Beyond Dance - 3rd draft.

Beyond Dance
Think beyond just dance, think movement.
The word “dance” in recent times has acquired a lot of baggage. Apparently, not everybody can dance, driving double left-footed people to the very edge of the twinkle-toed social circle.
Time for rebellion I say! “Fight the music,” some say or as I see it, just let it be.
To aid uss in our rebellion is Capoeira an excellent example of movement beyond dance, born among slaves for the very purpose. It is an awe inspiring martial art - cum – dance – cum – game, of debatably Brazilian or African descent. It fuses elements of all the above, to generate something absolutely ingenious. Some believe (of all things) it was influenced by a feminine puberty right from Southern Angola called N’golo.

To avoid detection, moves like Ginga, or swaying were included by the slaves.
This is a strictly no contact martial art, making it a lot less aggressive, its all about cunning.
You need to be stretchable, if you ever manage to watch a performance, for it is nothing short, you will notice that the stretching and throwing of your body is one of your best assets in capoeira.
Its played in a circle or Roda making it seem more like a game using instruments like drums bells and the Berimabus, a one stringed instrument made it seem more like a dance.
Check online for tutorials for it, you can come across some pretty cool videos , but don't let them make you forget to warm up.
Closer to home, is another dance cum martial art, Kalaripayatu, a martial art from Kerala. It was born in ancient India, inspired by the movemnets of animals and was closely related to worship of warrior Goddesses like Durga and Kali. In fact when the art was banned under the British , it was continued all hush- up in temples.A form of devotion - once again, more movement than dance.
So, stretch to some Capoeira or writhe to some Kalariyapayatu in any case break free of the barriers of your body induced by shame and,
“Come do the loco-motion with me. “