This is the original, unedited
article written for the Grapevine's 20th anniversary issue, in which
former editors were invited to contribute reminiscences and reflections
on our custodianship of the Grapevine, controversial topics of the
time, favourite articles, etc. It appeared in an edited version in the
Autumn 2004 issue of The Grapevine (UK magazine for sacred/circle
dance).
Dance and Politics
I have wonderful memories of our tenure as Grapevine editors
(1992-1994). Both the joys and the challenges provided inspiration and
many opportunities to learn.
Andy, Phyllis and I took on the custodianship of Grapevine at a moment
of crisis, after an editorial opinion offered by the previous team had
provoked an outcry from many readers. Some saw this painful episode as
an unwelcome departure from our nice circle dance world of harmony and
light, but others could accept that both light and shadow have their
place in dance, along with tension and release, action and reaction and
all the other pairs of opposites. The simple act of joining hands can
be an invocation of psychological wholeness, as we welcome all parts of
ourselves into the dancing circle. This principle can guide us in
understanding both the art of movement and the heart of human nature,
and it is one reason why I see an interrelation between dance and
politics.
I often touched on this theme in my editorials, and I always enjoyed
reading people's passionate and engaged replies. Only one person
complained that there was 'too much talk in Grapevine about world
peace, international affairs and politics generally', but of course,
editorials are opinions and are intended to be thought-provoking (the
very point missed by those who had sent the avalanche of criticism to
our previous team), so we welcomed that voice of dissent also.
When the civil war in former Yugoslavia broke out, we created the Dance
for Peace Initiative, to raise funds for humanitarian relief and at the
same time to raise healing energy through focused dancing. Through
small contributions from dance groups - often under £50 - Dance
for Peace raised well over £3000, a not insignificant sum in the
cash-strapped days of the early 90s. Equally valuable, I believe, were
the good wishes and prayers for peace sent from our circles to our
brothers and sisters in the Balkans. Again, one critical voice asked
'What is so special about former Yugoslavia?' and suggested we either
focus within our own British borders or give to charities which work on
a worldwide scale, not only in Yugoslavia.
My response, then and now, is that of course circle dance can work
towards truly global healing; nevertheless, I feel that we in the
circle dance world owe a special debt to the Balkan countries whose
dances give us so much joy (and often, let us not forget, our
livelihoods). It is worth bringing this up again now, since the
acknowledgment which I feel we owe these countries is also a reason to
respect style and detail in our teaching and transmission of
traditional material.
These themes remain controversial, but I feel we should address them,
and not allow a fear of controversy to silence lively dialogue. Even in
the most heated discussions, Grapevine readers usually manage to debate
opposing views without resorting to personal attack (the recent letter
equating those who dislike dancing in cold drafts with 'smokers who
aggressively insist on their freedom to pollute the air' was an
unfortunate exception). Even the most passionate convictions can be
argued with respect, and perhaps this is one of the skills which our
circles give us a chance to model as common practice in the 'outside'
world.
Still inspired by the political potential of circle dance, this autumn
I am focusing my activist tendencies to try to ensure a free, fair and
informed election in my native USA. I am deeply concerned with the
consequences of the Bush regime's 'preemptive strike' doctrine, and the
simultaneous erosion of democratic freedoms - more reminiscent of
Germany 1938 than USA 2004. (This is a personal opinion, offered with
all due respect.) I'll be giving a workshop in the Washington DC area
on November 6-7, the weekend after our presidential 'elections,'
hoping, of course, that this time they will be worthy of the name.
Please join me then - in spirit and prayer - in continuing to dance for
peace.
Laura Shannon
I'd like to share a few relevant quotes from some of my old editorials:
"Our whole world is living through an interesting time. Two years ago
we were celebrating the crumbling of the Berlin Wall and Iron Curtain
borders everywhere. Last year at this time we were reeling from the
horrors of the [first] Gulf War. Now, the civil war in Yugoslavia
reminds us cruelly that freedom, if it means freedom to massacre, can
go too far... It has always interested me that the Balkan States, from
which the majority of dances in the Sacred / Circle Dance repertoire
derive, have been historically some of the most war-torn regions on the
planet... Some believe that in embracing and taking to heart the
essence (embodied in the dances) of these cultures, we are at some
level working to heal the wounds of war, both in ourselves and in the
world." - Spring 1992
"Personally I believe that each (dancing?) step we take as individuals
towards living more as we truly want to live, and being more who we
truly are, with compassion and respect for all of life, is significant.
It especially touches me how much people turn to dance as a vessel and
vehicle for this process of becoming." - Summer 1992
"There is a way, through circle dance, of being together in quietness,
accepting each who comes to the circle as she or he is. The whole
person dances: in shyness or vivacity, in confidence or fear, in sorrow
or joy, in expertise or newness. Our circles are so much the richer for
allowing all that... As dancers we are in a unique position: with the
dances of the world at our service, we have tools with which to serve
the world. May we honour this precious opportunity by using our dances
wherever we can to encourage kindness, forgiveness, understanding and
compassion." -Autumn 1992
'What we are doing when we dance like this is practising. This sounds
funny, since circle dance is so much about being in the present moment.
But each time we share synchrony of movement with a group of people of
differing backgrounds and beliefs, or allow the emotion to come up in
the dance and laugh or cry, or forgive someone (ourselves, for
instance!) for not learning the steps instantly, we are practising to
live in the world with greater kindness, flexibility, love, and
connection to others." - Winter 1992/3
'The question is: how can we remain aware of the sufferings of the
human family (of which we are part) but avoid being so incapacitated by
this excruciating awareness that we are unable to work for positive
change? There is no simple answer, but I do think our lives are made
easier by joining forces, allowing ourselves to support and be
supported... We who are connected to circle dance in any way are so
fortunate: we are part of a network...from which I hope each of us will
always be able to derive comfort and strength in these challenging
times." - Spring 1993
"The greatest human privilege of all is that we have the capacity to
choose - always - whether we respond to the worlds both around us and
inside us with depression, which negates what we have to offer, or with
compassion,which increases it a thousandfold." - Summer 1993