The Reason we Dance

Tonight I tried something new and wonderful--contra dancing. It was about the most fun I had ever had in my life and there is something just purely joyful about letting loose and just twirling about. I had no idea what I was getting myself into and thoroughly enjoyed every bit of it. When I came home from the dance hall, the tv in our house was already on and an episode of Sex and the City was playing.

I would not call myself a SATC fan, but I did have roommates in college who watched the entire series, start to finish, so I think I've somehow absorbed the gist of the show through osmosis or something. Anywho, I sat down on the couch after having danced for hours all evening (I was feeling mildly dizzy) and in this particular episode, the man nicknamed "Big" tells Carrie he's moving to California and she meets him at his apartment, which is empty save a record player and a Henry Mancini record. Carrie scoffs, but Big puts on the record and "Moon River" begins to play and they dance alone in his empty apartment. (Aside--how romantic!) I didn't watch the whole episode, but just that scene, and it got my ever-analyzing brain rolling.

Why do we dance?

I remember taking a dance history class in college (believe it or not, it counted as some necessary credit toward my Romance Languages degree). We learned the origins of tribal dance, of Renaissance court dances, of waltzes and ballet and hip hop and break dancing and clowning.... But that's not what I am contemplating. It's not how dancing has evolved, it's WHY do we dance?

I danced ballet as an art form. It made me feel like I was creating something beautiful, once I learned how to rond-de-jambe and developpee properly. But dancing with another person is a whole different ball game. It's awkward and intimate and thrilling all at the same time.

I think about club-style dancing and wonder why we do that? Is it a modern version of mating dances? Those who have the best moves are most desirable? Then what about waltzing? What about that one? Because touching someone of the opposite sex was generally taboo and dancing was the only way to get close in socially acceptable climes?

Whatever the real underlying reason is that people dance doesn't matter I suppose. I danced last night because it was fun. Isn't that all that matters?