Sneaking Meditation

Abstract

ABSTRACT Contemporary dance and meditative practices are increasingly intertwining in both academic and professional settings as the wide range of current mind/body modalities infiltrate the already vast landscape of modern dance. While the value of emphasizing mindful movement in dance cannot be understated, focusing solely on the slower, sensorial experience generally linked with meditative practices can dampen the “danceyness” of the experience itself. Incoming university dance majors may perceive this shift in concentration and intensity in technical training as a step back and lose interest in the program. How can we present dance as both meditative and virtuosic, thus integrating mindfulness and body-fullness to create a fuller dancing experience? In this article, I share practical and experiential methods of incorporating meditative practices into a contemporary or modern dance course while honoring the energetic rigor that draws many students to initially pursue an education and career in dance.