Can I trust my body?
Is my body my friend? My teacher? My guide?
A trickster?
Can I create with my body? Communicate through my body? Express my inner self?
Can I love my body?…love with my body?
Can I worship with my body?
These questions have pursued me throughout my conscious life - in and out of relationships, in and out of the church, on and off the dance floor.
Wisdom Traditions teach that spiritual understanding and balance come when we can listen to the head, heart and body in equilibrium. (Cynthia Bourgeault, The Wisdom Way of Knowing.)
My socialization and education including a Master of Theology, majored in mastering mental perspectives: mind over matter, willpower over passion, logic versus imagination, spirit against flesh.
Some deference was given to the sensitivities of the heart but the body was essentially demonized. My ascetic spiritual disciplines were directed toward repressing sensuality and passion.
Many life changes, including leaving my marriage and the church and falling deeply in love with my current life partner, necessitated and enabled me in unraveling much of this prejudice.
In addition, came the practice of dancing the Tango.
Dance itself in any form is therapeutic as we learn to engage and unlock a primal sense of rhythm, aligning ourselves with the motion of the universe. As such, dance has been central in celebration, ceremony and worship throughout most of the world. Western Christianity and Northern European culture are notable exceptions.
The tango is distinctive among partner dances in that the lead and follow roles are clearly differentiated and energetically and mechanically distinct. These are typically assigned male and female respectively. This is not to rigidly affix the roles of lead and follow to men and women respectfully. Yes, the dance roles reflect yin/ yang and anima/ animus polarities, but we all hold within both energies. Women taking the lead and men following or nongendered or alternative gender partnering is certainly appropriate. However, it must be noted that in so doing, one assumes responsibility for the distinctive character of that role.
Because the dance is complex and improvisational, it requires an acute attunement and intuitive adaptation to one’s partner’s positioning and artistic interpretation. In today’s society, the value of a man and woman listening to each other in a gentle, supportive and sensual manner can not be overstated.
For those interested in exploring these concepts further, a four-week program continues Sunday afternoons, same time, same place.
written by Aydan Dunnigan (he/him)
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Course details:
Sunday 2:00 to 4:00 pm. Bleeding Heart Art Space at St. Mary’s Anglican Church, 11203 68 St. NW, Edmonton.
January 15: Exploratory session. No charge or registration required.
January 22, 29, February 5, 12: Workshop sessions.
Cost: $75. $125 for a couple. $50 for students or unemployed.
To register, email hello@bleedingheartart.space or sign-up in person at the Jan 15th session. Registration is first-come-first-served and limited to 10 participants.
Presenters:
Facilitator: Aydan Dunnigan-Vickruck
Tango dances: Pamela Wight and Raymond Theriault