A NEW LEASE—on Life!

By Judit Rajhathy, B.A., RNCP, D.Ac.

So You Think You Can Dance?

 

cumbiaOf course you can! The late Martha Graham claimed that dance is the hidden language of the soul. Everyone can dance - so can you! 

I will never forget my first dance lesson in Ajijic at the ripe age of 58. A beautiful young maestro walked into the gym, took my hand and said, “Don’t look at your feet, just listen to the music, look into my eyes and move with me.”  It was in that moment that my life changed and dance became an integral part of my life. I have never looked back. Dance is about your life - it is about expression, about letting go. It is about getting in touch with your sensuality, your life force. Dance reflects where you are in your life.  

Dancing Rejuvenates the Spirit

If you want a shortcut to happiness, dance!  You could be feeling a bit under the weather, a bit depressed and all of a sudden you hear a favorite tune on the radio, your toe starts tapping, you start whistling and remember jitterbugging and jiving and all of a sudden you are smiling. Take it one step further and start moving your body, dance around the living room!  

Benefits of Dance 

Dance improves brain function, encourages better concentration, helps you to think faster, improves reaction time, sharpens memory, reduces stress, assists in flexibility, increases bone density and improves hand-eye coordination. Dance builds stamina which in turn helps the circulatory system. And if you really tear up the floor, your sweat releases toxins from the body. What a great way to burn calories! And you just never know whom you might meet on the dance floor!

Which Dance Is Popular In Your Area?

Country line dancing seems to be quite popular in the area. However, learning new dance forms to different rhythms offers variety and a great way to immerse into another culture. It only makes sense to learn the Latin dance form that is danced in Lakeside. There has been a lot of confusion between Salsa and Cumbia. Most foreigners equate all Latin dance with Salsa. 

The reality is that Cumbia is the most common dance form in Mexico and Salsa is only danced in a few places in Guadalajara, primarily in clubs that cater to the young. Salsa tends to be a young person’s dance because when danced well, it is very strenuous, involving very quick movements and spins. Cumbia music has a very definite rhythm and one can look like a pro on the dance floor using one basic step, without having to tax the body too much.

Then there is always steamy, sensual, slow Son and the more elegant, precise Danzon which is to Mexico what the waltz is to Vienna.  But again, you would have to travel an hour to be able to dance these dances and why bother when you can have your fill of Cumbia right here in the village. So hope to see you on that dance floor!

Judit Rajhathy, B.A., RNCP D. Ac. (and Queen of Cumbia), is the author of the best-selling Canadian book Free to Fly: a journey toward wellness and can be reached at www.juditrajhathy.com and 765-4551.

 

 

 

 

 

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