A Little Bit of Imagination…..

Dance has been a huge part of my life ever since I have been very young and it has always been my  creative outlet.  As a child you would find me  locking myself in my room for hours, turning up my speakers to the loudest possible volume (sorry neighbors) and strategize ways to choreograph dances to the latest and greatest music finds from all parts of the world  and perform them to my  “audience”—which let’s face it would usually be the stuffed animals in my bedroom. =) Dance really allowed me to open up my imagination as I used my personal interpretation of the music to showcase movement in a beautiful and fun way.  My “choreographed dances” were never anything that I shared with others,  was always too shy, but really this was something that I did for myself anyways. It’s crazy to think that this (probably insane sounding to some) pastime has continued in my adult years and just as it was a way to let out my creative outlet back then, I still lock myself up in my room  bumping up the volume  (still sorry neighbors) to a variety of songs that inspire me. Now more than anything though, I use dance as  my form of exercise and is my own personal retreat and  meditation zone. I call it my “dance exercises”

It’s no surprise then, that because I love dance so much my mom would take me to watch dance performances when I was younger and to this day  I still absolutely love watching them whether it is a  live performance or on TV like the hit shows ” So You Think You Can Dance” or “Dancing with the Stars.” In September, I had the opportunity of  traveling to Russia, and as you can imagine I  really wanted to include time to watch a Russian Ballet at the world famous   Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg. Unfortunately  this did not make the cut in my itinenary as there was too much to see and do in the short time we were in Russia! ( There will be a blog post talking about my adventure soon! My trip was amazing!) I was bummed and always wondered what it would be like, but a few weeks ago to my surprise I saw that the Russian Grand Ballet was doing a performance of the Nutcracker at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre here in Los Angeles !! It was almost like the universe conspired to allow me to see a ballet show this year and it was so great to be able to see the Nutcracker live  yesterday just in time for the holidays!  Can you believe I have never seen this ballet until now?!? While I still will wonder what a ballet at the Mariinsky Theatre would be like, this ballet yesterday reminded me of what imagination can do—-a ballet about a nutcracker, dancing/fighting army of mice and beautiful sugarplum fairies dancing in the snow seem like such a  crazy idea, I mean go figure???—   but it is someone’s imagination to  beautifully craft this art  of ballet for  millions of people around to world to see and enjoy every year! That’s what imagination can do for you! It brought me back to why I love dance—imagination, movement, expressing yourself,  beauty, grace, having fun, smiling all while doing a form of exercise!!

Now you would think from what I just mentioned above that I only like watching professional dancers, but what I really do enjoy the most is watching ordinary people busting a move with their friends or loved ones. How many times have you found yourself on the dance floor thinking “this is my song!!!!” and wanting to dance to it with all your might because the song just makes you happy and it reminds you of your friendships or loved ones?” I mean, it can’t just be me?! !!!  I think it’s the cutest thing watching friends goofing off on the dance floor, seeing their connection with each other while singing their hearts out and busting a move–no matter how bad their moves may actually be. How could that not bring a smile to your face?!?! I also enjoy  watching couples dance whether it be a sexy salsa or a sweet waltz or slow dance  and not just  looking at their body movement but the   expressions they make to each other. It is literally the cutest  thing ever—-add a very sweet old couple to the mix and I legit die!

So tell me…..what is your favorite song to dance to or how do you let out your creative juices?? I would love to know!!!!

And until next time….

Bachigner XOXO,

Sandra

Written by sandra