I am the type of person who thrives off of high energy activities. Moving is how I find myself somatically engaged. As a dancer, it is also how I find myself artistically engaged. When you dance in a community, there is an invisible connection that binds the movement and breath of all bodies involved. You could say it is almost spiritual.
As an eclectic community, we may each have different beliefs about the higher powers of life. We perhaps may follow a religion—attending church in order to express gratitude and pray as a spiritual body of people. But here’s something to consider: Could we say that movement is a form of religion? A kind of worship of the mind and body? If not a religion, perhaps a warranted ritual for humans of all different ages and abilities?
In 2010, originating in Seattle with founder Kate Wallich, Dance Church was born. Last week, originating from my online search for dance classes within the confines of a newly quarantined world, my love for this movement ritual was born.
It is not about who you are, what you look like, or what you believe in—it’s about spreading positivity and unbound delight in the act of moving freely. A blend of aerobics and free form movement, it’s truly a dance party. Everyone is welcome to sweat together, sing together, and make unapologetic choices together.
So if you are currently stuck at home and craving to get up and move, this is what I suggest: turn off the news, dim the lights in your room, and log onto https://go.dancechurch.com/ to sign up for the next free class THIS Sunday, April 5th at 1:00 PM EST.
You can support Dance Church and other dance organizations during this time of economic hardship by taking virtual classes and donating to the instructors. With classes, rehearsals, and productions on pause, many involved in the performing arts are in need of our help.
Other resources you may want to check out are @dancing.alone.together and @movement_for_hope on Instagram!