Dance From Your Soul
By fumi-tome ohta, High Desert Branch
The day is over and the night is soft, gentle yet commanding. I’m in the rehearsal hall practicing Dance of a Crane at Peace over and over again. How many times have I danced this dance tonight? I’m getting dizzy and so very tired. There are no sounds except the sounds of the night such as the sound of the moon casting its silver glow, the sounds of dew forming on a leaf, the sound of my folding fan resting in my hand, the sound of hoping and wishing and thinking.
The practice hall where I’m rehearsing is cold. I wish I had a coat, a sweater or an extra layer for clothing but by school tradition and protocol we students are only allowed this particular “uniform” to wear during lessons. The dark wooden floor knows me through the movement of my feet, sliding, gliding, walking, stomping. I am alone tonight. I wish with all my heart that the walls would come alive to speak to me.
I open and close my fan with the flick of my thumb and forefinger. The fan makes a crisp forthright sound similar to the snap of the fingers. The fan opens, then I twirl it through a simple movement of my wrist. Usually, my fan feels alive but tonight, I feel nothing. I adjust my footwear then set the music to play again. I dance to my own pleasure. I never noticed it before but I’m taking my dance for granted. I’m dancing but only going through the motion. I dance as if my heart is breaking. Why? The dance I am dancing is called Dance of a Crane at Peace. The dance is not about a heart but yet, the dance is very much a dance from the heart. Every movement of my body should draw a picture of the crane’s heart beating and feeling of his total being at peace. Our late teacher instilled in us to dance from our soul and to dance with everything within. Tonight, at this moment, the quiet of the four walls, the floor and the ceiling and the spirit as well as of my late teacher speak to me. “Dance from your soul.”
I stop. I stand there in silence. I concentrate. No distractions. I listen to the music. I begin. I am a crane in a state of total and beautiful tranquility. I will dance with my heart and soul. I feel my teacher’s presence, I hear my teacher say, “Yes! Yes, that’s it!
Trust your heart! Let it guide you. “Dance from your soul.”
“Dance from Your Soul” appeared in the
April 2024 Inkslinger, newsletter of the High Desert Branch.