Dance Your Blues Away

When Ed was just 16 he won a dance contest on TV's popular Ted Steele's New York Bandstand and became a regular on the show; when he was 19 he won the NYC dance championship. He also won the prestigious Knickerbocker Beer trophy for the Tango, Jive and Mambo. In other words, dancing is in Ed's blood. Whenever he was down and things were looking gloomy Ed danced. It gave him a way to lift himself up and dance his blues away; it connected him to freedom and joy.

A few years age we were eating dinner at a small taverna on the Greek island of Rhodes, when we heard the waitress talking about a dance to be held that night. It was midnight before the entire village had assembled on a flat, grassy outcrop: small children, lanky teenagers, farmers and shopkeepers, grannies and old men clinging to walking sticks, they all came. Tables had been spread with food and drink. A small band began to play, and over the next two hours we watched both the young and old take each others hands and dance, sometimes in circles, sometimes in winding lines, sometimes in pairs or groups of eight. We saw the power of this collective dancing when one of the teenagers with rings in his nose and tattoos covering his arms, who had at first looked completely bored and disinterested, stepped into the middle of the circle and led a snake-like dance around the field, his eyes alight with happiness.

As we dance we feel the gift of life in our veins. This is particularly true of free dance, where the body moves of its own volition, self-consciousness dissolves, enabling our self-imposed limitations, inhibitions, fears and self-obsessions to be released; in their place, we find a greater sense of freedom and joy. Dance can also transform and uplift depression and sadness. As inspirational teacher Gabrielle Roth, founder of 5Rythms and the Moving Center explains, "Mine is the art of inspiring people to turn their suffering into art, their art into awareness, and their awareness into action."

In our book, BE THE CHANGE, How Meditation Can Transform You and the World, Gabrielle shared with us how dance had deeply influenced her life: "In my teens, alone in my bedroom with the radio turned up as loud as possible, I danced my pain--all the sadness and anger that was not allowed or expressed in my family or my culture. Much later, I would realize that I was seeking a way to get out of my head and the fastest way to still my mind was to move my body. Put the psyche in motion and it heals itself. Normally, the mind is thinking one thing, the body is moving in a different direction, and the heart is doing a third thing, so there is a huge disconnect. We live in the chat room above our necks, but we need to find our roots and our center."

Dance is also used throughout many of the spiritual traditions as a form of losing self-centeredness and opening the heart, as seen in Sufi whirling dervishes, Tibetan lama dancing, the ecstatic dance accompanying Hindu devotional chanting, or in Jewish circle dancing.

"In the dance, we can go so deeply into our bodies that we bypass the concept of a separate self and move into the big body that holds us all as one," continues Gabrielle. "We are not in a body, but it is in us, in the amazing unified field of holy otherness that is who we really are. This is my meditation and it moves my memories, my tears, my fears, my instincts--the fragile threads that hold me and you and all of us in a web of divine intelligence. It calls us to extend so far past an individual self that we become everything in one deep, expansive breath."

Dance as Meditation
Little instruction is needed here. Chose your favorite music and let it move you. Try different rhythms: fast, melodic, staccato, soft, and slow. See what it feels like to open your chest, to lift your arms, to spin or bend, to move quickly or slowly. Keep breathing throughout. Let your emotions ebb and flow with the music. Dance your feelings, your relationships, your parents. Dance your illness or your pain. Dance your anger; dance your fear. Then dance your joy and bliss and laughter. Dance who you really are.
And then stop and be still. Stand or sit and just breathe gently and enter the stillness that is always there behind the movement.

Do you have stories of how dance has helped you? Do comment below. You can receive notice of our blogs every Thursday by checking Become a Fan at the top.

You can pre-order a copy of our book at: BE THE CHANGE, How Meditation Can Transform You and the World. It will be published Nov 3.

img alt="2009-07-29-bookcover.jpg" src="http://images.huffingtonpost.com/2009-07-29-bookcover.jpg" width="200" height="295" />

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Ed and Deb Shapiro's new book, BE THE CHANGE, How Meditation Can Transform You And The World, forewords by the Dalai Lama and Robert Thurman, with contributors such as Marianne Williamson, astronaut Edgar Mitchell, Ellen Burstyn, Michael Beckwith, Jon Kabat-Zinn, Jane Fonda, Jack Kornfield, Byron Katie, Ed Begley, Gabrielle Roth, Russell Bishop, and others, will be published Nov 3 2009 by Sterling Ethos.

Deb is the author of the award-winning book YOUR BODY SPEAKS YOUR MIND. Ed and Deb are the authors of over 15 books, and lead meditation retreats and workshops. They are corporate consultants, and the creators of Chillout daily inspirational text messages on Sprint cell phones. See: www.EdandDebShapiro.com

Follow Ed and Deb Shapiro on Twitter: www.twitter.com/edanddebshapiro

Comments

[libramoon]

I thought you might like to be aware of this online resource group:

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/healingdance/


Healing Dance Network - a web between the various healing dance studies,
theories, practitioners and proponents through which to find, share and
expand knowledge and understanding into the possibilities and realities of
healing through dance. I am hoping you will let us know about your own
search and findings and how we might work together to bring our learning
further.

[learntofly]

Definitely, Music and dance speak to the well being of the soul. Miracle drugs with no side effects..

[LadyR]

Thank you, Ed! :=) Dance is Life, and Life is Dance!

[Ed and Deb Shapiro - Huffpost Blogger]

LadyR- great to hear from you!

Couldn't agree with you more.

This world is in constant motion if planet earth would stop for a moment all life would be over.

But is in a constnat flow and wonder occurs.

Joy is dance,

Ed

[PhilipB]

Dear Ed and Deb,
I loved this post.
I wanted to comment, but would I say too much? I suppose I have been hesitant to write, because it was too personal. Perhaps if I did comment others would be helped? I do hope so.
Dance.
I have always loved to dance. When i was in my teens i taught all my friends how to do "the hustle" from Saturday Night Fever.
I took Jazz dance at a local studio, and I worked and practiced all the time. I moved on to Modern dance with the local college. A great counselor at my high school transfered my credits from the college to high school. Since I had straight A's in high school, I went half day to high school and the other half in the dance program at college.
I took Ballet at night, and my dad drove me! He paid for the classes by doing their taxes and making them a non profit organization. Now, talk about really something!
That experience really taught me how to be a father when it was my turn.
I am older now, but I loved having that kind of experience which combined both physical joy and intellectual discipline over my body.

When my daughter was married we danced, and pushed to the side the furniture and danced some more; dancing expresses the best of who we are and can be a discipline for growth and and an expression of community and love.

[Ed and Deb Shapiro - Huffpost Blogger]

PhillipB, PhillipB let's dance - you are soooo cool

Love this comment

I would have loved to do Jazz and ballet - I could improvise Jazz but ballet takes some training

Thanks for sharing your story

It allows me to enjoy you even more

Maybe we can move the furniture and also dance.

Joyfully,

Ed

[katzimmer]

Thanks for another great article! I am a horrible, "Elaine"-style dancer, but I still enjoy it and completely understand its healing potential.

[Ed and Deb Shapiro - Huffpost Blogger]

katzimmer - you make up for it by being a top draw editor. You dance through the pages of our book with joy.

Your contibution has been enormous. Saying that you felt like you were sitting in the room with the contributors as if you were listening to a conversation was so importnat

Big Love,

Ed

[JacquiDB]

George Bernard Shaw put it best: " Dancing is the vertical expression of a horizontal desire legalized by music." :-)

[Ed and Deb Shapiro - Huffpost Blogger]

JacquiDB - you are a jewel of a friend who has a brilliant book that will change the way people think.

I am so happy that Deb and I worked with you on this amazing book project.

May all good things happen for you and za book!

ALL LOVE,

Ed

[Akat1973]

HuffPost's Pick

To dance is to connect with not only your spirit but your body. I love to dance,dance,dance! I also go to pow-wows and you can feel the energy it is so strong.The drumbeat becomes my heatbeat,I feel so alive. Nothing helps me more than just to lose myself into song and dance. Lovely post guys!
Thank you again!

[Ed and Deb Shapiro - Huffpost Blogger]

Aka1973 You got the beat you got the beat you got the beat

Aka ROCKS .. I can tell yeah yeah yeah

I love what you said

The drumbeat becomes my heatbeat,I feel so alive. Nothing helps me more than just to lose myself into song and dance.

You know it!

Ed

[Akat1973]

Thank you,I have a feeling Ed and Deb got the beat too,yeah yeah! :) Peace!

[MrsManarlican]

HuffPost's Pick

When I think of dance I think of two things:
1.) A dear friend lost to the Iraq war. The last time I saw him he was dancing at his wedding, letting loose, forgetting the war to which he would soon return and feeling the joy of the occasion as his family and friends surrounded him. I was a self-conscious teenager and this friend taught me that it is ok to let go and to dance. Our group of friends was the largest at the school dances, and we always welcomed newcomers who weren't afraid to cut the rug. My memories of a friend lost to war will forever be linked to dancing.
2.) My husband and I make a point of dancing with one another around our kitchen nearly every week. As we make our way around the dirty dishes and unswept floor,we lose ourselves in one another as young lovers tend to do. For a moment the housework, the bills, jobs, our families all seem to fade into the background while we remember what it is like to be two bodies separate yet so inexplicably connected. Dancing allows us the freedom to express ourselves, to laugh, and be happy, even as we struggle to make ends meet and fulfill our dreams in this life.

Thank you for reminding of the power of dance,and of getting out of head and into body.

[Ed and Deb Shapiro - Huffpost Blogger]

MrsManarlican- I read this beautifully written comment as tears ran down my cheeks.

You are talented and should keep writing.

Yes dance dance dance - sometimes I thing we were given legs to dance and then I remember it was also meant to walk wisely.

Treasure yourself,

Ed

[Nick Armstrong]

Ed and Deb,

Fantastic story and a great idea, overall. I'm not a dancer whatsoever. I have no coordination, no patience for learning the steps, no rhythm. If you've ever seen Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, you might remember Carlton's dance. He's much more coordinated than I am.

That being said, I can still appreciate a tune with the best of 'em, but my appreciation stops at a subtle head-nod. I think the part that I like best - the part that seems essential to dance - is the music, and I'm usually able to vary my mood based on the kind of music I'm listening to.

Thanks for the good ideas!

Nick Armstrong
Web and Millennial Strategist
http://www.IAmNickArmstrong.com

[Ed and Deb Shapiro - Huffpost Blogger]

Hi Nick Armstrong- You ROCK! what a joy to have a comment from my * COOL WEBMASTER *

You may not dance (but I doubt that as I have taught many people who said the same and now they can make the moves)

BUT

You got the beat and that's half the challenge. Dance is my thing and I can teach a dog to bark (as they say) it just takes commitment.

But your talent is in helping Deb an I have the best darn website in the USA (well at least close) you also can write an smooth,hip and intelligent blog.

Treasure yourself,

Ed

P.S. Thanks to Crystal you are in our life!

[soundheals]

Loved the article on dance. From one perspective, dance and sound are the same thing. I seem to remember an ancient story of shiva dancing the world into creation--the movements of this divine being created vibration, which created the intial sound of manifestation. OOOOOMMMMMMMMMM

And remember--it takes two to tango!

Blessings of Light & Love through Sound.

Jonathan

[Ed and Deb Shapiro - Huffpost Blogger]

Jonathan ROCKS

you must be the Shiva of Sound as you shift & uplift the planetary vib with your HEALING SOUNDS (oh isn't that the name for your bestselling book?)

The Dance of Shiva is part of the Hindu mythology. When shiva dances the earth trembles.

Shive is the destroyer of the negativity in the world. He is the Blessed One.

Om Namah Sivaya,

Ed

[Ed and Deb Shapiro - Huffpost Blogger]

Actually Brahma is the Creator

Shiva the Destroyer

The Dance of Shiva is Destruction. He is Ntaraj when doing the Dance

Nataraja (literally. The Lord (or King) of Dance, Sanskrit: नटराज, is a depiction of the Hindu god Shiva as the cosmic dancer who performs his divine dance to destroy a weary universe and make preparations for god Brahma to start the process of creation. Nataraja is most often depicted through a statue. Whenever you see the statue with the leg up and balancing on one foot that is Shiva as Nataraj..

Om Namah Shivaya,

Paramahamsa Swami Brahmananda

[Ed and Deb Shapiro - Huffpost Blogger]

DANCING WITH GOD
People do not believe me when I tell them I go to the Magic Monastery to dance. I suppose other people go there to pray or to hear a sermon, or repent. But I go there to dance.

God touched me the first time I went there. he made these stiff bones dance. all night God beat the drum and I danced. The next day I beat the drum and God danced. The preachers went on preaching and the workers went on working but God danced.

Father Theophane Boyd From Ed & Deb's book

THE WAY AHEAD

[Ed and Deb Shapiro - Huffpost Blogger]

father Thephane worked with Fr. Thomas Keating Abbot of Snowmass Benedictine Monastery. As Benedictine monks they were amazing creative and awake. To be with Fr. Thomas and Fr. Theophane was like being with God Realized men.

Do read our new book that will be published Nov 3rd

BE THE CHANGE
How Meditation Can Transform You and the World

Forewords by
HH The Dalai Lama & Robert Thurman

with Fr. Thomas Keating and others such as Marianne Williamson, Dean Ornish, Ellen Burstyn Michael Beckwith, Byron Katie, astroanut Edgar Mitchell, Jane Fonda, Jon Kabat, Jack Kornfield, John Gray, Seane Corn and others.

ALL LOVE,

Ed

[marciab]

HuffPost's Pick

Wonderful post! I've also been dancing in some way or other most of my life, but in the last 12 years it has been a weekly practice. The combination of dancing improvisationally with self and in relationship with a room full of others is the most healing thing I've ever done. It is a microcosmic experiment in interconnection while being fully oneself. The "collective joy" of communal improvisational dance offers so much that our hurting world needs! Let's have dancing town halls!!

BTW, I highly recommend Barbara Ehrenreich's awesome book "Dancing in the Streets: A History of Collective Joy."

[Ed and Deb Shapiro - Huffpost Blogger]

marciab Thank you so much for you enlightening comment

I love your passion

Yes dancing town halls and the right dances with the left and no TALKING

Joyfully,

Ed

[Gregory Ashby]

May I have this dance?
As you let the wind swirl you around I whisper sweet messages of love in your ear. As the wind swirls around your curves as if my hands were gently caressing your skin ever so
lightly. As the wind caresses your hair as if my hands were gently caressing your neck.
My whisperings are "May I have this dance?". A dance of a lifetime throughout the universe. A dance we can have anytime, anywhere. All you have to do is close your eyes and dream a dream where I'm whispering to your soul, "My I have this dance?".
My dearest Ed and Deb earlier in life I had aspirations of becoming a dancer. When I was in the Navy in California when not broad ship I was dancing. I belonged to the playboy club and went dancing there with
friends how were dancers. I also went to small bar/disco on Santa Monica Blvd called "The Disco Duck".
Fun times were also had here in the dance bars here in Boulder in the mid-eighties. I haven't been dancing in years. But I'm still dancing with the energies. And once and while you find me moving to the
music at work.
Ed don't be surprised when I see you next, "May I have this dance"

[Ed and Deb Shapiro - Huffpost Blogger]

Gregory Ashby - what a wonderful comment poetry in motion!

May I have this dance - of course

I danced when I was 5 years old and haven't stopped yet

I dance to the beat of life - sometimes last and sometimes slow but I just keep dancing.

Life is an endless dance .. best to keep with the flow.. you can't miss

In Love,

Ed

[MerhabaAbi]

Hi Ed, Hi Deb,

Yes, dancing is fun. My wife and I love to swing dance, especially to live bands that play the right music. Unfortunately for me, the music I prefer to listen to doesn't move me to dance, rather I sway or kinda bounce with the head nod whiile sitting and listening. Last year I got a banjo. I still haven't learned to play it well but I can strum some rhythms and my grandson, 3 years old, makes up his own dance just because he feels like it. It's cute and so enjoyable to watch him just live in the moment and sense the unadulterated joy shining from him.

Have a happy Friday,
little brother

[Ed and Deb Shapiro - Huffpost Blogger]

Hi hi MerhabaAbi - How are you? Hope you are well ... it's great to hear from you and love your story

In India the great Yogi's the Paramahamsa Swami's (Highest Swan - the one who can separate the real from the unreal)

these Paramhamsa's would have children around them so they could relearn to be natural and spontaneous. Children as you said live in th emoment and with what is

In the moment,

Ed

[LTBROWN]

Nice. I almost worked out this morning. lol If I had a dance class, I would go just for the exercise.

[Ed and Deb Shapiro - Huffpost Blogger]

LTBROWN -

DANCE DANCE DANCE whenever you can wherever you are just DANCE

Life is a dance... do the dance of LIFE

Treasure yourself,

Ed