Today I tried something new: Biodanza.
I wasn’t at all sure what it was before I went. I just knew that I need more exercise, it was convienient, and the first class was free. And anyway, I always used to like dancing and I haven’t done any for years. I did email and ask how fit you needed to be, and I was told you can do it at your own level. OK, I was in.
With hindsight, it would have been easy enough to Google, but somehow I bever thought of that. I just turned up. My life could do with a few more surprises. Nice ones, at least.
And it was a nice surprise. I arrived at the last moment (usual for me) and most people were already sitting in a circle. A candle was burning in the centre of the circle, with some flowers around it. It looked pretty and smelt good, but I did briefly wander if I was in for some major woo.
Nope.
Biodanza is a combination of mindfulness, socialising, and, of course, dance. While you’re doing the actual dancing, nobody talks except the facilitator. You’re trying to give your frontal cortex a bit of a rest, since it normally chatters on (and on and on and on and on) all day. You just listen to the music and do the kind of dancing the group leader says: say, just dancing with your feet, or getting your feet to dance with a series of other people’s feet. (Note to self, it would be fun to varnish my toe nails for next time.) Every time you stop dancing with someone, you take leave. Most people went in for hugs, but it was explained before hand that you have to non-verbally ask for permission first, and if the other person wants to shake hands or not touch then you respect that. Not everybody is comfortable with hugs.
It was great. I had fun. I made friends. I got the same sort of clear mind I get after yoga or meditating. And I even got a bit of exercise. I’ll definitely go back for more. It’s just a pity that I’ll miss half the classes for work.
