DAILY Last week I wrote of the many layers, the pentimento, creating a life. This week I’m dancing with cycles, literally, for I have just completed choreographing new piece on the Wellesley College Dancers to old time songs. They embody the needs and musical focus of the late 30’s, early 40’s, which was another cycle of similar extremism. Then, it contained the rise of Fascism, Nazism, the great depression, and undercurrents leading to the Second World War. People were frightened, life was chaotic, with nations & politicians making bad choices from emotional hot beds.
The outer planets, which move the world slowly and inexorably into enormous change, were extraordinarily alike in energy and connection to present day set up. Whether we are aware of it or not, corresponding issues and changes symbolic of that time are presenting themselves again, pushing the world toward destabilization and over-reaction. We have the Tea Party, the pull and polarizing of politicos using fear as a goad. Many lack jobs as companies make money with fewer people, hard-running those employed with the terror of no job. The rich are growing very rich, and the middle class is failing. The poor have fallen. We have seeminly lost any affable ability to listen to one another, or seek equality for all. Nation-states, of large ego and little means, cannot come together over conference tables. The old dust bowl is the new lack of water and over-population.
This does not mean we have to make the same bad choices. It means we have to become more aware of our choices, especially aware of fear pushing those choices to hang on tight to the old way. We are co-creating our world, working through enormous challenges, and we need to take help where we find it. One of the really wonderful gifts from, and because of the desperation during the last cycle, was its music. It rallied people. It gave spirit and momentary pleasure when there was little else. It joined us as friends, families, communities, and countries.
In creating new choreographies to these old time songs, I was reminded that it was their simplicity and Grace, and spiritual vitality that opens and connects body, mind and heart. Music of any sort is a sweet healing space…much like singing through a Shakti Dance…. where breathing and moving re-open the body to greater life.
Samantha, the piece you have written embodies so eloquently the difficult times that we as a people, as a nation, and as a world are all going through right now. I wish history was not so good at repeating itself. Music is our saving Grace, always has been and most likely, always will be. I love that you added the video along with your writing to share with us your giving of yourself to teach that there are ways to come together as family and friends to renew our Spirit in these hard times. Bless you…
Love that you love music as a ‘saving grace.’ Perhaps today’s pushy, frentic-demands will push us to the edge of taking more time to dance and sing together again? It may be the glue underneath the choas holding us together. As always, thanks for taking time to share your generous thoughts!