A dance instructor at the school, Ursula Payne, danced to his music as well. She is a fantastic dancer who really flows intuitionally. She knows her body and is not afraid to take risks. It was a joy to watch her move and understand more about what I am trying to do in my own movement.
His kora playing is really familiar. Ever since I heard African guitar players, I realized that what I do on guitar is not unknown or even unique. What's strange is that it's close to the Tidewater blues style, which is kind of a ragtime plucking.
Since this is Black History Month, he insisted we all dance like in Africa. It was hard at first to get people up, and I didn't want Vicki to feel obligated since her leg was hurting, but eventually we all danced — even the president of the college! It's good to share such times.
Posted by Mike at February 12, 2004 10:28 PM | TrackBackIt has been so long since us white guys have danced together in a group for the right reasons, that we have forgotten what its about. It is common knowlegde to many native tribes in America that dancing is an essential quality to being a group. For as long as anyone has been listening they have said that the dance drum was the heart beat of the nation. Oddly enough modern research has shown that the very type of drum beat so prevailent in native dance actually produces a phsyical effect on those hearing it. When a group dances to that beat their heart rhythms will actually adjust to the beat of the drum. So for that moment during that dance every heart dancing is beating the exact same rhythm. The nation shares a single heart. Interesting to speculate what other effects that might have.
So strange to meet people that still think sticking together is the most important thing!
Posted by: Q on February 13, 2004 12:34 AM