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adiemus · 04-15-2008, 07:16 PM

Like others on this thread I feel comfortable with some women feeling that to dance is a part of connecting with something bigger than they - and if that 'bigger' thing is g*d, or goddess, or spirit, that's their belief.
The only aspect that bothers me is when history becomes myth and perpetuates a pseudo spiritual element that isn't supported by anything. This smacks of proselytising and in the face of lack of knowledge about the dance in the general community, can be mistaken as genuine 'fact' by the naive. As a result, some people could get put off and not take up the dance (I would have never danced if I thought it was all tied up with religion), while others could (and probably do) be attracted to dance for reasons of neediness and dependence. This is what founds a cult, and given some of the comments about instructors/teachers behaviour towards students (possessiveness and ownership) I think can be a real worry!

Honest dance enhances me just as it is without trappings of 'spirit' slapped on top of it. A 'sacred feminine' has as much going for it as the 'essential masculine' - both genders are fabulous, neither is ascendent, and neither is more special than the other!!

BTW I have a new signature - and thought of the irony of posting this post when I'm promulgating 'every woman is a treasure' - perhaps I should replace it with another saying
He aha te mea nui?
He tangata.
He tangata.
He tangata.

What is the most important thing? It is people, it is people, it is people.

04-15-2008, 07:16 PM	#40 (permalink)
adiemus Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Christchurch, New Zealand Posts: 993	Like others on this thread I feel comfortable with some women feeling that to dance is a part of connecting with something bigger than they - and if that 'bigger' thing is gd, or goddess, or spirit, that's their belief. The only aspect that bothers me is when history becomes myth and perpetuates a pseudo spiritual element that isn't supported by anything. This smacks of proselytising and in the face of lack of knowledge about the dance in the general community, can be mistaken as genuine 'fact' by the naive. As a result, some people could get put off and not take up the dance (I would have never danced if I thought it was all tied up with religion), while others could (and probably do) be attracted to dance for reasons of neediness and dependence. This is what founds a cult, and given some of the comments about instructors/teachers behaviour towards students (possessiveness and ownership) I think can be a real worry! Honest dance enhances me just as it is without trappings of 'spirit' slapped on top of it. A 'sacred feminine' has as much going for it as the 'essential masculine' - both genders are fabulous, neither is ascendent, and neither is more special than the other!! BTW I have a new signature - and thought of the irony of posting this post when I'm promulgating 'every woman is a treasure' - perhaps I should replace it with another saying He aha te mea nui? He tangata. He tangata. He tangata. What is the most important thing? It is people, it is people, it is people. __________________ He wahine, he taonga*- Every woman is a treasure(Maori proverb) Last edited by adiemus; 04-15-2008 at 07:19 PM.