The Ideology of Dance as told by Shane Adams

About two months ago at Shangri-La 2017, I met a man named Chris. He was always moving to the music in sporadic, unconventional ways. This lead to me introducing myself, followed by, “I enjoy the way you dance.” His unforgettable response to me was, “Hah. If that’s what you want to call it.” 

By dance, I don’t mean professional, choreographed, precise, or anything of the sort. I am simply referring to the willingness and ability let yourself go and move your body in any way you see fit.

To me, dance is an ideology. A belief system and a way of life. It is not just an action or a particular moment in time. Although these moments in time are still what I live for, they also seem to have changed the way I think and conduct myself on an everyday basis. To think such a simple act has ultimately played a significant role in my development as a human.

Dancing is one of the most liberating activities I’ve ever engaged in. The way I feel when I’m getting down without a single care is truly inspirational. I forget all of my worries, all of life’s concerns. In that moment, I transcend my physical form. I become a beacon of overflowing positivity and kinetic energy. It is a feeling that never grows stale or loses its appeal. 

Admittedly, this mindset did not just manifest itself within me overnight. Like most change, it was a process that required persistence and help along the way. It still does, to be honest.

For most, it is not an easy task to overcome the self-consciousness that inevitably comes with expressing oneself in an environment where everyone is a potential critic. It can be very overwhelming. The key is to not shut down entirely — push your boundaries, little by little and feel only as much pressure as you choose to place on yourself. There is no deadline or allotted timeframe that confines such a process.

 I recall the first time I let go of all my self-consciousness and wholeheartedly succumbed to such a mindset. I was at a foam party at a bar in Minneapolis. I was wearing a tiger hat and declared myself “The Tiger Foam King.”

The dancing that ensued was not particularly graceful, but it was everything I needed. From a bystander’s perspective, I probably looked quite insane. In hindsight, I agree with said hypothetical bystander. But most importantly, I did not have a shred of worry or concern regarding the way others perceived me in that moment. And it was magnificent.

 Strive to impress no one. The moment your thoughts become skewed towards the way you’re perceived by the people around you, an instantaneous episode of anxiety is bound to occur. Keep your thoughts on yourself, your flow, and your individual progress. Translate the saying “Dance like nobody’s watching.” into “Dance like the opinions of everyone who is watching you don’t actually matter.”

I hope to see you on the dance floor.