As just an attempt to describe what Folk Dance is all about, I'd like to point out a few traits and benefits I have experienced participating in the group. First, all cultures are welcome warmly. Yes, it is acknowledged that we are sometimes so different, but the connection takes place with what we have in common, all the while getting acquainted with the peculiarities and traits of the other. This type of connection promotes tolerance, appreciation, value, and much cultural enrichment with the exchange. After all, where would humanity be if it weren't by the fact that we've put our minds together creatively to discover ways of survival. Differences should always be welcomed this way, because they make us whole, and elevate us.
Second, deficits are compensated. People have different anatomies, body abilities, physical and brain skills, not all have a musical sense or can put together dancing steps skillfully or easily. There is always someone at my side willing to kindly show me the steps, patiently assisting me. Not because one is supposed to stand out, but for the interest of the whole group. When more dancers dance better, the group is enhanced and the joy of dancing is multiplied. So, when you're better, I am better, we're all even better.
Third, there is energy transfer between people holding hands. It's easy to picture one person as opposed to a hundred people trying to lift a one ton rock. When people dance and enjoy themselves, a huge amount of energy is involved; positive, creative, lively, oxygenated energy. This energy runs up and down the whole line of dancers. It is not surprising that In this article from the Scientific American, they explain how "Synchronicity and exertion each raised the dancers' pain tolerance". I had the chance to experience this myself. Suffering from chronic pain for several years now, I realized that doctors, procedures and medicine can only support the patient, it's only the body that heals itself when the conditions are met. After folk dancing for more than a year, I have suddenly noticed a huge improvement in the pain management. Is medicine more effective now? or is it that the body has the right conditions to trigger healing? That same article states that "Pain tolerance was the highest when the students both were in sync and had high energy, according to the study, published in October 2015 in the journal Biology Letters." And recently Steve Inskeep confirmed this in an NPR interview with Shankar Vedantam who says that "there were huge differences in pain perception before and after the volunteers [in a University of Oxford study] danced together".
Fourth, international folk dance also improves social skills through development of trust, self confidence, compassion, collaboration, empathy and tolerance. Trust and self confidence are necessary to share closeness with people one knows little. In order to share in the joy of music and dance, we also build empathy and compassion for the different other, because we connect at the common point, the pleasure of dancing. We learn to let our differences aside to achieve it. Additionally, to reach synchronicity in the dance, all the dancers cooperate with each other keeping up the pace, showing the right steps to the ones still learning, and tolerating their deficiencies. I am convinced that "the social element of dance may also be playing a therapeutic role", as the article states; but not only that, it can help us develop a more positive stronger social relationships by helping the unskillful to improve his or her social skills.
Voilà a complete workout for spirit, body and mind! Thank
you Austin International Folk Dance group for all you've given me!
