Of the variety of physiological responses that human beings exhibit when we receive certain types of information, I find dance to be the most intriguing. Like laughter, it's not intuitively obvious why motion should sate our desire for expression. It's certainly possible to process and enjoy music (or other forms of information) without moving at all. How does it help to add kinetics to the experience?
An '08 article in Scientific American suggested that it might have something to do with stimulating the orbitofrontal cortex and the ventral striatum but concluded that, "Scientists aren't sure why we like movement so much, but there's certainly a lot of anecdotal evidence to suggest we get a pretty big kick out of it." Indeed. For those who prefer a less reductive approach, Jewish teachings on the topic may offer a satisfying alternative.
The Jewish mystical tradition holds that there were a series of epochs or pre-universes before our own - each with its own unique characteristics and energy array. (Interestingly, there are analogues to this belief found in theoretical physics.) These dimensions, Kabbalists believe, are alluded to in multiple biblical narratives and are even embedded into various biblical genealogies. The dominant trait of the world that preceded ours was that it was conceptually circular (unlike our own, which is linear).
Unlike the linear plane, which is intrinsically fraught with inequality and hierarchy, the circle world was built on equity, harmony and balance. As such, it represented our collective past as well as our ultimate destination. A corollary to this concept would also suggest that all ideas and movements which stress the circle world qualities are unconsciously tapping into an innate human desire to rectify reality and return to our roots. In this regard, the modern drive for equality in its various forms hearkens back to our primal, collective pre-history. For better or worse, however, the only method we possess to bring this about is through our presently flawed and hierarchical plane of existence. The circle is the future. This is the reason that Jewish tradition has embraced the symbol of the circle dance.
There are two quintessential Biblical stories about dancing which explain the two purposes of dance from a spiritual perspective. The first is when Miriam the Prophetess leads the Jewish women in a (drum) circle dance directly after the nation was delivered from the Egyptian army. Her dance comes on the heels of the joyous song that the men sang. Interestingly, the verse literally translates as the men "will sing," in the future tense, implying that in the moment they were not fully in touch with the newly opened access point of "circle universe" awareness. The women, by contrast, seize the energy of the moment and channel it to kinetically express their joy.
The Miriam story is very deep, but suffice it to say that there is a certain point at which one's consciousness expands to such a degree that it can no longer be contained by the heart and mind alone and one's entire being needs to be utilized to capture the moment. As Kabbalistic thinker Sarah Schneider explains, it's "like trying to run a complex graphic program on an antiquated laptop, there is not enough space in the computer's brain to hold the complexity of operations...similarly here, 'circle awareness' is so vast that it takes an entire body to hold it." At times it requires a whole network of people together.
Ecstatic dance reflects the desire of the inner self to transcend its limitations and merge with something greater.
Anyone who has experienced it can attest there is huge power generated by a large group dancing with a unified purpose. The whole is greater than the sum of its parts and the import of the moment can be palpable.
The second Biblical account of the spiritual power of dance is that of King David's ecstatic dance before the Ark of the Covenant as it was being brought into Jerusalem. In David's case, the dance was a vehicle for him to access deeper recesses of his consciousness. Like other repetitive acts such as mantras, prayer and meditation, the dancing overrides analytical consciousness, opening a purer and deeper channel. In this regard, dancing and praying may be considered very closely related (when done properly) and is the reason that many mystically inclined religious groups, such as Judaism's Hasidim, employ so much singing and dancing in their observance.
The intensity of David's dance raised the ire of his wife Michal, who was shocked at the raw emotionality he displayed in public, commenting that he had conducted himself "as one of the empty people." The King's retort defended his exuberance and suggested that it would intensify further in the future declaring "I will continue to play before God!"
Like all good art, ecstatic dance reflects the desire of the inner self to transcend its limitations and merge with something greater; this is the root of its power. Most people find such a transcendent state to be uniquely blissful. Some spend their entire lives in its pursuit. From a Judaic perspective, it is the soul's spontaneous desire to reach beyond its corporeal container and express its most sublime root in the highest realms.
"Dance is the hidden language of the soul." ~Martha Graham
(13) Deborah, September 16, 2013 1:17 AM
why do we dance?
Hi,
Did you notice that, twhen we dance iin a circle, most of the time, in the "ora" we cross our legs, open and cross again. When we cross, we are "drawing an aleph with our legs, which sympbolizes the unicity of G.od and when we "jump", we are doing the link between earth and heavens. So dancing is one of the highest way to serve Hashem.
(12) Yehudith Shraga, July 13, 2012 12:37 AM
If the circle world was so good, why it was trade-into linear one?
The article does have its charm, mostly of the writer's love to dancing, and his explanation of the nature of the dancing as far as what he was taught in the university may be satisfactory, but as far as the explanation of the world of circles( Ulam Ha'iggulim ) and the Linear world( Ulam HaKav Yashar) the works of Ar'i haKaddosh in the form of Baal haSulam's Talmud Esser haSephirot is very much recommended to study in the first place to understand why the circle world was rejected as a form of existence and the linear one was brought instead, and what the role of the circle world is after these major changes before we project its existence on the meaning of the dancing, it should be clear to us that psycology and Kabbalah are two different fields of knowledge, while the psychology studies our nature, Kabbalah studies spiritual worlds,so mixing these two kind of knowledge may be very tempting, but not recommended and even damiging to the person who hasn't learned what their difference is, and how they complement each other, and as a matter of fact adding "something" from Sages or especially from Kabbalah,may not ascend the rate of any article, because taken from the context of the Kabbalah teaching they may be incorrectly understood or connected with the reality of this world, it is true that dancing as well as our spiritual ( soul)and corporial(psych and body) have their roots in the spiritual reality of haShem, BUT our intuituve feeling of this relationship shouldn't be presented as Kabbalah, because this part of Judaism is the mostly fasinating part, but mostly protected from our intervention and should be taken with the greatest responsibility, because it is the innermost part of Torah and Spiritual Wisdom, which opens to those who study and implement it and not to those who speculate about it, it is clear that reading about dancing doesn't make you a dancer, as well as mentioning the notions of Kabbalah in the article has nothing to do with Kabbalah Itself.
(11) anonymous, October 27, 2011 3:27 PM
why simchas torah
the article was a nice explanation but could you please explain, why do we dance specifically on simchas torah? and there is another dancing mentioned in torah the dancing at simchat beit hashoeva.
(10) Anonymous, October 26, 2011 11:42 PM
sifrei kodesh sources on dance
Grew up in Boston, went to college in NY and lived in Manhattan for years before I got married and moved to Phil.(I always connected the arts esp dance). Are there more sources that describe the essence of dance?
(9) Antoinette, August 22, 2011 10:00 PM
The Dance is in the Joy!!!!
David danced b/f the Lord!!! & n another Saul was delivered & healed. I have 3 prophetic Dance Teams and there is a place we go in God w/ expression, release and demosrtation of His spirit living in us!!!
(8) SusanE, May 16, 2011 4:34 PM
Community
I had thought that to elevate oneself we had to do it in solitude or in prayer or by intense study. Always quietly and with quiet respect. Stillness. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I've begun to change my mind and I'm not sure if I am correct. I'm finding it seems a bit selfish to continually take in knowledge and understanding and keep it private. ~~~~~ It seems much more joyful and happy and giving to learn through being a community. Gatherings of people, to share energy, noise, dancing, and music and movement and openess. As in Festivals and Celebrations, and Events. This is what I am thinking seems right today.
(7) mike woldman, May 16, 2011 11:00 AM
physicalization of the soul
" It don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing," said Duke Ellington of blessed memory. What else is new?
(6) Dovie H., May 16, 2011 10:45 AM
D direct A attention N Now C celebrate, celebration E Ecstatic
(5) Samuel, May 15, 2011 5:53 PM
Dancing in unison accesses a higher plain
It is rare indeed to access the unison of a group dancing together, but when it happens it is literally out of this world. It is about the rhythm, moving together, the many becoming one in movement.
(4) Sandy, May 15, 2011 3:03 PM
dance
I find most of the dancing to be distracting and too centered on dancers. I think majority of dancers would be better put at the back so the remained of the body isn't watching them and entering into worship without human focal points up front. The worship becomes to 'dancer' focused.
(3) Ruth Housman, May 15, 2011 2:55 PM
Movement
Even our trees, our rooted trees, do dance, and bend and sway, and it is wind that ruffles, that soothes, that moves these dancers. We are moved through emotion, E... MOTION, and life is deeply about movement, in every possible way, as in ruah, as in breath, as in, soul. With stasis there is stagnancy. Life is deeply about the dance, and this is a beuatiful article, which does delineate this, surely, a circle and a line dance, however it is done. And in writing my heart out, in these and other pages on "line" I am doing a corresponDANCE. So do the hora, and enjoy the music. You cannot tell the dancer from, the dance (YEATS). And ahora, Spanish, means NOW.
(2) Anthony C, May 15, 2011 1:07 PM
Dance can worship
He created us as physical, emotional, and spiritual beings for a reason. The examples of Miriam and David prove that he desires worship from our entire being.
(1) Rachel, May 15, 2011 1:01 PM
nice in theory, but I've got a question
Why, then, is most dancing at traditional Jewish events (brit, wedding, etc) generally limited to people either running or at best doing a grapevine step in a circle, or very simple 4-step dancing between same-sex dance partners? As someone who has studied dance, loves the ballet, folk dance, etc. I find the kind of dancing that goes on at these simchas to be lacking in skill and, often, good taste. I understand that modesty forbids mixed dancing, but come on, why aren't people at least taught how to do something a little more artistically satisfying?