We Are All Dancers | Alison Leonard | TEDxYouth@Columbia

I’m here to tell you that you are all

I’m here to tell you that you are all dancers but some of you might not know

dancers but some of you might not know

dancers but some of you might not know it yet actually I’ve always known I was

it yet actually I’ve always known I was

it yet actually I’ve always known I was a dancer

a dancer

a dancer my mother even jokes that I’ve been

my mother even jokes that I’ve been

my mother even jokes that I’ve been dancing since I was in the womb and I’ve

dancing since I was in the womb and I’ve

dancing since I was in the womb and I’ve been taking dance classes since I was

been taking dance classes since I was

been taking dance classes since I was two and a half years old after that I

two and a half years old after that I

two and a half years old after that I continued to perform me taking dance

continued to perform me taking dance

continued to perform me taking dance classes

classes

classes I eventually danced professionally and

I eventually danced professionally and

I eventually danced professionally and taught dates so in my memory I always

taught dates so in my memory I always

taught dates so in my memory I always was a dancer but I don’t think it’s that

was a dancer but I don’t think it’s that

was a dancer but I don’t think it’s that way for most people as an educator I do

way for most people as an educator I do

way for most people as an educator I do come across a lot of very young children

come across a lot of very young children

come across a lot of very young children who are clearly dancers and you know

who are clearly dancers and you know

who are clearly dancers and you know they are because they can’t the song

they are because they can’t the song

they are because they can’t the song pass without movin to the beat and some

pass without movin to the beat and some

pass without movin to the beat and some of them continue on dances while others

of them continue on dances while others

of them continue on dances while others at some point are told to sit still or

at some point are told to sit still or

at some point are told to sit still or that they notice only moving like that

that they notice only moving like that

that they notice only moving like that and they eventually stop dancing

and they eventually stop dancing

and they eventually stop dancing fast forward to college and some of

fast forward to college and some of

fast forward to college and some of those young children have now become my

those young children have now become my

those young children have now become my young adult students I teach education

young adult students I teach education

young adult students I teach education majors I teach future teachers I’m their

majors I teach future teachers I’m their

majors I teach future teachers I’m their arts professor I teach dance drama music

arts professor I teach dance drama music

arts professor I teach dance drama music visual arts as ways of thinking inquiry

visual arts as ways of thinking inquiry

visual arts as ways of thinking inquiry and expression in schools however many

and expression in schools however many

and expression in schools however many of my students come to my class thinking

of my students come to my class thinking

of my students come to my class thinking that they are not artistic and they are

that they are not artistic and they are

that they are not artistic and they are most fearful of having to dance in class

most fearful of having to dance in class

most fearful of having to dance in class and they don’t identify as dancers so

and they don’t identify as dancers so

and they don’t identify as dancers so reflecting on this reality that I’m

reflecting on this reality that I’m

reflecting on this reality that I’m teaching people who are fearful of dance

teaching people who are fearful of dance

teaching people who are fearful of dance and that don’t identify as dancers let’s

and that don’t identify as dancers let’s

and that don’t identify as dancers let’s clarify what is dance i define dance as

clarify what is dance i define dance as

clarify what is dance i define dance as purposeful sequences of movement and

purposeful sequences of movement and

purposeful sequences of movement and stillness that communicate Nene so for

stillness that communicate Nene so for

stillness that communicate Nene so for example dance could be

so if dance can be defined as broadly as

so if dance can be defined as broadly as the more stereotypical dance sequence

the more stereotypical dance sequence

the more stereotypical dance sequence that I just performed and the more

that I just performed and the more

that I just performed and the more gestural pedestrian one I would argue

gestural pedestrian one I would argue

gestural pedestrian one I would argue that my students could at least perform

that my students could at least perform

that my students could at least perform the more gestural one and even more but

the more gestural one and even more but

the more gestural one and even more but the reality is is that dance can be

the reality is is that dance can be

the reality is is that dance can be defined even more broadly than that and

defined even more broadly than that and

defined even more broadly than that and we all participate in it we use it we

we all participate in it we use it we

we all participate in it we use it we consume it on a daily basis because

consume it on a daily basis because

consume it on a daily basis because dance is all around us think about the

dance is all around us think about the

dance is all around us think about the media music industry movies show

media music industry movies show

media music industry movies show commercials think about the ways that we

commercials think about the ways that we

commercials think about the ways that we move in our social media Facebook video

move in our social media Facebook video

move in our social media Facebook video snapchat Instagram boomerang so if you

snapchat Instagram boomerang so if you

snapchat Instagram boomerang so if you actually just think about how we perform

actually just think about how we perform

actually just think about how we perform purposeful sequences of movement and

purposeful sequences of movement and

purposeful sequences of movement and stillness in our daily lives for for

stillness in our daily lives for for

stillness in our daily lives for for example our morning routines

think of how we actually gesture when we

think of how we actually gesture when we communicate so let me back up just a

communicate so let me back up just a

communicate so let me back up just a second what is a dancer using my

second what is a dancer using my

second what is a dancer using my definition dancers are those who perform

definition dancers are those who perform

definition dancers are those who perform purposeful sequences of movement and

purposeful sequences of movement and

purposeful sequences of movement and stillness that communicate meaning some

stillness that communicate meaning some

stillness that communicate meaning some of the characteristics and actions of

of the characteristics and actions of

of the characteristics and actions of dancers are that they they interpret

dancers are that they they interpret

dancers are that they they interpret concepts and use symbols they tell

concepts and use symbols they tell

concepts and use symbols they tell stories they rehearse they perform and

stories they rehearse they perform and

stories they rehearse they perform and they always use their bodies

they always use their bodies

they always use their bodies individually or they perform in groups

individually or they perform in groups

individually or they perform in groups and again they always use their bodies

and again they always use their bodies

and again they always use their bodies and as I was just talking about earlier

and as I was just talking about earlier

and as I was just talking about earlier with what we do in our daily dances

with what we do in our daily dances

with what we do in our daily dances these are things that I argue all of us

these are things that I argue all of us

these are things that I argue all of us can and do on a daily basis we’re all

can and do on a daily basis we’re all

can and do on a daily basis we’re all capable of these actions they become our

capable of these actions they become our

capable of these actions they become our daily dances and they can be as simple

daily dances and they can be as simple

daily dances and they can be as simple as sitting or standing but why do we

as sitting or standing but why do we

as sitting or standing but why do we fear identifying as dancers there seems

fear identifying as dancers there seems

fear identifying as dancers there seems to be an expectation that one has to be

to be an expectation that one has to be

to be an expectation that one has to be an expert or trained and dance to

an expert or trained and dance to

an expert or trained and dance to identify as a dancer there also exists

identify as a dancer there also exists

identify as a dancer there also exists social perceptions and assumptions that

social perceptions and assumptions that

social perceptions and assumptions that dance is only appropriate on the stage

dance is only appropriate on the stage

dance is only appropriate on the stage or on the dance floor and not on the

or on the dance floor and not on the

or on the dance floor and not on the street in classrooms or in our offices

street in classrooms or in our offices

street in classrooms or in our offices but why is that

but why is that

but why is that from the dawn of time people have been

from the dawn of time people have been

from the dawn of time people have been dancing for social spiritual and

dancing for social spiritual and

dancing for social spiritual and cultural reasons and yet historically

cultural reasons and yet historically

cultural reasons and yet historically dance has been seen as dangerous because

dance has been seen as dangerous because

dance has been seen as dangerous because you have to move your body in order to

you have to move your body in order to

you have to move your body in order to dance and that’s been seen as dirty or

dance and that’s been seen as dirty or

dance and that’s been seen as dirty or hyper sexualized dance has even been

hyper sexualized dance has even been

hyper sexualized dance has even been accused to be too feminine too

accused to be too feminine too

accused to be too feminine too racialized

racialized

racialized and not intellectual governments and

and not intellectual governments and

and not intellectual governments and religions across the globe and

religions across the globe and

religions across the globe and throughout time have actually banned

throughout time have actually banned

throughout time have actually banned dances for fear that promiscuity or

dances for fear that promiscuity or

dances for fear that promiscuity or social chaos would ensue even today some

social chaos would ensue even today some

social chaos would ensue even today some people have those fears what do you

people have those fears what do you

people have those fears what do you think about it it does seem strange that

think about it it does seem strange that

think about it it does seem strange that we fear our capacity as humans to make

we fear our capacity as humans to make

we fear our capacity as humans to make art and communicate using our bodies

art and communicate using our bodies

art and communicate using our bodies because it’s our bodies that are our

because it’s our bodies that are our

because it’s our bodies that are our most accessible means of communicating

most accessible means of communicating

most accessible means of communicating our ideas and our feelings furthermore

our ideas and our feelings furthermore

our ideas and our feelings furthermore any purposeful sequences of movement and

any purposeful sequences of movement and

any purposeful sequences of movement and stillness that communicate meaning any

stillness that communicate meaning any

stillness that communicate meaning any kinds of meaning only become dance in

kinds of meaning only become dance in

kinds of meaning only become dance in the way we interpret them they become

the way we interpret them they become

the way we interpret them they become dance when we pay attention to them when

dance when we pay attention to them when

dance when we pay attention to them when we look for the beauty in them or the

we look for the beauty in them or the

we look for the beauty in them or the lack of beauty for the way that they

lack of beauty for the way that they

lack of beauty for the way that they make us feel or for when we judge them

make us feel or for when we judge them

make us feel or for when we judge them to have worth or be effective think

to have worth or be effective think

to have worth or be effective think about all the ways that we as humans can

about all the ways that we as humans can

about all the ways that we as humans can can move walking for example

the walking hood become a dance if we

the walking hood become a dance if we pay attention to its movements as

pay attention to its movements as

pay attention to its movements as purposeful artistic and meaningful

purposeful artistic and meaningful

purposeful artistic and meaningful beyond its functional purposes so what

beyond its functional purposes so what

beyond its functional purposes so what if we looked at the things that we do in

if we looked at the things that we do in

if we looked at the things that we do in life from an artistic lens in order to

life from an artistic lens in order to

life from an artistic lens in order to help us in life

help us in life

help us in life how might approaching our actions as

how might approaching our actions as

how might approaching our actions as dance actually empower us while they

dance actually empower us while they

dance actually empower us while they argue that all of us are capable of some

argue that all of us are capable of some

argue that all of us are capable of some kind of dance whether on our own or an

kind of dance whether on our own or an

kind of dance whether on our own or an assisted ways in our everyday lives

assisted ways in our everyday lives

assisted ways in our everyday lives think about all the move and Can Dance

think about all the move and Can Dance

think about all the move and Can Dance that are more metaphorical when we

that are more metaphorical when we

that are more metaphorical when we communicate our point of view when we

communicate our point of view when we

communicate our point of view when we stand up for a friend when we help

stand up for a friend when we help

stand up for a friend when we help someone in need when we explore

someone in need when we explore

someone in need when we explore someplace new when we advocate and fight

someplace new when we advocate and fight

someplace new when we advocate and fight for social justice in our communities

for social justice in our communities

for social justice in our communities all of these literal and metaphorical

dances allow us to do the work of

dances allow us to do the work of dancers we interpret concepts and use

dancers we interpret concepts and use

dancers we interpret concepts and use symbols we tell stories sometimes they

symbols we tell stories sometimes they

symbols we tell stories sometimes they require rehearsals

and we performed them either

and we performed them either individually or in groups and these all

individually or in groups and these all

individually or in groups and these all require us to use our bodies in dress to

require us to use our bodies in dress to

require us to use our bodies in dress to be present to engage in tasks to think

be present to engage in tasks to think

be present to engage in tasks to think so why does this matter as we think of

so why does this matter as we think of

so why does this matter as we think of ourselves as independent individuals as

ourselves as independent individuals as

ourselves as independent individuals as communicators as collaborators what if

communicators as collaborators what if

communicators as collaborators what if we saw dance as an untapped resource

we saw dance as an untapped resource

we saw dance as an untapped resource something that we could actually use and

something that we could actually use and

something that we could actually use and work on purposely and like to help us

work on purposely and like to help us

work on purposely and like to help us okay will you all do something with me I

okay will you all do something with me I

okay will you all do something with me I hope so we make a dance with me awesome

hope so we make a dance with me awesome

hope so we make a dance with me awesome all right don’t worry we’re only gonna

all right don’t worry we’re only gonna

all right don’t worry we’re only gonna do two simple gestures um

do two simple gestures um

do two simple gestures um if possible can you all stand up now if

if possible can you all stand up now if

if possible can you all stand up now if you are unable to stand up you can make

you are unable to stand up you can make

you are unable to stand up you can make some sort of up just your with your head

some sort of up just your with your head

some sort of up just your with your head or your hands okay great

or your hands okay great

or your hands okay great sit down please actually we’re gonna

sit down please actually we’re gonna

sit down please actually we’re gonna practice that again because we’re gonna

practice that again because we’re gonna

practice that again because we’re gonna repeat standing and sitting or that

repeat standing and sitting or that

repeat standing and sitting or that up-down gesture several times so let’s

up-down gesture several times so let’s

up-down gesture several times so let’s try that again everyone stand up this

try that again everyone stand up this

try that again everyone stand up this time to make it easier can you sit just

time to make it easier can you sit just

time to make it easier can you sit just on the top of your seat so you don’t go

on the top of your seat so you don’t go

on the top of your seat so you don’t go all the back down awesome great you

all the back down awesome great you

all the back down awesome great you might be a little chaotic at first but

might be a little chaotic at first but

might be a little chaotic at first but eventually we’ll get into unison so now

eventually we’ll get into unison so now

eventually we’ll get into unison so now not yet but when I tell you I would like

not yet but when I tell you I would like

not yet but when I tell you I would like you to stand up or gesture up every time

you to stand up or gesture up every time

you to stand up or gesture up every time you hear me say a word that has the

you hear me say a word that has the

you hear me say a word that has the letter E as an elephant in it and then I

letter E as an elephant in it and then I

letter E as an elephant in it and then I want you to gesture down or sit down the

want you to gesture down or sit down the

want you to gesture down or sit down the next time you hear me say a word that

next time you hear me say a word that

next time you hear me say a word that has the letter e as an elephant in it

has the letter e as an elephant in it

has the letter e as an elephant in it you’ll work on your spelling skills I’m

you’ll work on your spelling skills I’m

you’ll work on your spelling skills I’m gonna give you this cue to start and I’m

gonna give you this cue to start and I’m

gonna give you this cue to start and I’m gonna go like this when I want you to

gonna go like this when I want you to

gonna go like this when I want you to stop standing in the city okay

I challenge you to work on how you

I challenge you to work on how you interpret concepts seek to express ideas

interpret concepts seek to express ideas

interpret concepts seek to express ideas tell stories practice in rehearsals

tell stories practice in rehearsals

tell stories practice in rehearsals before you perform for others gain

before you perform for others gain

before you perform for others gain confidence performing as individuals and

confidence performing as individuals and

confidence performing as individuals and work on being a collaborator in groups

you might then come to the realization

you might then come to the realization of the huge role you as a moving person

of the huge role you as a moving person

of the huge role you as a moving person play in your everyday life you then can

play in your everyday life you then can

play in your everyday life you then can be confident and successful in your

be confident and successful in your

be confident and successful in your dancing you might even be moved to

dancing you might even be moved to

dancing you might even be moved to action by ideas or you might move others

action by ideas or you might move others

action by ideas or you might move others to action by your ideas in this sense I

to action by your ideas in this sense I

to action by your ideas in this sense I encourage you all to be dancers and look

encourage you all to be dancers and look

encourage you all to be dancers and look you already are thank you

you already are thank you

you already are thank you [Applause]