Blog Archives

Save the Best for Last

11/18/2013

Photo by Dance Social Toronto Events

The audience formed a circle to make room for the performers to show off their talents. The crowd was cheering and screaming. People were clapping and whistling. The atmosphere was very welcoming, and the room was filled with lots of energy despite the fact that it was a Monday night. The Inspiracion Latina dance company was one of the performers at Alleycatz that evening, celebrating Frank Bishun’s Birthday with his friends and family. Initially, the Inspiracion Latina performers were told that they were going to go on stage first, among a few other salsa dance groups.

“You are actually going on last,” said Soraya unexpectedly.

“They are saving the best for last,” someone nearby commented. Soraya’s performers smiled with flattery.

Soray’s dancers were wearing exotic samba costumes. Beautiful, silky feathers were sticking out from the headpiece and the bottom piece of the costume. The vibrant colours brightened the room with pink, purple and yellow tints. The Brazilian spirit filled the audience with warmth and excitement. Being it is mid November in Toronto, everyone can appreciate the feeling of being in a tropical country such as Brazil. That is precisely what Latin dancing does to you: it takes your mind off the seriousness of everyday life, and it fills you with the heat of the Latin culture. And this is exactly what happened on Monday, November 11th at Alleycatz as the Inspiracion Latina dancers performed a Brazilian Samba routine to Vide Gal by Daniela Mercury.

“It was a great evening,” said one of Frank’s guests. “Everybody loved the samba dancers and their performance was superb!”

To see more photos of the event, click here.

To book Inspiracion Latina for your next birthday party, click here.

Diva in Heels

0 Comments

The Mindful Dancer: Dancing with the body, mind and soul

11/8/2013

1 Comment

After taking a 10-day Vipassana Meditation course in Northern Ontario I became convinced that our every-day thoughts get stored in our bodies. This was not based on any personal belief or teachings. It was apparent from personal experience. As I sat to meditate 10 hours every day for the duration of 10 days, in complete Noble Silence, I noticed different sensations in my body. Any thought that arose in the mind manifested as a particular sensation (pleasant or unpleasant). These sensations are always there. We are just not always aware of them. And if we are aware (e.g. of pain), it may be on a very superficial level. The Vipassana technique allowed me to look deeper into the interplay of mind and body.

Well, what does all of this have to do with DANCE, you may ask. Everything! After all, dance involves body coordination, thought process, memory, feelings and sensations. It is about body as much as it is about mind. It is my belief that all humans are innate dancers. We are defined by movement of the physical body. But the body does not stand alone. It has such an intricate connection with the mind (I know it's cliché, but it must be explored further). Somewhere recently, I read that to avoid injuries as a dancer, one must be mindful of her/ his body. And by mindful, I mean present in the moment, aware of every step without judgement. Easier said than done...

An article written by Jane Di Leo in Women's Health Magazine (October 2013 Issue, p.114-116), "Eating Under the Influence," talks about mindful eating. Di Leo quotes Elizabeth Lyons, Ph.D., M.P.H.: 'Not paying attention to what we're eating prevents us from noticing when we feel full.' In the same way, not paying attention to when we dance can prevent us from reaping all the benefits dance has to offer, and may even result in injury.

So, what about mindful dancing?
Being inspired by Di Leo's article on mindful eating, I would like to share with you some tips on how to practice mindful dancing (and other physical activities):

1. Start by focusing on your (nasal) breath. Centre your mind.
2. Always warm up before any physical activity, even if it's for a few minutes.
3. As you begin to dance, you may have different thoughts (related or unrelated) creeping up. Bring back your focus to your breath.
4. Be aware of your body to avoid any injuries or fatigue. If you feel pain, take a break. Don't be hard on yourself.
5. Enjoy every moment of it! Listen to the music, smell the beat and the melody of the song, feel the sweat, and taste the beauty of movement. And finally, don't forget to smile :)
You are so lucky to be able to dance, to move your body and to express yourself.

In conclusion, I would like to leave you with the following thought: THE MIND DANCES TOO. As dancers, we should try to avoid 'mind dancing' (body-mind disconnect) and instead practice 'mindful dancing' (full awareness).
~ "A heart speaks through dance" ~

Diva in Heels

1 Comment

Toronto: Not simply the most multicultural city in the world - Sharing diverse cultures, languages and dance traditions

11/2/2013

2 Comments

The more I think about where I live.... the place I call home... the more proud I am to pronounce, "I am a Torontonian!" These four little words have such a big implication.
I often get into a superficial conversation with people about where I'm from. "I hear an accent. What is your background?" I get asked from a new acquaintance. The superficial gets quite profound as I begin to peel the layers of my own 'onion:' my cultural background. Filled with different experiences I picked up from my various journeys, I cannot zero in on one particular answer to this puzzling question. "I'm from around the globe!" I conclude in my mind. As I peel the layers of my being to make sense of who I am, and to help others understand me, I always come across the different languages I speak, the delicious food I've tried, and the ceremonies I took part in.

But what about DANCE?

The different types of dances that exist in the world not only represent the tales of the past, but also make up who we are in the present. Dance, like any language and tradition, helps form our identity. Toronto represents the diverse nature of my life experiences and who I am today. And being such a multicultural city, Toronto offers a taste of every country.
Samba and Lambada from Brazil, Salsa from Cuba, Tango from Argentina, Merengue from other parts of Latin America, Belly Dance from the Middle East, Afro Dances from Africa and the Hula Dance from Hawaii.
Inspiracion Latina sprouted as a result of this passion for diversity and appreciation for the unique cultures that form Toronto. The school and the dance company celebrate these various forms of dance traditions. During classes, students engage in the history of these movements that help define who they are and where their ancestors came from. During the shows, these realities come to life as the beat of the music comes in sync with the beat of the heart and the universe. And hence, the various cultures that make up Toronto come to life in front of your eyes. As the show concludes with an end, you suddenly start craving more. You feel as though you've just traveled the world, each dance bringing you to the unique place where it originated from.

And of course, there are many other dances that I have not mentioned, but they all exist, hidden in the diverse pockets of Toronto! But for now, you can find some of these dances in one particular spot in the GTA: Inspiracion Latina. Get inspired by Inspiracion Latina today! For more info, visit: www.inspiracionlatina.com.

Diva in Heels

2 Comments

Save the Best for Last

The Mindful Dancer: Dancing with the body, mind and soul

Toronto: Not simply the most multicultural city in the world - Sharing diverse cultures, languages and dance traditions

Authors

Archives

Categories