"To watch us dance is to
hear our hearts speak" (Derrick "Suwaima"
Davis Hopi/Choctaw) Those of you who have taken a trip to the US Post Office
lately will have seen the poster advertising the "American Indian Dances
Commemoratives". Looking at the poster and its quote, I couldn't help thinking
how appropriate it is for all cultures.
There are no million-dollar paychecks in Highland Dancing and very
little recognition of success outside of the Highland World. There must be a
reason that drives the dancer to practice long hours, travel hundreds of miles
so that they can compete and perform. No money, very little prestige, hard work,
physical discomfort and no small expense entailed (what with traveling and
lessons) So what is it that keeps the dancer going?
I would hazard a guess that Highland dancers too are speaking
through their hearts; otherwise logically it would be less of a drain
physically, financially, and mentally for a dancer to put their drive, tenacity
and talent in something more lucrative. I think the American Indians have it
right! It is the heart speaking and we all know that when it comes to affairs of
the heart there is no logic.
Whilst in England, I did manage, thanks to information from a
reader of DANCER) to speak to Mr. Charlie Mill. Unfortunately his publication
had not forwarded to him any of the material I had sent. Since my return, I have
sent your questions directly to him and Mr. Mill assures me that he will be only
too pleased to respond. One of Mr. Mill's concerns, as pointed out in his
article "Who would be a dancing judge?" is the fact that Highland dancers are
concentrating so heavily on the "technical aspect" of the dances causing the
"heart" to be overshadowed.
When the "heart of the dance"
is suppressed, his fear and many others
that I have spoken to, is that
the essence of the dance is
lost. The dances of Scotland have their own history and stories to tell.
A Director once told me
" Never cheat an audience,
it is always up to the performer to
TELL THE
STORY, whether
through voice, music or ones body as the instrument. An audience is an
intelligent being and they will be able to tell if you believe in what you are
trying to communicate!" It is up to the
teacher and performer to maintain the high technical standards required of them,
but also to communicate to the audience with the language of the heart. It is
certainly possible, as through the years I have seen more than one dancer
accomplish this, and when that happens it gives those of us in the audience
goose bumps, even when it is 96 in the shade.