Thursday, March 17, 2016

Dance because You Can

  I guess you could say I've had an epiphany of sorts since my last sorry post. I was losing interest in dance, feeling like I just wasn't going anywhere and my better days were behind me. I felt like if I couldn't have a prestigious career then it wasn't worth the bother. And probably most of all I was practicing ageism on myself, influenced by the belief that the old need to move on & make way for the young. Find a rocking chair & fade away.

  Sometimes you need a good dose of reality, a knock on the head, a wake up call. You don't get to this age without people close to you falling ill, being injured or leaving this earth way too soon. And lately I feel like I'm getting slammed with bad news, enough to break my heart. It certainly makes you do some soul searching, & makes you so grateful for what you have & what you can still do.

                                                                This is 60. March 2016

  For today I am so grateful that I have no aches & pains. I am so grateful that I can still dance. I am so grateful for the dear people I've surrounded myself with. I'm grateful for every day I wake up.

  And so I recently put the eyelashes on, put the costume in the bag, & headed off to perform in my comfort zone - a small venue with live music. I hadn't prepared, didn't know what the musicians would play, I tried practicing around the house a bit but decided I was better off just leaving it to chance. But I went without reservation, which is more than I can say for my usual fussing & balking. I did it to celebrate this newfound gratefulness, to honor my friends who don't have the luxury of that choice: to dance or not. Because if you can do it, then why not? Why not say "I've survived, I'm still here & I'll dance while I still can".

  I watched a documentary on Loretta Lynn, one of many older artists who has inspired the younger generation. Musicians tend to have a reverence for their elders that dancers don't have. Dance can be a little superficial. Young & beautiful = respect. Old = has-been. But why do I have to care about such shallowness? If I can still dance, can still express myself, then I should. So from now on I will try on my new attitude & just do what I want. Isn't that one of the benefits of old age? The right to not care what anyone else thinks, to just do what I do because I want to? I'm going to ride that wave a while, in honor of those who can't. With love.

11 comments:

  1. Hurrah! It's about time. Lol no pun intended. Thank goodness. We have a mission dear one to bring the light of the feminine to a dark and sad world. So keep bringing the light. I love you and am so happy to hear that you are feeling better. Peace and love to you in the highest and best truth.

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    1. Love you always Selena. May our paths cross again soon

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  2. Yes! Yes! Yes! That is exactly the way you should feel. I can cry about what I have lost, or rejoice in what I still have. We choose to dance because we can, anyone who doesn't want to see it can turn their heads, but we will still dance.

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  3. Beautiful Kamala....Dance On!.....xoxo

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  4. Thank you for writing this and for your dance!

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  5. Absolutely darlin! I started this dance in 1975. I'm 63 now and while I dont' do the 2-piece bedlah look anymore (word to the wise) I will continue dancing until they drag my wrinkly old arse off the stage!

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  6. I do worry at times that I may be making a fool of myself. But then I have to dance, I just have to, or I know I will be miserable. I NEVER miss a chance to dance. I too am so grateful I get the chance. Bless you for your wonderful words. I will remember your words as inspiration. Thank you. Roxanne/Sharonne Age 65.

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  7. vry nice
    http://www.reckonentertainment.com/belly-dancer/

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