Human Interest
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Oh, sure. We’ve all heard this phrase and thought, ‘it’s easy to let loose when no one is actually watching, but dancing like no one is watching is easier said than done’ ...or is it? When was the last time you really let loose on the dance floor, did a great exercise class, played an intense sport, lifted weights
with some rockin’ music, or danced naked around your bedroom? How great did it feel?
O
ur two local experts this month would suggest that these activities should be enjoyed frequently - for fun, for health, for better relationships, and simply to enjoy life a little bit more. Too many of us are ‘walking around in our heads.’ We’re very busy, stressed out, working more than ever, tied to our cell phones, to email, to family schedules, etc. What’s the solution? According to Natasha Martina, Assistant Drama Professor at the University of Saskatchewan (specializing in movement), and Aileen Hayden, creator and teacher of The Big Fat Ass Dance Class®, the solution is simply to move your body. Let’s start with our professor for some practical theories about all of this: Natasha, what do you see going on in society with people’s relationships to movement? In some ways it’s unfortunate that the more we get into technology, the more we reduce both body movement and socializing one-on-one with individuals. Look at the Wii DanceDance Revolution game... At least it gets you to move. But you’re moving in relationship to a TV set, not in relationship to another human being. We’re three-dimensional beings but that’s one-dimensional. Unfortunately, we’re often ‘bridging’ to people in daily life but we’re not actually connecting with them. Of course I’m generalizing, this is not true for everybody, but it is for society in general, especially in North America. Look at different cultures – for example, the culture in Latin America is very couple-orientated, it’s a lot about relationship. Families are big and spend a lot of time together. Their dances are also relationship-based. When you look at partner dancing it’s all about relating, socializing, community. Your specialty is ‘movement’. Could you explain in your own words what your work is all about? A lot of what I teach drama students is how to analyze their functional movement (i.e. walking, sitting, standing, working, eating, speaking, etc), and their expressive movements (expressive is about working with the breath to tie into emotions).
How does this tie into drama? The whole point of all this work is so the actor starts to learn his or her habitual tendencies. Unless the actor knows how he or she is perceived, or communicates in the environment, there is no way to take on the other qualities of a character. We often want to hide or stop our emotional response, don’t want to show that we’re upset, scared, etc. We stop our breath with that. It’s a lot about the actor discovering where they might inhibit the breath, which might inhibit the emotion. The more you can access the range of your breath, the more viable your emotional life will be. Breath fuels. How does our movement impact us? It’s the universal language. If you think about it, you can technically communicate with anybody, through the physical. Rather than spoken word, how you physically respond or react is communicating with someone. We always have an aspect of intuition in us, and it’s not that difficult to intuitively feel someone’s energy. It can confront you head on, enclose around you to make you feel welcome, push you away, look away or directly at you, take you in versus neglect you altogether. Why do children instinctively move to music? Everyone instinctively moves to music. Children maybe seem to more so because, depending on age and life experience, children are often the most open to whatever is put in front of them. They haven’t yet been told not to respond that way because it’s not appropriate. They are responding and relating in an authentic manner. Often the most authentic people are children. How can people restore the connection between their bodies and their emotional selves? Dance is a great. I’m exaggerating of course, but if we all took ballroom dancing, we’d be a better, strong community. Anything that gets you to move is great – jogging, sports, yoga, dance. Yoga really helps with connecting mind and body, and with being in the present. Ballroom dance is a great example. It’s all about connecting with other people. Maybe you need to think about the steps for a little while, but really you have to connect with your partner, read your partner. The leader, the male has to be able to lead well for the
woman to follow. The woman has to let herself be lead, to trust. It’s so much more than just learning steps. Hmmm. That’s food for thought. Now over to our dance instructor: Aileen, you lead the Big Fat Ass Dance Class®. We’ve seen your posters all over town. What is your class about? The Big Fat Ass Dance Class® is improvisational dance for ordinary women. There is only one goal - fun. Using elements of modern dance, African dance, yoga, theatre and meditation, the scene is set for spontaneous movement within a structure. Weekly classes are for women of any age and “any size ass is welcome!” Studio mirrors are covered and lamps are lit rather than harsh overhead lights. The music ranges from cello suites to African drumming to indie rock, and dancers are led through a wide range of improvisational dance techniques. It’s guided self-expression – there’s no right way or wrong way to move. We really get moving, and we laugh a lot! We end up getting in some good exercise but that’s just a by-product. Our only goal is to have fun. For an hour and a half we let go of the idea of trying to improve our bodies, trying to be healthier, letting go of ‘I should go exercise’. It’s pure fun. Big Fat Ass Dance Class® - I love the name! How did you come up with it? I wanted a name that was fun, spontaneous, that implied that anybody can do it. I
had a notebook filled with pages of words and images but couldn’t get the right name. In a moment of frustration I said ‘I should just call it The Big Fat Ass Class.’ My dad said, ‘You can’t do that, this is Saskatoon, not Montreal.’(Aileen lived in Montreal previously.) That made me want to use it even more. Some of the calls I receive are pretty funny, such as “I don’t have a big fat ass, can I still come?” Of course! Any size ass is welcome. What kind of feedback have you received from participants in your class? ‘I’m an executive. I don’t do this stuff!’ ‘I haven’t skipped since I was a little girl.’ Do you have any pieces of wisdom to share with us about movement? If there is something that appeals to you, go for it. Yoga is grounding. Dance is freeing. Sports are exhilarating. Walking is peaceful. There are places you’ll be able to go (places inside of you) that you can’t get to without moving your body. These are places that thinking, writing, or conversation can’t take you. If you’re interested in skiing, ballet, dance, etc, just do it. The body is this incredible gift we’re walking around with but we live in a culture where often we try to control our bodies, improve our bodies, be perfect. I suppose I’ve learned the importance of simply enjoying my body. And I guess that answers our question. The body, emotions, thoughts, and spirit are connected. You cannot pull them apart. So you move your body, you move your heart. You move your body, you shake up your mind. In short – get out there and move your bodies, people! Thank you, Natasha and Aileen.
Saskatoon • w w w . t h e n e i g h bourhoodexpress.com
• October 21, 2009 • Section A
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