Dance Like Someone’s Watching!

Yesterday I performed with the community orchestra in a combined tour de force with the First Five Forever initiative in a reading of Narelle Oliver’s book Fox and Fine Feathers, read by the author herself.  Two concerts were packed with young children ages 0 – 5, most of whom heard a live orchestra for the first time that day.  The live music and projections of the pictures from the book brought Narelle’s story to life for the children.  We were all decked out suitably with fox tails and feathers, and bursts of colour emanated from the music stands, colour coding each section of the orchestra.  There must be something about orchestrated children’s stories and animals…  Peter and the Wolf, The Carnival of the Animals….

The concerts were successful and well received by the enthusiastic audience, but the highlight for me was the children’s participation at the end.  Children volunteered one after the other to adorn specific bird costumes from the story and dance to the music provided on cue from the orchestra.  The willingness of children to participate not under any obligation, but on the contrary, beg to be picked to present themselves in front of a crowd clothed in costume, and improvise a dance on the spot to music they’ve only just heard, is really quite remarkable.  The first young lady performed a beautiful ballet sequence to Bizet’s Menuet before our very eyes, with no rehearsal – no prior knowledge she would be dancing that day – no steps to learn – no music to rehearse – just pure delight in creating in the moment with no care for what any person present thought of her.  It bought tears to my eyes, and that of my flutist colleague playing the solo. 

Each child had a different costume to wear representing an animal from the story.  What a celebration of the unique creation of each animal and the child wearing it.   The orchestra and audience alike watched with delight as each child danced their interpretation of the animals.  There are so many things to ponder – the confidence of a child, the sheer delight in creating and the unique masterpiece we all are, and worthy of celebrating without judgement or fear.  I know the quote “dance like no-one’s watching” but how wonderful would it be to dance with the confidence, safety and reassurance of a child, knowing that someone is watching and celebrating with us?