The Rhythm of Life

Gary and I had a very busy weekend; lots of dancing, of course, and we also spent some time with friends and family. Hey, we do have other interests. :)

One of the outings we took was to the annual Indian Market sponsored by the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art here in Indianapolis. It’s a neat museum; I believe the only one of its kind in the US. Every year they sponsor a celebration of Native American lore, music, and art.

So we went. It was hot. After a quick tour through the market, we settled into seats under a cooler tent. The first band took the stage, Blue Stone Project. I was intrigued; one band member warmed up a traditional flute, but I noted an electric guitar and drums. (Found out later all the musicians had played for years, the guitarist played with Iggy Pop and Patti Smith!) I started to get excited, because I love traditional music blended with modern instruments. I guess that’s not surprising; Gary and I are experimenters when it comes to mixing different dances together.

I sat on the edge of my seat as they launched into their first number. And I was not disappointed; the flute player wove a haunting melody over rock and roll style drumming; the guitar sneaking in behind with nice back beat that….wait…one two three ah four five ah six…you could do a slinky WCS to it!! Gary thought the same thing! We didn’t get up and dance, but we purchased the CD and will be at home.

On the way home I started thinking about music and dancing. Music goes deep into the soul; I truly think it’s part of our core being, and in fact, research has shown that you can “map” DNA into music notes. Check this out:

I never put dance into that universal category until I began dancing myself. Now I believe dancing is a physical way of expressing a connection to music. For me, it’s even MORE powerful than listening, because every part of your body is involved.

So there we were listening to what was probably a very old Native melody blended with a swingin’ WCS rhythm. And it mixed perfectly. Maybe that’s because dancing, like music, is such an ancient part of us. In the past, we may have danced for more practical things like a good crop or success in battle, but we also danced for enjoyment and connection to others. I think that feeling of connection is the most primal link we have with music and with dance, whether it is a connection to another person, to a group of people, or that sense of “otherness” you sometimes get when experiencing music and/or dance.

Check out this photo of my sister and her husband dancing. They are good dancers. But I have to admit that is not the main reason I love to see them dance. Anyone looking at this photo can see the love and connection they have with each other. I feel happy when I watch; for them, for my wonderful marriage, and for all the other couples on the dance floor.

Music and dance are universal. This is why Gary and I can mix latin and swing and it works. This is why a Native group can add modern rhythms to traditional melodies and it works. And that is why in an air conditioned, pole barn of a building, my sister and her husband can interpret the sounds they hear as an expression of love just like long ago couples did in a moonlit glade or an open plain. The rhythm of life is as old as time. The trappings may be modern. But dancing taps into something ancient…something we all share.
As our favorite DJ, Ron Fentz, says, “let’s dance.”