I often get asked why I differentiate between the words DANCE and MOVEMENT. So many people use those words interchangeably. To me, and also for the purposes of what I teach, dance and movement are vastly different concepts. This isn’t something I was taught and I can’t say I’ve ever heard anyone speak about it. However, what I’ve learned over the past two decades is that those words carry contrasting energies and can serve opposite but equally important purposes. When I teach any type of spiritually-focused dance or movement practice, I start by helping people understand the differences, because everything I teach builds upon those two concepts.
If you look at the words in the dictionary, dance is described as a sequence of steps done in rhythm, often with music. Movement is described as changing your physical position or HAVING YOUR POSITION CHANGED. That last phrase is key to understanding what I believe to be different about movement vs. dance.
MOVEMENT
Movement is a type of kinetic response created in the body as the result of being in a receptive state. It is an embodied reaction to energy that is near or moving within you. Some other words I use to further define movement are involuntary, unintentional, and inwardly directed. In a spiritual movement practice, you allow yourself to become aware of the energy that is already at work in and around you, whether that is seen or unseen - subtle or obvious, and then move or allow yourself to be moved in response to it.
The reason I use the term "Channeled Movement" instead of "Channeled Dance", is because I place myself in a state of receptivity and then allow energy to flow inward, creating shapes and sequences in my physical body. To learn more about channeled movement, visit this BLOG POST.
DANCE
Dance is a type of action initiated and executed in the body with conscious intention. It is creative, goal-oriented, voluntary, and outwardly directed. The key difference is that the dancer is the one directing energy - rather than allowing energy to direct them. A dancer’s goal is to share their creative energy with an audience in order to entertain, convey an idea, or illicit an emotional response. Side note - an audience can be anyone or anything the dancer perceives as important such as other humans, nature, deities, or even themselves.
In my younger years - dance was primarily a performance activity where I got to express myself in a creative manner. I still do that occasionally as the opportunity arises, though most of my dance energy is spent in the role of choreographer. These days, I find more joy in channeling and moving in sync with the rhythm of spirit. When I dance, it’s usually either to raise energy in a ritual to manifest a desired outcome or to offer gratitude to any spiritual energies that nourish me such as the elements, lineage, or land.
Here’s an example I often use in my classes to describe the difference…
MOVEMENT: Imagine being waist-deep in the ocean, surrounded by energy that is already flowing in certain directions. Unless you intentionally resist it - your body moves automatically in response to the currents and tides that are happening around you. The same could be said about the spiritual realm. If you put yourself in a place to be open and receptive to the spiritual energies that are moving and flowing around you, you can allow your body to respond with shapes and motion. In this scenario, you’re allowing yourself to “be moved” by an outside force.
DANCE: Now imagine that the current picks up a little bit and it’s pulling you a little too far from the shore. You might decide that you need to take intentional action to swim against the current so that you can get back to safety. So you begin to move in rhythm (by swimming) to propel yourself to where you want to be. You are initiating and executing sustained movement in your body and directing that energy toward your desired outcome.
The most important thing to remember here is that one modality is NOT better than the other. Dance and movement serve different purposes and they also work hand in hand when it comes to the services I offer and the specific practices I teach. When you can learn to use them both together, that’s when you create a beautiful, cyclical personal practice that has the power to heal and transform both yourself and those in your sphere of influence.
For more information about this concept, download my FREE Spiritual Dance Guidebook. You can also learn more through episode four of my Spiritual Dance Podcast titled Spiritual Dance Lingo or by purchasing my book "Dance Divination: Movement That Illuminates the Mysteries of Spirit."
