International Dance Day - April 29 2020
"bring your hands to your eyes, ask Mother Earth for forgiveness, because everything we do has an impact on her..."
These words are woven into the rituals of Nova Dance and now more than ever, their significance weighs upon us. Living through a global pandemic has pushed us into a heightened sense of awareness of the impact of our actions. Everyday acts are laden with risk, survival and mortality have become intensified daily considerations, and the minefield of ethical quandaries keeps us up at night.
"fold your hands together and give thanks"
Thank you to the people who are on the front lines every day making sure communities have the food, supplies and medical care that we need to get through the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak.
"with hands on your heart, embrace the purpose of dance"
We are all in a place of unknowing, each experiencing a wide spectrum of emotions, yet we are united through our unshakeable faith in dance, performance and ritual. They are as fundamental to our humanity as the desire to gather and be with each other. Here are some responses from our dancers, I hope you'll find them as I did, inspiring.....
Keep dance in your hearts, we are keeping you in ours.
Nova
Dance was a way to escape from the past. Dance is a place that is safe and holds knowledge for those who ask Dance will bring peace, grace, and its beauty will remain. Abigail Thomas
Dance was an expression of freedom and privilege. Dance is an expression of confinement and captivity. Dance will be an expression of connectedness, relatedness, integration, inclusiveness, reaching out, gratefulness, love... Arno Kamolika
Dance was: everything Dance is everything Dance will be everything Rachana Joshi
I miss the unspoken understanding felt through the air, your eyes, your smiles. Dance was, is and will be the moment where you listen to your heart and let it lead. Malavika Santosh
i wish we could sit and whisper about beautiful art we are moved by from our cushioned seats, and gasp collectively when we are touched...wipe each others tears of joy or sorrow or connection. i wish we could connect they way we used to..but love is challenging. in love we find new outlets to breathe together, to find our cohesive rhythm. i will wait patiently, but in the meantime.... i wish you could hear my beats as i feel yours. Dance was what connected us. Dance is what still connects us. Dance will be what will connect us again. Neena Jayarajan
Today, I had a full day of talking and thinking about dance and the future. I offer this image as my response. Emily Law
