Love and curiosity
Today I’ve been watching a short clip of a dance between Nicola, an early years educator working in a baby room, and Gabi, and 15 month old boy who loves to dance. The film shows Nicola and Gabi’s dancing together. Gabi moves the balls he has in his hands, bringing two of them together with some force and precision. When we’re curious about Gabi’s dance, the reasons for behind this movement may be one of many:
he enjoys the sound of the materials connecting together with the force he is applying
the is exploring the speed at which his arms can move
he is getting proprioceptive feedback through his arms as the stimulus travel up his arms
he has a story in his mind about the balls and he is expressing this in his body
he feels joyful inside and the balls moving are an extension of that joy
he is embodying the rhythm of the music
Then Gabi starts to try out new movements. Gabi starts swinging and his dance partner, Nicola, echos his dance. His dancing then changes and deepens into a rocking motion, as he shifts his weight from side to side. It is a dance they have both contributed to and developed Their joy and connection is tangible, authentic and engaging to watch.
If we were curious about this dancing development we could say it’s happening because:
He has been seen and validated by Nicola and therefore is ready to move onto his ‘next steps’ in the dance - the partnership has bought a new resilience to try bold new moves.
He is responding to a move he has detected in Nicola, as Nicola mirrors his dance Gabi may see nuances in her movement which inspire him to develop his own dance. No mirroring of movement is an exact replica - there is always a ‘recasting’ or ‘reinterpretation’ of the movement we see.
Their dance together has created a scientific chain reaction in their brains - new neural connections have been formed leading to new explorations and possibilities.
The “rules” of the interaction set up by the practitioner (there is no wrong) has meant that Gabi feel able to show himself without fear of that ‘wrongness’
The interaction, based on what bodies know and do (not on communication through verbal language) is a strength based activity for a child as young as Gabi and so builds a space where he can flourish.
Being in the moment has created a co-regulated, safe space where Gabi’s body is producing serotonin, oxytocin and other well being producing chemicals enabling him to engage fully.
But it’s what happens next that’s really fascinating.
Gabi’s eyes are fixed on Nicola, but another child seeks her attention (by reaching towards her for a ball). As she looks away it takes a split second for him to start to lean towards into the gap to block the view between Nicola and the other child. He then leans toward Nicola, glances briefly at the interrupting child, but then his eyes don’t leave Nicola even as he turns his head. In a few seconds it is as if he has decided his next course of action - he decides to go back to the movement that initially attracted his dancing partner into the collaboration- the bringing together of the balls for force and precision. This has success - his partner is back focussed on him again, back in their dancing bubble and they’re off again on their journey of discovery and laughter once again.
This intimacy is created by Nicola’s ability to tune into Gabi’s experience. This ‘tuning in’ cultivates in Nicola an ‘empathic understanding’ of what it is like to be Gabi. This enables Nicola to become more child-like, which includes being playful and exploring creative possibilities. This dance of reciprocity (when the two are tuned in to each other’s emotions and needs, and respond to these in a sensitive way) and a love filled curiosity fuels Gabi’s drive to learn and to dance.
Liz Clark is a dance artist and trainer.
Our Creative Adventure is a training initiative designed to enable non-dance specialists to embed creative movement into their practice. The programme is currently being delivered in partnership with The Mighty Creatives, Early Years Wales and Loughborough Univeristy Nursery.
Find out more here.
