At the Center of it all...

The beginning of 2014 has been all about dance. Classical, Fusion, Latin... I'm testing my boundaries with all the dances that I always wanted to try out. Even though ever Sunday night my feet yell at me for putting them through this trauma, but it's all worth it. 

I'm learning Indian Fusion Dance at Infusion Dance Studios this session. I went in with no expectations except that I'd be doing fusion dance on a classical song. I was pleasantly surprised that it wasn't the case. So far, I'm happy with the progress and the overall level of the class. It's challenging, but also not too overwhelming to suck the fun out of the experience. 

I especially like the instructors teaching style, relaxed approach yet firm on the technique. One of the giveaways from the last class focused on the 'core'. I've been hearing that a lot... everywhere. In fitness, it meditation, in dance. However, I really saw it in action at my most recent dance class. It's vital to engage the core in every dance move. It is ultimately the 'core' that keeps the dance move from looking trashy. The control allows you to incorporate elegance and finesse in each move and each step. Besides, having a strong core is the first step in building a strong body. It's one of those things that hurt a lot at first but lay off big dividends later. 

The math in dance

The past 20 or so years have seen a major technology boom, nothing short of a revolution. Just in the past 5 years, we’ve seen youtube, facebook, twitter… iphone, tablets, e-readers… ipods.. The snail mail is a thing of the past. The kids these days cannot imagine a life without internet, cellphone. 

With the technology getting smarter and smarter, there is a lot of talk in the science world whether this so called 'smart' technology is actually making us dumber. No need to remember phone numbers, calculate tips, memorize calendar appointments, etc. So much buzz about physical health... but what about mental health and brain activity!
The truth is - this parasytic reliance on technology is crippling us day after day. Not just us, our friends, siblings, spouses, kids – the youth around us. If we don’t take a steps to reverse this now, it will be too late and before we know it we will have robots rule us just like in the movie - Matrix.. Okay, okay it may not be that bad. I tend to be over-dramatic. 

I know we all hear this all the time... But, what are we doing about it?

Whenever possible, I spare no chance to stress the importance of math in our daily lives. Math triggers the process of thinking, applying logic and solving problems. Doing simple math problems, as simple as solving sudoku, every day can trigger a larger benefit for our overall brain activity helping our memory and sharpening those neuron connections. This past week, I saw a similar benefit in another activity.

At my last dance class this Sunday, I realized that my Kathak dance teacher was kicking it up a notch (..ummm.. several notches) by adding more complicated steps to our routine. There is a science in every dance form, especially classical dances. The basic Kathak footwork of 'Ta, thei, thei, Tat' can be combined in various permutations and combinations to make extremely intricate, yet elegant, dance moves. The act of remembering these combinations forces us to 'think', create logical connections... thereby improving mental agility and strength. Over time, we find it easier to adapt and learn the complicated moves since our brain has been trained and prepared to kick it up several notches!

Scientists once believed that mental ability was fixed after childhood. But over the last few decades, neuroscientists have discovered that adults' brains are constantly changing - growing new neurons and connections - in a process known as neuroplasticity. The more we train our brain, the better it is for our brain health. The older we get, the slower this process becomes. It is even more crucial to 'exercise' your brain as you get older. Learning dance is one of the ways. No wonder all dance instructors have such sharp memory!

Getting back to dance

I, like many others, have always had a secret dream to be a professional dancer. My guilty pleasures are watching 'So You Think You Can Dance' or youtubing (I nominate this to be a valid word in the dictionary) hours and hours of dance performances on songs I like. When I hear a song, I always... always imagine how I would dance to it. Is that normal?

For the past 3 years, I've been diligent about learning an Indian Classical Dance called Kathak. Dances that help you express through your body and allow a dancer to add his/her own personality have always fascinated me. Though I don't know much about them, but lyrical and contemporary dance forms are a delight to watch and learn form. I find the same fascination of endless possibilities of expression in Kathak. There are strict rules and forms you should stick to, but there is also room for each dancer to add their own characteristic flavour. You don't have to be pretty to make the dance look beautiful. Your personality, style and elegance make that dance piece memorable.
My Kathak classes happen every Sunday evening. It's become such a routine that my Sunday activities are all planned around the class. Missing the dance class in not option, else I am a grumpy kid for the rest of the week!