We love to dance. Some are shy, serious, sometimes a little self-conscious and think they don't like dancing at all. But the real task is to uncover that ancient desire, to bring it to the surface. It feels good to move, to sway, to hop, to glide, to hold back and then let go to the pull of music—the sound, the rhythm, the melody.
And it feels especially good to dance together with others. When the pleasure of movement combines with the closeness of another body—the exchange of gestures, glances, touches—we feel more like friends.
So why don't we dance more?
People with movement problems, emotional distress, cognitive difficulties—they love to dance too. What they need is the right music, some preparation, the spark of desire kindled in their eyes and smile. And patience. Consistency.
We shouldn't settle for the bare minimum. Drop a record, clear some space, and call it a day. Sure, that can be fun. Sometimes it fills a gap. But in those casual moments, only the uninhibited ones jump in—the "experts." Everyone else hangs back.
Why not assign someone to set it all up properly? Find the right moment. Choose the music. Plan simple forms of movement.
These need to be designed for your group's needs. Start with the basics: two lines facing each other. A circle. Single and double lines that wind and loop. Figures for two. (I'm sure many people already have tried-and-true ideas worth sharing—even by email or in this magazine.)
But the music is what matters most. The rhythm should be clear and steady, never rushed. Use quadrille music for lines facing each other. Folk music for circles. Marches for processional lines. And then—and this is the joy of it—a real flower or paper flower tucked behind an ear or into a sweater. Because an outward sign lifts the spirit. Because flowers speak a language all their own: life is beautiful!
— Lucia Bertolini, 2002