Maybe Your Soul Needs a Time Out for the Arts!

[kimbaustin]

 

I am sitting in the back of a crowded and dark theatre, pecking away at my keyboard.   I have my computer screen dimmed as much as possible, hoping to blend in and fade away.   The crowd of 3,000 third graders from the Anaheim Public Schools will most likely think I am just part of the production crew.

What I want to do is capture the emotion of the experience while I am fully immersed. 

My daughter is a ballerina--a Tiny Dancer and apprentice in the Anaheim Ballet company.  Because she is so young, I travel with her and sit in the back of dark theatres while she performs.   As many times as I see these shows, I am still awed and amazed at the reaction they generate.  Who would think a 60 or 90 minute demonstration of ballet could hold a crowd of attention deficient school kids captivated?  But it does.  

From my dark vantage point, I witness the soul connection between the dancers and their audience.  The room is electrified at the cellular level and lives are changed. 

The kids are on the edge of their seats, craning to see.  Masses of hands rise instantly when the announcer asks for volunteers to come on stage to try a little ballet.   The crowd screams when a fellow classmate attempts to lift my daughter above his 10 year-old head.   They rock the house when they are taught an eight count of hip hop moves in their seats.   And they leave the theatre talking about the dancers on first name basis.  "Did you see Johny do that 520?"  "Did you see how many head spins Eddie did?  That was beast, dude!"

 

I know that the kids who are fortunate enough to experience one of the programs offered by the Anaheim Ballet Company will never be the same.   Dance has that power.  A dancer doesn't need a stage, only a soul. 

This is just a reminder to sure to take some time out to reconnect with your soul through the art of dance.   Share the love and support one of your local dance companies by going to see The Nutcracker this holiday season.  The dancers are practicing, now!

 

A note about the Anaheim Ballet Company:   About four years ago, they launched a channel on you tube called Anaheim Ballet, More Than Dance.  In four short years, they have become the number one ballet podcast in the world with over 24 million views.   If you can't afford the time or money to get out to see the ballet, take a few moments to check out some of their best podcasts.

 

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