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22. ACQUAINTANCE
“In pairs, the dancers
face one another holding hands. Then releasing their hands, they turn
their backs to one another. This exercise is the organic way of developing
the self-awareness. It indicates that one should value the consciousness
of others and see the good characteristics they possess and that others
should see the good qualities in him as well.
“When the two turn their backs to each other, the one on the left
then processes the Good, while the one on the right processes Truth. The
Center is between them. Within this Center, Love abides. When they face
each other, they move towards the Center – towards Love.
“While facing each other, they form an ellipse with the movements
of their hands. Turning their backs to each other, the hands then form
a hyperbola. The hyperbola is a method for resolving the tremendous contradictions
in life. Within it, we have two halves. This is the human being divided:
the two polarities of the human being and the Creation of the polarities
as male and female. Then when they unite as one, the human being is formed.”
Description
Music: Melody 22 (“Acquaintance”) – 60 measures repeated twice,
total of 120 measures.
Starting position
The participants in couples are arranged to form two concentric
circles. The people in the inner circle are facing away from the center
and those in the outer circle are facing the center. The participants
hold hands while facing each other and those in the inner circle hold
the right hand higher than the left one while those in the outer circle
– the opposite..
Inner Circle
The weight of the body is onto the right foot, the left is outstretched
to the left on its toes. The right hand, raised to face-level with the
palm down, is placed on the left palm of the partner. The left hand, palm
up and elbow curved, is raised to the height of the solar plexus and holds
the fi ngers of the right hand of the partner with the thumb on the top
(figures 22.1 and 22.2). Because the right hand is active – giving, and
the left hand is passive – receiving, when partners hold hands, the right
hand should always be on top.
The feet are slightly separated.
Movement sequence
This description of the movements is for the partners in the inner
circle. The partners in the outer circle make the same movements but in
reverse.
Inner Circle
1st measure, 1st beat: with a lightly swinging motion the weight
of the body shifts onto the left foot. On the 2nd and 3rd beats: the toes
of the right foot touch the ground. On the 1st, 2nd and 3rd beats: both
hands gracefully swing in an arc-like movement downwards, then upwards
and to the left at the height of the chest – similar to the starting position,
but to the left side.
2nd measure, 1st beat: the hands of the partners separate. On the
2nd beat: pivot 180° to the left on the left foot, to face now the center
of the circle. On the 3rd beat: the right foot steps to the side and to
the right and the weight of the body shifts onto it. On the 1st and 2nd
beats: the hands come towards each other in front of the chest, palms
down and middle fi ngers touching (fi gure 22.3). On the 3rd beat: the
hands separate horizontally to the side, palms down. The partners are
now back to back (figures 22.4 and 22.5)..
3rd measure, 1st beat:
with a lightly swinging motion the weight of the body shifts onto the
left foot. On the 2nd and 3rd beat: the toes of the right foot touch the
ground. On the 1st beat: the left hand bends in front of the chest, palm
down. On the 2nd beat: the right hand, palm up, moves down in an arc,
reaches for and touches, thumb on top, the fi ngers of the left hand.
On the 3rd beat: the hands form a diagonal in front of the chest whereby
the left elbow is at shoulder level and the right elbow is pointing downwards.
This movement gives the body a slight tilt sideways. In the gliding motion
the fi ngers of the right hand lightly stroke the fi ngers of the left
hand (figures 22.6, 22.7 and 22.8).
4th measure, 1st beat: with a light swinging motion the weight of
the body shifts onto the right foot. Pivot 180° to the right on the right
foot to face your partner and with your back to the center. The left foot
follows the movement of the body. On the 1st, 2nd and 3rd beats: the hands
separate..
5th measure, 1st beat: the
back is towards the center. On the 2nd and 3rd beat with a swinging motion
the left foot steps to the left and the weight of the body shifts onto
the left foot, the right foot is on its toes. On the 1st, 2nd and 3rd
beat the hands reach for the hands of the partner according to the description
for the starting position (figure 22.9). The joined hands move gracefully
up to the left – the left hand raised to the height of the face and the
right hand to the height of the chest [figure 22.10).
6th measure, 1st beat: with
a swinging motion the weight of the body shifts onto the right foot. On
the 2nd and 3rd beats the left foot is on its toes. On the 1st, 2nd and
3rd beats, the hands make an arc-like movement to the right, and come
back to the starting position (figure 22.2).
Outer Circle
The dancers in the outer circle are facing the center. They make
the same hands and feet movements as those in the inner circle but in
reverse. These six measures are repeated until the end of the exercise.
At the end the partners from both circles, who are now facing each other,
turn towards the primary direction of movement. |
