July 17, 2011

• ALONE TOGETHER

  
  Every generation has always been convinced of the superiority of the popular music and dances of their time, particularly that of their coming-of-age years, which always reflect the state of the social milieu of the day.

  Couples of the Roaring Twenties did the Charleston to the tune of “Anything Goes”, acting out the new-found liberation of women from corsets, hairpins and abstinence.

  Guys wore post World War II zoot suits doing the “Lindy Hop”, partnering their bobby-soxed  girlfriends to “Sing, Sing, Sing” celebrating freedom from wartime restrictions.

  Elvis Presley ushered in a period of gyrating joy, cautioning fellow dancers to stay clear of his “Blue Suede Shoes”, perhaps signifying a decline in partner dancing.

  PRE-TWENTIETH CENTURY DANCING ETIQUETTE ASSURED THAT ONLY THE CONTACT OF HANDS, EXCEPT FOR A GUY’S HAND TOUCHING A GIRL’S WAIST, SHOWED OUTWARD RESPECT FOR THE SANCTITY OF HOLY WEDLOCK.

  FRED AND GINGER GLORIFIED THE BEAUTY AND HARMONY OF RELATIONSHIP, A COOPERATIVE EXPERIENCE WHERE, THOUGH THE MAN IS “LEADING”, BOTH ARE SENSITIVE TO THE OTHER, RESPONDING TO THE RHYTHM AND MOVEMENT OF THE MOOD AND THE MUSIC.

  THEIR PERFORMANCES HAVE GOT TO BE THE ULTIMATE DEFINATION OF ROMANCE IN MOTION!

  IN CONTRAST, TODAY’S RAVES ARE TOTALLY ISOLATING, WITHOUT A SINGLE CONNECTION BEYOND SHARING
  INDIVIDUAL ECSTASY ON A CROWDED FLOOR.

  IS THAT THE POINT?

  AS I MUSE AND WRITE ABOUT “ALONE TOGETHER”, I AM WONDERING IF CONTACT ON THE DANCE FLOOR, THE BEAT OF THE MUSIC AND ALSO THE THOUGHTS CONVEYED BY THE LYRICS ARE DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE DEGREE OF INTIMACY BETWEEN INDIVIDUALS AS SOCIETY MOVES FROM COMMUNAL VALUES TO INCREASED ISOLATION AND ALIENATION.

  HOW ABOUT ALONE AND TOGETHER?

  
  THE BALANCING OF POLARITIES WOULD HAMMER THE FINAL NAIL INTO THE COFFIN OF STEREOTYPED GENDER BEHAVIOR.

  
  IF YOU BUY INTO THE POSSIBILITY THAT, AS OUR SOUL JOURNEYS, IT PLAYS MANY ROLES AS REQUIRED FOR THE LEARNING OF LIFE’S LESSONS, WE CAN BECOME PLAYERS IN A GIANT REPERATORY THEATRE COMPANY, LEARNING BY HEART THE PART OF EACH CHARACTER WE ARE ASSIGNED TO PORTRAY.
  

  LET’S FACE THE MUSIC AND DANCE!

   

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  • 9:29 pm
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