A friend e-mailed me recently with this picture, and asked: is this dance?
Here was my response:
People say that qualities of architecture are dance-like. That buildings, and trees, can dance. Fires can dance. And yes, deer can dance. But the perfomative qualities which we might in a moment recognize in a building, a tree, or a fire are expected throughout any dance presentation.
Dance occurs all over. Where it occurs consistently, people buy tickets. : )
Thanks for sending that, CM.
Over on Bourgeon, there is a simmering conversation on ‘What is Dance?” You can see that here.
There are some good books addressing that question. Copland, et al…
Bit of an academic question, but wrestling the framework of art to the ground can help one appreciate what one sees. And, if you are a practitioner, coming up with more than a knee-jerk definition of what one does can help one get through the writer’s block that occasionally troubles us all.
In case you were wondering – anyone can publish on Bourgeon. I got that question recently. I’m gonna update the ‘About’ page on Bourgeon to bring more clarity there. The submission process is: you wanna write about your work, or something about dance, I’d love to help you share it with the readers.