Dance isn't something you perfect to show off to others, it’s an art form. The kind you carry with you every day to inspire yourself, move your body and lift your spirits.
“Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.” Picasso. That’s exactly what dance does. You don’t have to be a professional to feel that cleansing. A single step, a sway of the shoulders, a spin in your kitchen while you make shaax for your guests, it all cleanses away the heaviness we carry, making space for joy.
The iconic Hadraawi, a beloved Somali poet once wrote: “If the heart does not move, the body will not.” Dance is how we move both, heart first, body second. It is how we carry our emotions into the open, whether in celebration, healing, or remembrance.
One of my favorite African and Somali poets, Gaarriye, once said, “A people without art are a people without a heart.” This truth runs deep not only in Somali culture but across the globe. From the vibrant drum circles of West Africa to the passionate flamenco dancers of Spain, from the soulful salsa rhythms of the Caribbean to the sacred ceremonies of Native American tribes, dance is the heartbeat of communities everywhere. In Ireland, the lively step dances tell stories of heritage, while Indigenous Australians use the corroboree to honor ancestors and land. Across these diverse cultures, dance and art serve as living archives, preserving history, identity, and connection. Without dance, we lose more than performance; we lose the very heart that binds us as people.
It’s not about chasing perfection or applause. Martha Graham, the modern dance pioneer, said, “Nobody cares if you can’t dance well. Just get up and dance.” In the Somali tradition, no one is asked to audition before stepping into the circle, you dance because you belong, and because your blood moves (in reference to the famous 'i kacay dhiigaa i kacay') and the durbaan calls you!
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