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Rhythm & Dance

Did you know that I rise in the morning, reach the peak in the afternoon, and set in the evening, day in and day out, and yet every day is new day, a new beginning?

It is the movement with a regular repetition of a beat, accent, rise and fall, or the like; a pattern that's recurring regularly and periodically.

The rhythm in space
Every thing in the universe has some kind of rhythmic motion. Whether it's the sun, the stars, meteors, comets, dust particles, etc. all are moving in some rhythmic pattern. The very obvious examples would be the earth revolving around the sun, and rotating around its own axis. The result of these rhythmic movements is the seasons, and the day-night pattern. Since we live on the earth we move with its rhythmic movements.

The rhythm around us
The vibration of the medium such as air, water, etc creates the sound.
In an automobile, the crankshaft, wheels, gears, etc. rotating, the pistons moving up and down in the cylinder, springs oscillating and many other parts, move in a rhythmic pattern. The light is electromagnetic waves in the visible range. Heat is a form of internal energy possessed by a substance due to the rhythmic motion of its molecules or atoms.

Rhythm inside us
The heartbeat, the pulse beat the batting of the eyelids, talking, food passing through the intestine (Peristalsis), involuntary muscular actions, breathing, and many more.

Since this basic rhythm is all around and inside us as well, so we are naturally rhythmic, and so also every one else.

Sound and dancing
The part of rhythm that can be better perceived with the ear is called sound, and if the sound is pleasing, it is music. The other part of rhythm that is better perceived with the eye or felt, and if it's pleasing is the dance. Thus the fingers dancing on the typewriter, a person running or walking or playing games or sport, cooking, etc. are all dancing.

"All things wise and wonderful, The Lord God made them all ... " So any and every human activity is dancing.

Synchronous Rhythm
To understand this part of science, particularly Physics lets study the examples briefly.

1.This is a simple physics example, yet very evocative/fascinating. Tie two ends of a long string, to nails on the two opposite walls. The two nails need not be at the same height from the floor. Next take five or six strings of approximately two feet long. To each of these strings tie some weight at one end, and tie the other end at equidistant on the string secured to the walls. Now the weights attached, bobs, remain suspended from the horizontal string. Now swing the bobs, one at a time, such that each one of the bobs oscillates with different timing.

There will come a time periodically when all the bobs would swing to the same side together. At such a time the movement of the bob to the side would be maximum. Also at one time you will notice that all the bobs seem to be stationary. This is what I call the synchronous motion, when the group of objects vibrates together producing maximum and the minimum movement/amplitude.

2.In an aeroplane, noticeable shudder running through out the plane, is felt for a brief moment, at regular intervals, as the jet engines pick up speed. This is distinctly noticeable when the engines rev up from the stationary position, to start moving on the runway prior to take-off. Similar shudder is felt when the engine power is turned down after landing.

3.When driving any vehicle one would notice that at a particular speed, on a particular stretch, one gets a wonderful ride. As if one is gliding on an air cushion without any resistance. At such a moment the chassis movements cancel out the up-and-down movements of the automobile.


4. The hanging bridge of Oklahoma was constructed over a river whose natural frequency matched with that of the river, air, earth, and the foundations. The traffic on it could also be a contributing factor. The result was that the bridge "danced" in waves-form, a bit too much, beyond its strength, and soon it collapsed.


Us and the Synchronous Rhythm
A human being is a living Eco-system. The smallest living thing is the cell. A grouping up of certain type of cell, to perform some specialised task, gives rise to organs and other body parts. And many such parts together give rise to us. The nervous system co-ordinate the activities towards a well being of the person. So a single cell has its own identity, the organ its own, etc. So all of them have different frequency ranges. If all the body parts work with a particular frequency that's acceptable to all, then the body would function more efficiently.

To understand this we will study a small comparison. Assume a single cell to be a person. A small group of cells performing a certain task to be a family. A group of such "families" forming an organ can be assumed to be a society or state. Now grouping these "states" together gives rise to a person and that can be compared with a country. Thus the brain can be compared to the governing body at the centre, and the rest of the nervous system with the state and local governing bodies.

Now for the country to be more efficient, the entire infrastructure therein, needs to work at a particular pace. This particular pace is never the ideal pace for each and every person. However, everybody needs to work at this pace for the maximum benefits.

Similar adjustments need to be made by all the units in ones body for optimum results. This happens especially when dancing, or dancing occurs when the whole body, mind and probably soul too, function in a synchronous manner.

To substantiate that cells, organs, etc. have individuality/identity here is an example. What is death?
1. Heart is dead but the brain is still alive.
2. Brain is dead yet the heart is beating.
3. The brain and the heart are dead, yet the other body parts are alive, and can be transplanted.

The above topic and the example, "death", was only to show that each one of us is a living Eco-system, and that we are made of many living units each with its own rhythm. When all these rhythm are matched we get a synchronous rhythm which produces extraordinary results. We normally term it as "being at the top of the world".


The Two Kinds of Basic Dances
These are the a> Natural Dances and b> Produced Dances. The dividing line between these two is distinct. All the dances that we know of fall anywhere between the above two dances.

In the first kind, the natural dances, all the parts of the body start functioning in a synchronous harmony that leads to extra-ordinary dancing. At such times the mental capacity is enhanced to extraordinary levels, such that the whole event is recorded precisely and is always available for serious analysis. This in turn helps to realise ones potentials and to develop it further.

Human being is an animal, belonging to the mammal group, which is slightly more intelligent than the others in the same group are. We are able to put on numerous masks, as far as the natural behavioural patterns go. So it's easier to understand the very basic core of ourselves when we study other animal. The above mentioned, natural dance occurs in the animals too. It can occur at any time of the day, month or the year. Scientifically there doesn't seem to be any explanation. However these dances are just beautiful and are also termed as the energy-burners. And the animal, at such a time is very hyperactive. With such dancing the animal is most likely to attract its predator, however being charged up, most of the time it survives the attack. (From Walt Disney film on animals and dancing)

Most probably our four legged ancestors must have danced such dances, and realised that its cooler and more comfortable as one jumps higher.
And so must have started the move to become a biped animal.
(From BBC TV serial on LUCY - II)

The second type of dance is the produced dance. These types are very easily seen in animals during their breeding season. These occur due to one or more of the senses being overpowered. These dances are also beautiful and important. However recalling the whole event vividly, long after the event, is not precise. Even in such cases the dancer attracts the predators, and falls prey easily.

Stylised patterns
To understand this special rhythm and to summon it as frequently as possible, a small module of basic movement is patterned. This module is fairly simple and repetitive, such that it can be picked up easily, and then the full focus of concentration can be given to discover this special rhythm.
These modules get specialised and become the special activities, such as typing, running, walking, jobs on a production line, painting, playing musical instrument, thinking, reading, etc.

Further when these special modules are imitated they become the dances, what we refer to as a dance. So basic dances have all the movements that are done normally in day to day activities. For example the folk dance of a group normally speaks of the activities of the group in question.

Therefore, consciously or otherwise, any and every one knows dancing and music which are the part and parcel of life. So the necessity of dance is to hone our skills which are required for our survival and well being in a very subtle manner.

Teaching a child
Let's assume that we need to teach a child in the pre-nursery, or in the playgroup. The object is the letters of an alphabet. But just learning the letters is not sufficient. The child needs to learn the sequence of the characters, form recognition, writing, sound, relation of the letters to words, etc.

For this simple task we need to sing, play games, study, dance, etc. The objective of the various activities is simply the teaching of the letters of the alphabets.

So to achieve one goal many paths need to be treading upon, of which the music and dance take a major part. Thus dancing becomes one of the major foundations for progress.