Surrendering Into the Dance of Life

Snow Crystals Improving On My Car Window/Photography by Gaye Abbott

It happened in a state of complete surrender as my body fell backwards without any fear into the waiting arms of another behind me. Awakening from this dream of last night I was immediately immersed in memories of the many years I spent in the free form dance (ecstatic dance/contact improv/partner dance improv) communities of wherever I happened to be living.

Improvisation in dance is the process of creating movement spontaneously, without predetermined choreography or structure. It’s about embracing the present moment, listening to the music, and allowing your body to move intuitively in response to the rhythm, melody, and mood. Improvisation encourages exploration of new movement possibilities, experimentation with different shapes and dynamics, and expression of innermost emotions through dance. Connecting with others and self in a safe, respectful space without words while sensing the constant opportunities for connection.

Why was I continuously drawn to this community and practice of movement for a quarter of a century?

It freed me of my own and others expectations and judgements. It was a vehicle to open to life fully just as it is in any given moment without spoken words – all ranges of emotions, movements and sensations – often filled with play. At other times a path to giving space to uncomfortable feelings simply by honoring what was emerging in the moment through movement.

Couldn’t this way of being in dance be how we are in our life all the time? Not ruled by fear, but instead a sense of the ever changing landscape, both inner and outer, here and now.

Showing up with an open-hearted willingness to experience life fully just as it is without expectations or control, without preferences, judgements or labels, without resistance, or “running away” when it feels uncomfortable can be a challenging practice and way of being.

No separation. Only the continuous flow of life capturing the moment to moment creation, birth and death of any single moment in time and space. Exploring life’s impermanence.

What was always so extraordinary was when I surrendered the control that fear teaches us I felt more alive and present no matter how I was feeling before entering the dance space. No running away or distractions – that was impossible.

This way of being continues to teach me in the context of living as an elder, especially as my body shifts and changes with aging. A recent accident that results in physical pain and restriction becomes a guide. Opening into the pain instead of trying to escape or tame it means to me exploring with curiosity, and for some moments in time becoming one with it. Not particularly for the faint of heart but a perfect way to deeply understand the on going ever present dynamic of constant shifts and changes in any given moment.

What I learn in those moments of merging is a dissolving of pain, a softening if you will. Recognizing how much the protection and contraction – in other words trying to remove myself from the experience – has been the pattern that has perpetrated the on going nature of the pain and the barrier to completely allowing and accepting my bodies intelligence to do what it does best – heal the injury no matter how much time it takes.

For those of you who have never even considered experimenting with moving or living in this way here are a few guidelines below, borrowed from someone else. Recognizing that this way of being can also apply to, and be integrated into, every day life moments as an elder. Even if it is in “homeopathic” doses!

Benefits of Improvisation

1. Creativity: Improvisation stimulates the creative imagination, allowing dancers to explore new movement ideas and develop their unique artistic voice.
2. Freedom: Unlike choreographed routines, improvisation gives dancers the freedom to express themselves authentically and explore movement without constraints.
3. Musicality: Improvisation teaches dancers to listen to the music attentively and respond intuitively to its rhythm, tempo, and dynamics.
4. Spontaneity: Improvisation encourages dancers to trust their instincts and make split-second decisions, fostering spontaneity and adaptability on the dance floor.
5. Collaboration: Improvisation can be a collaborative process, allowing dancers to interact and communicate with one another through movement, creating spontaneous duets, trios, or group improvisations.

Practices for Improvisation

1. Body Awareness: Pay attention to your body sensations, breath, and energy levels as you move, and allow your movements to flow organically from within.
2. Exploration: Experiment with different movement qualities, dynamics, and levels, and be open to exploring new ways of moving.
3. Listening: Tune into the music and let it guide your movement, responding intuitively to its rhythm, melody, and mood.
4. Risk-Taking: Embrace uncertainty and take risks in your movement, pushing beyond your comfort zone to discover new possibilities.
5. Reflection: Take time to reflect on your improvisations and observe what worked well and what you might like to explore further in future improvisations.

Embracing improvisation as a way of living offers a valuable opportunity to explore movement, unleash creativity, connect with our senses and moment to moment experiences in a deeply personal way, and at the same time directly relating with life’s uncertainty.

So next time you step onto the dance floor – or into the moment – let go of expectations, trust your instincts, and allow your body, mind and heart to move freely. With improvisation, the possibilities are endless, and the journey is yours to explore….ENJOY!

Are you ready to surrender into the dance of life?

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A very fun very short video to watch as an example of Improvisational West Coast Swing Dance is captured below. Let me just say in my experience it is a high to experience this kind of connection on the dance floor and in life! …and no my body could never do that kind of split (in case you were wondering!). Curious? Watch the video.

Be aware that this is all improvisational in the moment dance movement in complete connection with their partner, the energy between them, and what is intuitively showing up for each person in the moment. No choreography!

And yes, these are professional improv Swing dancers, but remember they don’t know what song will be played or who their partner will be before they get up to dance! The people sitting around in the background are all dancers and you can see how they feel about this improv dance by their enthusiastic reactions. 🙂

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Gaye Abbott, Wildly Free Elder, 01/15/25