Dance!

by Paulo Coelho on April 15, 2011


 
I have no solution for Learned Helplessness (check the post and the moving comments)
But I know one thing:

Everything moves. And everything moves to a rhythm.
And everything that moves produces a sound; that is happening here and all over the world at this very moment.
Our ancestors noticed the same thing when they tried to escape from the cold in their caves: things moved and made noise.

The first human beings perhaps looked on this with awe, and then with devotion: they understood that this was the way that a Superior Being communicated with them.
They began to imitate the noises and movements around them, hoping to communicate with this Being: and dancing and music were born.

When we dance, we are free.

To put it better, our spirit can travel through the universe, while our body follows a rhythm that is not part of the routine.
 
In this way, we can laugh at our sufferings large or small, and deliver ourselves to a new experience without any fear.
While prayer and meditation take us to the sacred through silence and inner pondering, in dance we celebrate with others a kind of collective trance.

They can write whatever they want about dancing, but it is no use: you have to dance to find out what they are talking about.

Dance to the point of exhaustion, like mountain-climbers scaling some sacred peak.
Dance until, out of breath, our organism can receive oxygen in a way that it is not used to, and this ends up making us lose our identity, our relation with space and time.

Dance!

__________________________

This text wass taken from my book The Witch of Portobello

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{ 283 comments… read them below or add one }

Maria Amparo Sevilla April 18, 2011 at 6:09 pm

Grande Paulo Coelho^s buona danza y mejor musica, bravo.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Alexandra April 18, 2011 at 10:50 am

Oh. Think my cousin is baptist…they say is a sin dancing…I cant understand them…

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Olta Canka April 18, 2011 at 2:18 pm

This is so funny Alexandra. I was wondering a few days ago, how come that I haven’t heard about calling dance as a sin. hahahahahahahah

Repression should be a sin.
Well if dancing is a sin than I am happy to be the best Sinner on Earth. hehehe

Michelle April 18, 2011 at 6:14 am

Beautifully said! The feeling dance gives me is almost indescribable but you and your way with words express it so eloquently. Thank you!

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Fifi April 17, 2011 at 9:20 pm

Yes …Dancing is my medicine to relaxing my mind an spirit and to appreciating my body and soul more.It lets me release my bad energy and accept good energy .People ask me if I ever played an instrument for music,as I would reply back and many dancers would I would say my body is my instrument.We have to dance to the rythm .I teach dance to woman but don’t perform infront of men that are not from my family ,because in my belief of islam I practice modesty(wearing the veil) like the nuns.Although I still consider myself a dancer and that dancing is one of the most beautiful form of art and entertainment even to the person who is watching him/herself in the mirror :) Love yourself , love your spirit and love your body and dance!

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Marina April 17, 2011 at 3:39 pm

Since I am learning flamenco and Jazz dance, I have been feeling so different…it makes my soul happy..and it’s so true it makes you face our world with a smile in our face..that’s why I love dancing!

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Chaula April 17, 2011 at 11:13 am

know eactly this feeling. Have falt it so many times in real life through Indian Classical Vocal Music!!!

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Zeina April 17, 2011 at 9:19 am

Though I didn’t like The Witch of Portobello much, I loved the dance themes a lot, that I even started to dance in the morning before I went to work,
Even at the gym the phrase “Nothing is constant but change” keeps ringing in my mind :-)

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Felipe April 17, 2011 at 5:49 am

A beleza da dança consiste na entrega de quem a pratica.
A dança é a maneira mais simples de se surpreender com a própria descoberta, com o que diz o interior enquanto sintonizado na vibração de determinada música.

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vcontresmith April 17, 2011 at 5:39 am

Life is movement…. obrigada, Paulo

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Nandhini April 17, 2011 at 5:16 am

Thanks Paulo!

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Liz Michelle Arrocha April 17, 2011 at 3:37 am

Well I’m totally agreed with your note …and also share the same though about that…guess just following the right rhythm that life plays is the clue of living a Good life, there is a song which holds the right Idea or words plasmed in a song that could match perfect with your note “If God is a DJ Life is a dance floor, Love is the rhythm You are the music. If God is a DJ Life is a dance floor You get what you’re given It’s all how you use it… and I don’t recall the name of the people that sing this but the idea Fits, complements or Matches with your note pretty well… or at least what you’re trying to show …I like it a lot Paulo, U have no Idea how fan am I of all your Books …. actually I’m in Las Valquirias now …and Love it …your fan as always Liz Michelle Arrocha

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Vicente Espinosa April 17, 2011 at 3:07 am

Es necesario tomar en cuenta que la expresión artistica es particular, el artista expresa lo que quiere transmitir, y el espectador interpreta a la manera que quiere ver, Cada uno da lo que desea dar y ve lo que quiere ver.
Lo importante es “bailar lo que te gusta a tu ritmo propio” Bailemos pues.

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Mina Yamato April 17, 2011 at 1:59 am

I dance like a crazy fool all the time, people sometimes get shocked or worried at my dancing… i don’t care it sets me free :)

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sonifores April 17, 2011 at 12:31 am

me encanta bailar aunque a mi esposo no le paresca pero soy feliz bailand extraño no hacer y por eso me identifique tanto con la bruja de portobelo

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claudia April 17, 2011 at 12:01 am

my daughter does the same like me she dances, when she is happy and she thinks she is alone. That is a pitty that we are to shy , but otherwise. That is my little secret, that i sharre with the universe when i feel the melody in my body.

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yomara romero April 16, 2011 at 11:47 pm

Hermosa la danza y la musica, pero la bailarina esta como muy delgada, preocupante

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Ana Serra April 16, 2011 at 11:45 pm

OMG!! la musica y e baile me hace vibrar

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Maria Nicolosi April 16, 2011 at 11:32 pm

We should want to dance as the Dermish dancers that spin round ,or We could dance as a butterfly on a flower,or a moth round candle flame,or as a prima ballerina,at last when We’ll stop and the music’ll stop playng,We must live in real world,where to dance means to trot.

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Mary April 16, 2011 at 10:30 pm

Gracias Paulo….adoro bailar…
Un gran abrazo.
Gracias otra vez.

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GRACIELA MARTINEZ April 16, 2011 at 10:18 pm

Maravilloso!, yo cuando estoy muuy muuy contenta pongo musica y bailo, hasta mi perrito baila parece que a el tambien lo hace feliz.Gracias

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topito April 16, 2011 at 10:13 pm

cuando bailo,ce vez cuando soy capaz de sentir felicidad y libertad!!!!!!!!!!

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Fabrizia April 16, 2011 at 10:10 pm

La danza, libera tutta l’energia negativa prigioniera nel nostro corpo purificandolo.

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ROSA ISELA April 16, 2011 at 9:34 pm

CREO QUE LA UNICA SOLUCION A CUALQUIER PROBLEMA ESTA EN UNO, UNA PERSONA ES EL MUNDO, AQUI EN MEXICO HAY UNA HISTORIA MUY BELLA DE NUESTRO PASADO, CUANDO IVAN A FUCILAR AL LICENCIADO BENITO JUAREZ (CONOSIDO COMO BENEMERITO DE LAS AMERIACAS, FUE PRESIDENTE DE MEXICO Y REALIZO GRANDES CAMBIOS EN NUESTRO PAIS, COMO LA EDUCASION LAICA Y GRATUITA, LA LIBERTAD DCE CREDO Y LA SEPARACION DE LA IGLECIA DEL ESTADO ENTRE MUCHAS MAS)ALGUIEN ENTRE EL GRUPO GRITO “LOS VALIENTES NO ASECINAN” EL GRUPO DE FUCILAMIENTO ANTE SEMEJANTES PALABRAS SE QUEDO INMOVIL, SIN PODER REALIZAR EL FUCILAMIENTO, SI UNA SOLA PERONA NO UBIESE ABLADO, NUESTRA HISTORIA SERIA OTRA.
Y SI EN VERDAD TODO CAMBIA, LA FORMA MAS EVIDENTE DE ELLO ES LA DANSA Y LA MUSICA, PERO AL FINAL UNA SOLA PERSONA ES EL UNIVERSO, ASI QUE UNA SOLA PERSONA HACE EL CAMBIO. :D

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Virginia Pèrez April 16, 2011 at 9:26 pm

Espectacularmente bueno…

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Andrés T. P. April 16, 2011 at 8:43 pm

…cosas de la vida…un abrazo.

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Nini April 16, 2011 at 8:33 pm

I love dancing….
I think that is the most natural way to express all that we can’t say with words.

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Nieves April 17, 2011 at 2:56 am

Estoy totalmente de acuerdo

Anna D. April 16, 2011 at 8:26 pm

Dance is all of my life.

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arun April 16, 2011 at 8:24 pm

Dance is the true form of prayer to reach and humanity. It devlops one’s perspective view towards destiny and reaching purpose of life. Since the beginning of life it is relatedwith happiness, laugh, celebration, victory, affection and love thereforeit becomes a thought and habit. The quality of life and personality depends on essence of truthfulness and behaviour . Dance keeps you away from negative thoughts and sad feelings. before understandingthis I was unaware about the importance of dance but once I understood, my personality progressed, I got many friends became famous energetic and loveable. My anger vanished and I transformed into Happy-go-lucky dude with cool attitude.It is the language which I speaks so fluently that I don’t have to think before. It is the connection between god and me…

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Hedia Khechimi April 16, 2011 at 8:20 pm

Dance deliberate our souls and help recovering our pains, dancing is a must to be equilibrate and discharge negative charges brought by hate and agony….dance is therapy for the soul and the body……

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alejandra April 16, 2011 at 7:52 pm

Querido Paulo, sin duda tocaste mi tema preferido, bailar como bien lo dices, es ser otra persona, es dejar lo malo o lo bueno de ti, es transformarte en un nuevo ser que no puede pensar en otra cosa mas que en la delicia que deja bailar y entregarse totalmente a la musica atraves del movimiento

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Maria do Carmo April 16, 2011 at 7:39 pm

Dançar me desconecta da rotina. Me faz feliz escutar a música, e sentir meu corpo se mexer no rítmo, me sinto em comunhão com o universo em volta. Naquele momento, não me lembro de mais nada.

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Clau April 16, 2011 at 7:38 pm

For me it’s too simple… When we feel free to move we forget everything…

Like a childs.. they always are moving.. they always are free…

The problem is whe we are old.. we need to still move it… some way or in another way.. we always need to dance…

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shahira April 16, 2011 at 7:35 pm

wow! i got goosebumps!

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helicelma April 16, 2011 at 7:13 pm

Eu danço. E você?
Dance comigo…

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Anime April 16, 2011 at 7:13 pm

Dancing is not my forte, but I always love the kind of energy it draws even by the thought of it.When I dance,I become a different individual,free,happy and unaware of the miseries,loneliness and the ugliness that surrounds me.It loosens me up,it gives me profound happiness and amazingly it feels good to be shaking like crazy to a series of repetitive beats!
Thanq Paulo for bringing this up! Your writings have always been inspiring and haunting.Keep writing,keep inspiring!!

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Rosely Jorge April 16, 2011 at 7:11 pm

Al bailar liberas todas las energias negativas k kieren azotar tu mente, es la unica forma d liberar tu mente y tu cuerpo al mismo tiempo :) music = live y l baile s el ejercicio para mantenernos vivos sin tener k dar xplicaciones ;)

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Maria April 16, 2011 at 7:05 pm

This hits too close to home…it reminds me of the fearlessness of my two girls – bloodhounds who don’t know the meaning of quit, butterflies who see the beauty in everything, gentle souls whose big dreams inspire them to keep pushing forward…distance separates us but their resilience fuels the hope that’s burning in our hearts. I am in awe as I watch them go after their dreams ferociously. My inspiration!

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lisbeth peña April 16, 2011 at 7:01 pm

me encanta espectacular, fabuloso

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ursula verduzco April 16, 2011 at 6:55 pm

I am a Dancer, and i have been since I was 4 years old, there was no preconception of what to expect from dance then, I just wanted to be happy moving, it felt so freeing as you say, as the years have passed and I became a professional dancer the expectations changed so much, and it became a goal a path and a way to be as perfect as i could. I am happy to remember what it means to just dance, and to remind myself of how pleasurable dance can be for the simple need of moving and conecting with teh divine, my divine your divine nature. Let’s all dance and celebrate movement, enjoy your body and your mind, your soul as you dance.

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gingin April 16, 2011 at 6:53 pm

beautiful video.

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Andrea April 16, 2011 at 6:52 pm

A bailar pues asi nos conectamos con lo que en verdad somos y dejamos atras las corazas y cadenas que nos oprimen.

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Danceissacred April 16, 2011 at 6:51 pm

It’s true… Any dance is an intimate interaction with the sacred that surrounds us. In that sense, a dancer is not only putting on a show for the viewer, a dancer is at the same time tuned in to the ultimate dance which we all share – our heartbeat.

The above is a famous dance by one of the more accomplished choreographers of the 21st Century. Maurice Bejart choreographed this ‘Bolero’ and what is interesting to see in this video is, how it switches the lead dancer from male to female all the time. The master of the dance, the leader, the shaman, can either be male or female – it doesn’t matter to the choreography.

As a professional, you dance until you trance – sooner or later you are in touch with The sacred. No

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AngelaMOReyes April 16, 2011 at 6:50 pm

Es increible cuanto se puede transmitir en un baile cuando lo hago no marco un ritmo pero si un sentimiento porque me gusta sentir la música aunque mis pasos no sean de bailarín es bello sentirlo y que quizas la persona que danza contigo sienta esa mágia

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Anne April 16, 2011 at 6:45 pm

Last time I danced 2 weeks ago, I cut my ACL in my knee… I’d say that was something! It hurts, but it was so fun!

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rami fahdi April 16, 2011 at 6:41 pm

I WILL WRITE IN ARABIC ,BECAUSE WE LIKE AND READ ALL PAULO’S STORIES :
نعم ان ساحرة بورتوبيلو تمنحنا حرية الامعان كيف لأي منا وسيلته للتعرف على امكانياته للتواصل مع المحيط و يحاول اعطاء البعد الحسي لنا نكهة و طعم نعجز عن التعبير كتابة عنها ,فكان له التعبير عن مكنونات كل واحد منا وفقاً لمخيلتنا و طبائعنا بالنسبة لي استمتعت بالقراءة كثيرا .كم اتمنى أن استطيع قراءة روياته باللغة الأم لها لقناعتي أن المترجمين مهما كانوا صادقين بايصال ما يريده باولو و لكن لن يستطيعوا نقل شعوره بالكلمة التي يكتبها

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eleonora April 16, 2011 at 6:34 pm

meravigliosa la musica,la danza…….

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eleonora April 16, 2011 at 6:40 pm

meraviglioso libro****

Carolina Leão April 16, 2011 at 6:30 pm

A dança é sim uma forma maravilhosa de comunicar, celebrar, sintonizar.Vejo a dança como meio perfeito para interiorizar, e no ato em si, a sensação de liberdade é tão grande, que ao unir-se com a vibração interior, restam-me inúmeras sensações positivas. Quando danço sou invensível, inquebrável, sou puro espírito…

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Doaa April 16, 2011 at 6:30 pm

LOVE IT!

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Milka Manaure April 16, 2011 at 6:28 pm

Al bailar podemos tranmitir lo que no nos atravemos a decir oralmente, sin duda reconforta.

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Ann Marie April 16, 2011 at 6:24 pm

When I dance, I am happy. After my divorce, I discovered that if I’m on a dance floor on a Saturday night, I am happy. So every time I don’t have my boys, I go out dancing because then I know I will be happy and free. I don’t stay home and become overwhelmed with the feeling of loss or loneliness. I put on my dancing shoes and dance the night away!

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