Thoughts on Eurythmy, Movement, and Dance

One of the more unusual and unfamiliar of Waldorf practices is Eurythmy -- a kind of movement and dance* where positions are based on a symbolic expression of letters and sounds, like an alternative alphabet -- as Steiner called it, "visible speech". It is performed wearing flowing garments and large scarves/veils that convey a sense of moving color. A form of modern dance, it is also considered to be therapeutic and possibly curative by many Anthroposophists. I'll be honest right up front: I am not a fan.

the Eurythmy Spring Valley performance ensemble

Eurythmy is very much a product of the time it was created in; the 1920s. It is a Western style of dance that is very influences by the cultural need to be upright, and show a developmentally that European cultures are sophisticated and graceful, and at the height of calm, steady, and refined human development that merges the intellect and art into form. It was in no small part also reactionary to the wilder, more raucous popular dances that were emerging at the time such as ragtime and jazz with all their bounciness and vivacious expression.

Because of the "secret code" of it, the movements that correspond to a letter or a sound, some people seem threatened by it as some sort of occult-ish practice that casts spells in one form or another. I see Eurythmy, just like yoga and other movement arts, as simply movement. It comes with what _you_ put with it. There is nothing inherent in the movements that should be threatening to any other practice or belief system. 

As a former dance teacher, I will not be doing Eurythmy with my kids since it does a poor job of using the whole body in balance. It's strongly based in a very upright and still/stiff posture that so many European dance forms are, and I prefer something that opens and uses a greater range of possible motion -- I think it's healthier for the person. I love swing, I enjoy waltzing, foxtrot and other partner dances. But when it comes to the development of the person, using a greater range of motion is essential. In motion the body's sections/blocks really makes a connection by which wisdom can flow, or be gained. Yup, I just said that really woogey new-age sounding-ness -- and I stand by it.  


So then what do I recommend? Whatever it is, it has to jive with your family -- I don't know that there's a reasonable one-size-fits-all when it comes to movement and dance. It's important to use something that has movements that go up and down with whole body (not just limbs), the movement as a 360degree experience (not relegated to the front of the torso) , requires turns and angle changes not only of position but of parts/block of the body relative to itself, uses legs and feet as their own movement (not just a conveyance from place to place), and does not keep the torso as a stiff un-moving block/section. I also think that the dance form needs to be able to express and feel a wide variety of emotions.
 
I have a history of study & performing in folk dances from North Africa and the Middle East, so I expect we will go that route. The wide variety of different styles from those regions use the whole body, has enough variety to get in all sorts of physical expression, and really opens up the person physically and emotionally to a wider experience of life. AND really promotes body awareness and control (which translates to all other aspects of self-governance and self-awareness).

Having a physically expressive outlet for feeling them gives another way to healthfully have ones emotions without letting one's emotions control them. Since the movements are fairly natural and do not hold tension, there are many emotive ways to use them. Since there is not just one proper way to express a movement in Middle Eastern dance it allows for so much! and that counts for a lot especially with those personality temperaments who have large emotional experiences (especially in older kids & teenagers). These dances are good and appropriate for both genders, and I think it has the potential for all kinds of healthy physical work as well as healthy body image.


*for the purpose of this post dance is defined thusly:
- move rhythmically to music, typically following a set sequence of steps. 
- a series of movements that match the speed and rhythm of a piece of music. 
- a performance art form consisting of purposefully selected sequences of human movement