Lindsey Gilroy-Drum Circle and Dance

(In reference to dance) "It is an expression of all the emotions of the spirit, from the lowest to the highest."

-Van der Leeuw 12

During the class where we had a drum circle I saw Van der Leeuw's words come in to play. The initial instructions were simple, we were told to not speak, stand and stay in a circle, and make noise, with minimal instruction as to how this noise should be created. When Van der Leeuw writes, "[man] can produce for himself the rhythm which induces the body to dance it is marked out by the stamping of feet and clapping of hands" (Van der Leeuw 12-13) I was instantly reminded of the structured in which the drum circle was performed. Using ourselves as instruments, beginning with the simple harmonious "heartbeats" signifying the basis for our very creation, we eventually proceeded to expressing ourselves freely through sound and allowed for our hands to create beats on the "instruments" that we had chosen.

It was an interesting class and although I was hesitant at first, I like the idea of becoming one with nature in order to reconnect with the world around you.