Word Dances III: Celebration
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About this ebook
This, Joe’s third collection of writing on dance, demonstrates how his dance experiences continue to inspire, touching dancers and nondancers alike. Explore the world of music and movement with descriptions, observations, and opinions about the joys of dancing. Take a tour of the ballroom and its classical ambiance, with a continuation of the learning process, and, of course, the dances and the music. As a bonus, enjoy the included list of more than three hundred songs with the best dance-ability for social ballroom dancing. Join in, read, and dance—create and feel your own celebration!
This collection of verses and prose, the third in a series, offers further insight into the passion of ballroom dancing.
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Book preview
Word Dances III - Joseph Michael Sepesy
celebrate.
Prologue
Life Is a Dance
Sense your life’s song—its resonance is all around. Take hold, whether picture or frame, and celebrate with those held close.
Step through your life’s seasons. Rejoice with its myriad music and words, all the genres and verses, the rhythms and thoughts.
Know that the perpetual sounds and movements of every person seen or touched, of everything felt or thought, will oppose or harmonize with your time.
Know that your lyrics and patterns will account for and justify your story, perhaps influencing those who bore witness, or more so those who accompanied you along the way.
Then, when calm and quiet prevail, recall memorable experiences and magical encounters on the floor of your years.
Dance and savor your life’s song, from first steps and notes through final touch and breath. Understand and celebrate, because life is a dance.
It’s Personal
On the grandest of stages, life, dance now occupies a significant place. I can draw analogies and parallels to assist and to cope, to better understand my past, the moment I now engage, and those of my tomorrows.
I regret not dancing until the age of fifty-nine—perhaps the reason for immersing myself in the glorious world of ballroom dance with such intensity, why I want to fill my remaining years with as many dances as possible, why I enjoy my celebration so very much.
Recommended background music: Times of Your Life
as performed by Paul Anka.
Part 1
Let the Celebration Begin!
Recommended background music: I Just Want to Celebrate
as performed by Rare Earth.
Voltaire’s Thought
Laissez lire, et laissez danser; ces deux amusements ne feront jamais de mal au monde.
Let us read, and let us dance; these two amusements will never do any harm to the world.
—Voltaire, 1785
A long-ago observation—still appropriate today.
This thought from the French Enlightenment author Voltaire is well worth its position in this book.
Recommended background music: A song you consider to be a favorite for dancing.
Two Amusements
Two amusements converge here and within, expressed by one man’s passions, the written word and music.
These amusements engage the mind and body—holding and entertaining through description and melody.
These words come to life, and the motion of music inspires our minds’ imagery and our bodies’ movement.
We become animated—reading and dancing, setting us free, and knowing indeed they will bring no harm to the world.
So, we read now and dance later. We then reread and dance again, enjoying these most pleasant of diversions, these … two amusements.
Inspiration
Voltaire’s Thought
put into practice.
Recommended background music: My Happiness
as performed by Connie Francis.
The Celebration of Dance
It is a joy not easily expressed—attempts seem woefully inadequate as the struggle for words becomes apparent. Even with wildly flustered gestures, descriptions remain as elusive as the thin air in which they are flailed.
At best, words are fumbled but somewhat redeemed with an accepted frustration and shrugs, and at worst, phrases, punctuated with grimaced muddlements, simply fail. Nonetheless, the elements of joy do become apparent.
Smiles appear and eyes brighten with the music’s recognition. With emotions stirred and spirits thrilled, dancers rush onto the floor, needing to experience every note.
Exuberant steps and romantic embraces define the dances. Styling accentuates them and reveals the dancers’ inner selves, their thoughts and emotions—all while treasuring the music’s loving hold.
After the dance the partners experience a sublime satisfaction, made evident with softened shoulders, a wipe of the brow, and heavy sighs of relief—perhaps a gladdened giggle of delight and quick hug of appreciation are