is characterized by light, quick steps and teasing, flirtatious behavior between partners and even the dancers and musicians. And in the tradition of the Greek stage, gender and role playing becomes irrelevant. The stories were short tales from Greek mythology which require us to get involved in the magic.
My resistance and focus on the obstacles of my daily struggles began to recede. I became present to my senses and was made lighter... much more open to experiencing the evening and my companions. Once I relaxed I was transported back to myself.
It seems rare today to get beyond our "Doing" and our lists. (If you don't know what that means, you might really be in trouble.) But there is hope in Art, Music, and Dance. Dance is a unique expression of the Human Experience - one that we can't grasp in 6 seconds or have flash thru our GPhones.... I was reminded of the importance of these forms in keeping us connected to our cultures and each other in a PROCESS or JOURNEY...Thanks and gratitude to Belloni and her troupe of artists for their devotion.
Monday, October 26, 2009
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Dance-On Celebrates Patrick Swayze
Dance-On Celebrates the Life and Dance Magic of Patrick Swayze, who died courageously today.
Swayze's Unique Style and Smile was a gift to all of us in the memorable movie,"Dirty Dancing." The title says it all about a time when an uptight society tried to stifle the Joy of Dance and often stereo-type (non-classical) dancers as "Sleezy" outcasts.
Swayze's and Jennifer Grey's ARTISTRY and BEAUTY shine in the portrayal of two people, from different walks of life, that come together and break free with Dance and for Dance.... Check out this great YouTube Video and pass it on!
Dance-On Patrick Swayze
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qVNTPJKuVQg
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
LesLee Ames interviews Stephaney Robinson, Nia black-belt teacher, trainer and artist residing on Sullivan's Island, SC, about her experience with Nia for www.dance-on.net
Dance is a way of being human.
“It is healing. Learning movement for the purpose for self-healing that is what the white belt is." Stephaney Robinson, is talking about Nia.)
The Reason why this teacher extraordinaire chooses Nia to dance dance dance out of many modalities and forms is TOOLS...lots of tools for healing at the deepest levels.
Although dance is a very physical activity, for many, dance tends to reside in the emotional body. Nia allows us to bring our focus back to our body, putting emphasis on the physical body as sensation. Sensation based on pleasure, this is known as Joy in the body as sensation! And when we learn to be in the physical - we don’t have to be run by the emotions. We can utilize and release emotions and ENERGY. There are actually the 4 Realms: spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical.
We can get hurt in physical body if we are not aware of that. If we get lost in our emotional sphere, our body isn’t able to take that kind of movement, speed, or energy. "When we know that the physical container is present by using the structure that Nia provides, then we can say okay,,, I am here. Now I can pump the emotional expression into the dance and blow the roof off the place…."
That leads to the Joy, which founders of Nia, Carlos Rosas and Debbie Rosas-Stewart, believe to be the Core of the Technique. Dance brings joy because, believe it or not, we are Joy and the dance connects us naturally with our humanity where we remember Joy on a cellular level.
“You need to know that when you step into that room, Joy will be available for you. Everything is rooted in joy. When I first started to move my body this way and create the sensation of Joy, I thought, wow, this is what I have been looking for a long time." As long as Nia stays rooted in Joy, more people will gravitate toward that.
Dance is a way of being human.
“It is healing. Learning movement for the purpose for self-healing that is what the white belt is." Stephaney Robinson, is talking about Nia.)
The Reason why this teacher extraordinaire chooses Nia to dance dance dance out of many modalities and forms is TOOLS...lots of tools for healing at the deepest levels.
Although dance is a very physical activity, for many, dance tends to reside in the emotional body. Nia allows us to bring our focus back to our body, putting emphasis on the physical body as sensation. Sensation based on pleasure, this is known as Joy in the body as sensation! And when we learn to be in the physical - we don’t have to be run by the emotions. We can utilize and release emotions and ENERGY. There are actually the 4 Realms: spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical.
We can get hurt in physical body if we are not aware of that. If we get lost in our emotional sphere, our body isn’t able to take that kind of movement, speed, or energy. "When we know that the physical container is present by using the structure that Nia provides, then we can say okay,,, I am here. Now I can pump the emotional expression into the dance and blow the roof off the place…."
That leads to the Joy, which founders of Nia, Carlos Rosas and Debbie Rosas-Stewart, believe to be the Core of the Technique. Dance brings joy because, believe it or not, we are Joy and the dance connects us naturally with our humanity where we remember Joy on a cellular level.
“You need to know that when you step into that room, Joy will be available for you. Everything is rooted in joy. When I first started to move my body this way and create the sensation of Joy, I thought, wow, this is what I have been looking for a long time." As long as Nia stays rooted in Joy, more people will gravitate toward that.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
The Dance Magic of Michael Jackson
Dance-On pays tribute to the Magic and Creativity of the Music and Dance of Michael Jackson.
I was asking my mom today, where would I be without the songs that the Jackson 5 brought to the radio in the backseat of the car that I grew up in? I spent hours choreographing dances to Rockin' Robin and the new beat being ushered in.
Later in high school I remember being mesmerized as a girl Moonwalked, and I tried to the dance this imaginary way that MJ had brought to life. This "trying" raised new possibilities that brought dance to a new level for so many, and raised awareness of "street dance" and the people it belonged to.
The Killer "Thriller" blew the doors off the new medium of video, which was just being born...MTV. My friends and I got tickets to see Michael and his brothers rock the world with revolutionary entertainment, smokin'hot sensation. I felt energized watching him bring life so powerfully to a movement with a gesture or sound that was, to me like lightening striking over and over.
As a survivor of childhood sexual assault, I feel obliged to acknowledge the scandal that surrounded the star,...and I do feel both skeptical and sad about these things without knowing the truth.
However the Dancer in me pays Homage and Celebrates the hours of sweat and many gifts that Michael Jackson gave to me and certainly the Dance World with his time here on the planet.
1958 August 29 - 2009 June 25 - Dance-On, Michael!
Friday, May 22, 2009
Archive
May 20, 2009, NYC DanceParade 2009
Dance-On Founder, LesLee Ames, was present with the NIA Dancers at the fabulous DanceParade, down Broadway, NYC 2009. Here are some random pics from the parade and festival at Tompkins Square Park. (If you have any photos that you would like me to post, Contact Us.)
The Mayor declared the Day a City-Wide day of Dance, and the crowds were enthusiastic and oh-so-cheerful. If you love to watch or participate, I highly suggest you make it to next year's extravaganza. To find out about more about the many dancers and companies that participate and have offerings, visit www.danceparade.org
May 20, 2009, Different Kinds of Dance for Different People
Interested In Different Kinds of Dance ... Look here to find a Fab Resource Guide.
Permalink -- click for full blog post
benefits of dance movement therapy as an innovative approach to healing Post Traumatic Stress
Dance-On Founder, LesLee Ames, was present with the NIA Dancers at the fabulous DanceParade, down Broadway, NYC 2009. Here are some random pics from the parade and festival at Tompkins Square Park. (If you have any photos that you would like me to post, Contact Us.)
The Mayor declared the Day a City-Wide day of Dance, and the crowds were enthusiastic and oh-so-cheerful. If you love to watch or participate, I highly suggest you make it to next year's extravaganza. To find out about more about the many dancers and companies that participate and have offerings, visit www.danceparade.org
May 20, 2009, Different Kinds of Dance for Different People
Interested In Different Kinds of Dance ... Look here to find a Fab Resource Guide.
Permalink -- click for full blog post
May 14, 2009, NYC DANCE PARADE
In case you haven't heard: Announcing a Huge Dance Parade in NYC, Saturday May 16, 2009, and Dance-On will be there. This weekend!
Every kind of Dance will be represented as we shimmy our way down Broadway to Tompkins Square Park. Then there will be workshops, performances, and demos galore. And there is still time to sign up if you can make it to the Big Apple!
May 14, 2009, Benefits of dance movement therapy and healing are revealed here.
benefits of dance movement therapy as an innovative approach to healing Post Traumatic Stress
Permalink -- click for full blog post
May 1, 2009, LesLee Ames
Take this Cyber Exit To Learn about LesLee Ames
Permalink -- click for full blog post
Apr 30, 2009, LesLee Ames
Take this Cyber Exit for LesLee Ames Yogo Classes
Permalink -- click for full blog post
Apr 16, 2009, Contra Dance - What it is and How to Enjoy It?
Contra Dance - Come here to find out about this Social Dance and Who Likes it.
Permalink -- click for full blog post
Apr 10, 2009, Teen Dance
Stop here to find Teen Dance Inspiration
Permalink -- click for full blog post
Apr 2, 2009, Top Dance Music Now
Top Dance Music: How to choose your Dance Music and What is Hot on the Dance Floor Now
Permalink -- click for full blog post
Apr 2, 2009, Dances for Peace
Global WarmingRaging WarsChild Abuse.....What can we do?
Get in the House with Dance for Peace!Gabrielle Roth calls it "Sweating your Prayers!"
Where I live, in Charleston, SC, we have an active group that meets monthly. Check in with these dancers or your local churches to find out what might be available to you!
Dances of Universal Peace(also known as Sufi Dancing)
Saturday April 47:00-9:00 pm4 Archdale Street Gage Hall Downtown Charleston( free parking behind Gage Hall)
The Dances of Universal Peace, or Sufi Dancing, area modern synthesis of ancient sacred chants fromdiverse wisdon trations, inspired music and prayerful movements.Each song is drawn from a moving chantto cultivate compassion, tolerance, diversity and peace,and is taught in the moment. Let’s renew our friendships and expand our hearts.
Visiting Dance Leaders are accompanied by live musicwith local musician David Sarnoff and other guest musicians.
No experience necessary *** $10 donation gratefully accepted For more information: Gaile Sickel 843.641-0447
www.southerndup.org
www.dancesofuniversalpeace.org
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