By Tony Wan
This post is part of 30 Days of Gaga. A Non-Dancer’s Diary of Dance. Read Day 1.
Day 12
We’re sitting with our legs out in front, exploring one hip at a time. Some people lift their legs into the air like they might do in ballet or pilates.
“Don’t use so much effort.”
With her foot on the ground, she explores the range of her hip. Her relationship with the ground is different than mine. The ground is her friend.
“Stand on one leg.”
My body contorts itself to keep my foot from touching the ground. When I touch the ground, I yank it up like I need to cover up my failure.
I don’t know why touching the floor is so shameful. Even Mikhail Baryshnikov needs to touch the floor, albeit after eleven pirouettes.
“Touch lightly the ground. Explore the range of your hips.”
The teacher modifies the exercise. One leg supports her weight, while the foot of the other leg lightly touches the ground. The ground helps her move her free leg all around her.
Man, I need to change my relationship with the ground. I need to facilitate a dialogue.
Foot: meet Ground.
Ground: meet Foot.
Foot: Ground is just trying to help.
Ground: Foot is not trying to poke you in the eye.
I allow my free foot to receive the support of the ground. Unapologetically. With the cooperation of the ground supporting my free foot, I fully explore the range of my hips.
“Now unweight your free foot.”
Surprisingly, the range I’ve discovered while the foot was on the ground is available to me when the foot is off the ground… At least for a few seconds, before I lose my balance.
But touching the ground no longer feels like a crash landing. It feels like being pushed on a swing by someone I like. The contact is welcomed.
Thank you, Ground.
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Follow Tony Wan’s journey through a full month of classes with biweekly posts here and on his blog.
