Kristin Geiger

April, 15, 2015

Dance Philosophy
My definition or philosophy of dance is not a very complex one even though it is
well thought out in my mind. Dance is an art performed by either individuals or groups of
humans. The body is used to express a purpose, inner feeling, emotion, idea, or
experience. It can be used for therapy too. Dance can also be used to perform social,
ritual, entertainment, or other performances. The movement is normally performed to
either live or recorded music, but can also be to only human breath or rhythm. It is an
outward expression of things felt on the inside of the body.
Peoples definitions of dance are usually very similar with just slight differences.
Most feel similarly about it and what it is. Why isnt there just one definition? Why do
people still have slightly different philosophies? The answer is easy. Everyone feels
slightly different about what dance is and have their individual philosophies from their
own personal experiences that influence what dance means to them. Somebody who uses
dance as a ritual may feel very differently about it then someone who does it for therapy.
My definition and philosophy of dance is unique. Explanation is needed in order
to understand why this is my philosophy. I dance as a way to express my emotions,
overcome posttraumatic stress disorder, challenge myself to be better, bring joy to others,
and most importantly because its my passion.
Dancers have the unique ability to dance what we feel. Our emotions do not need
to bottled up like ordinary people or hidden. The more we show our emotion, the better
our dance and performances are. There are so many quotes that help and support this.
One of my favorites comes from Martha Graham. She said that, Dance is the hidden
language of the soul. By expressing what we feel inside it gives others an insight to our

Kristin Geiger

April, 15, 2015

inner thoughts and emotions. (Graham 1) The Hopi Indians have a saying similar to
Martha Grahams. Theirs says, To watch us dance is to hear our hearts speak. (Russell
3) I think this is beautiful and truly states that our dancing shows what we feel.
Sadly, many dancers struggle with showing their true emotions in their dance and
only show technique. During my time at BYU, the dance department brought in a guest
lecturer. She talked to the dancers about being honest in their dancing by allowing
yourself to become emotionally vulnerable. Emotional vulnerability is what separates
performers from artists. In order to be a good artist we have to be willing to open up
ourselves to the audience. Whatever our pains and emotions are is what we have to offer
as dancers. If we apply emotion to the art it will become honest. It was interesting to
learn that the deeper we dig in artistic expression; we in turn receive emotional healing
from any experiences and emotions that may have caused us pain in the past.
My second reason for my philosophy is very personal. During my sophomore
year of high school I had an awful experience that left me physically and emotionally
hurt. Physical pain and suffering lasted only for a short while, but still to this day as I
approach my college graduation, I have to deal with emotional pain. It is not easy to
overcome and is nearly impossible to get rid of. I felt very shameful and of little or no
value. I was already in dance at the time but found myself pouring all of my time and
energy in dance. My therapist told my mother and I that she thought I was improving so
quickly and how it was amazing the amount of progress I was making. I thought about it
later and realized that my progress was due greatly to my dance. I did research on it later
and found that this was something actually recommended by doctors. Dance is proven to
help as a form of therapy for posttraumatic stress disorder. I am living proof of that.

Kristin Geiger

April, 15, 2015

In my first modern class here there was also an individual that confided in me
about his very personal situation. He suffered from depression and suicidal thoughts. He
isnt a dance major. The person is actually a biology major. I asked why he danced. His
answer was not what I expected at all. He told me how he grew up in a broken home and
how he suffered from depression and suicidal thoughts. The only thing that kept him from
being depressed was dance. He made it clear that dance was always going to be a part of
his life because nothing else had worked. Dance was his form of successful therapy.
Dance is an art form that is always changing and that the dancer can always
improve with. Because of the continual training and progression one must always keep
dancing and learning to stay up with the changes and technique. Ballet is a very obvious
dance form in which the dancer can constantly improve even if the dance moves
themselves stay the same. The dancer can always do more. Improving technique, artistry,
and turn out are only a few of the many things drilled into dancers to constantly be
thinking about to improve upon.
Sharing emotions with the audience is also one of the things I love most about this
art form. The lecturer mentioned previously was also a physiologist. She researched a lot
about how dance and therapy relate. Within her research was how humans relate and
share emotion with one another. She started off by asking us why people went to our
performances. I thought it was to see a good show. Apparently I was wrong. It has been
proven that people attend concerts to feel a connection with other humans. She told us a
few things that support this. One was called The Attachment Theory. (Bowlby 2) This
theory discusses how a baby without an emotional connection to another human will die.
This made us very sad but began to open our eyes. She then went on to tell us about the

Kristin Geiger

April, 15, 2015

universal form of torture. This is isolation. She wanted us to really understand that this
just goes to show that is how much we need each other!
My friends back home always said that when they saw me dance it filled them
with emotions. At times I would ask them, with what emotions? Majority of the time it
would be similar to the emotion I was feeling or thinking about as I danced. It is amazing
that we are able to share emotions with our audience members. The most rewarding part
of any performance for me is when someone tells me that watching me dance made them
happy or just smile. Making others happy just gives me so much joy inside.
The last major reason why I dance is because it is my passion. One of my favorite
quotes explains how I feel very well. Dancing with the feet is one thing, but dancing
with the heart is another, This is an anonymous quote that has motivated me a lot.
Anyone can move his or her feet and dance, but it takes real heart to dance with passion
and for it to mean something. I dont dance because I want to; I dance because I have to.
I have also been blessed with the ability to choreograph. This has allowed me to
meet so many fabulous people and become more creative. I am able to use my creativity
and imagination to make something bigger. A performance that I have created also means
so much more to me when I see all my hard work being performed on stage. It is very
rewarding to others enjoying dancing my choreography as well as those that are enjoying
the performance. It also connects to dance being a challenge, because choreographing
takes hard work, patience, and is challenging at first. My teachers have taught me how
much fun choreographing can really be.
I am just about to graduate college and have accomplished so much already. I
have attended conventions in Los Angeles, Houston, and Dallas. I have danced in China.

Kristin Geiger

April, 15, 2015

I have met so many successful dancers and choreographers. Many dance legends have
been inspirations to me to continue on. My students that I have taught have also
motivated me to continue on in this field. My teachers have seen me progress and given
me opportunities to perform for my community. Weather it was being a simple Mazurka
girl in Coppelia, or the lead of the Lilac Fairy in Sleeping Beauty, I have loved and
embraced every second of being a dancer. All of the tiring and sometimes frustrating
rehearsals have paid off.
I want others to experience the joy I feel. My passion for people and dance will
hopefully combine in the future to form something beautiful. My lifes aspiration is to go
to a third world country or low-income community and create a dance program. I hate the
stigma that dance is only for the privileged or those that can afford it. I want to give
everybody the opportunity to dance. Dance teaches and helps in so many more ways than
just teaching steps. It teaches life lessons and great characteristics. Through dance, we
can learn to reach goals, persevere, increase memorization skills, and discipline. I know
that by sharing my talent of dance with others, I can help them develop great qualities
and feel joy along the way.
I have chosen this path for myself. I want to give others the opportunity to share
my emotion as I perform until I can no longer perform. After that I want to choreograph
so dancers may perform what I still feel I need to share with audiences. I desire to share
dance with the world. The joy that dance brings me is irreplaceable and I wish nothing
more for people than to share my philosophy of dance. Humans need to see that it is an
art form that is a blessing to everyone that participates and views it.

Kristin Geiger

April, 15, 2015

Work Cited

Kristin Geiger

April, 15, 2015

Bowlby, J. (1977) The making and breaking of affectional bonds. I. Aetiology and
psychopathology in the light of attachment theory. British Journal of Psychology, Vol.
130, Issue 3. Retrieved from http://bjp.rcpsych.org/content/130/3/201.short

Graham, M. (2002, Spring). 20 year retrospective: I am a dancer. Attitude - the

Dancers' Magazine, 16, 17. Retrieved from
http://search.proquest.com/docview/2181304?accountid=4488

Russell, L. (2011). Borrowed dances: Appropriation, authenticity and performing

'identity' in prescott, arizona, 1921-1990. Australasian Drama Studies, , 39-52. Retrieved
from http://search.proquest.com/docview/1326395062?accountid=4488