Seeking Symmetry

Shadow and Light practice is now very active. The right half of my body continues to feel dense, but brewing…

One exercise in formal dance composition is to create symmetrical designs with the body. These are rather static as it is difficult to locomote in symmetry. With two or four people, symmetry is more lively but still suggests stability. I enjoy considering my body in light of these universal design principals, though they have no bearing on physical sensation.

In daily life, we employ our natural symmetries, for the most part, asymmetrically: dominant-handedness, driving the car, etc. If we could get our eyes to operate independently of one another we’d multi-task our vision. Limbs develop according to the tasks they are asked to do.

My ballet teacher began preparatory barre-work exercises always on the same side, often not bothering with the second side (unusual in ballet!) The Islamic prayer curls the right toes curled under in the Qa’adah. Dervish whirling goes only counterclockwise. (Those of us who do this practice feel how the two knees have opposing torques.) Examples are endless.

In Shadow & Light practice my body has an opportunity to object, react, and express her experience with these long-term habituations.