Dance Magic Review       April 2001

Free Form Partner Dancing

by George Woolley

What's Free Form Dancing?

Free form dancing is dancing that is not governed by a specific form. It is not intended to adhere to a specific syllabus of movement patterns and techniques.

Perhaps the dancer most associated with free form is Isadora Duncan. Her dancing was said to be expressive and free. She rebelled against the rigid ballet conventions of her time. She danced as herself and generally avoided impersonation.

Gabrielle Roth puts her finger on the essence of free form dance when she says, in "The Wave" video, "If you don't do you dance, who will?". Martha Graham's famous quote that begins "There is a vitality ..." is more penetrating, more precise, and more compelling, but basically says the same thing. See the article "A Gift from Three Dancers" for a more complete version of the Graham quote.

What is Partnering?

Partnering involves two people cooperating to some end. In more formal dancing, such as ballroom or swing, there is a leader and follower, but these roles are not necessary to partnering nor to partnering in dance.

The Trouble with Free Form Dancing

Many people consider free form dancing as an insignificant activity. Some of the complaints about it are:

1. the dancers are generally unskilled
2. the dancing is often not even particularly free
3. it is not well suited to dynamic physical interaction
4. it misses out on the sheer joy of following (leading) in dance

One could argue that since most of us are not as excellent in our dancing as were Isadora Duncan and Martha Graham, some guidance and rules are appropriate.

The Trouble with Formal Dancing

Someone more oriented to free form might counter that:

• formal standards and levels (Bronze, Silver, Gold) stifle creativity and place the emphasis on steps and techniques rather than on expression, one's partner and the music and all that makes dancing magical and joyful.
• the glorification of competition in what is an artistic domain leads to a perverse context for dance such as portrayed in the movie "Strictly Ballroom".
• the ballroom world's excitement over the progress toward getting ballroom dancing included as a sport in the Olympics reveals a basic confusion concerning the nature of art.

Why Not Free Form Partnering?

Typically free form dancing is not associated with partnering. But there is nothing in the definition of free form preventing partnering and in fact we do see people doing free form as partners.

All the criticisms of free form made earlier seem to me to be valid. But if you are committed to do doing free form dancing then the natural response is to see what (if anything) is best to do about the criticisms rather than give up free form partnering. Here's some thoughts on each of the criticisms:

1. Free form dancers are generally unskilled.
   • Not skilled at what? And by whose standards? In general this may be irrelevant.
   • Still developing skill can be good as long as more basic dance values are not undermined in the process.
2. Free form dancing is often not even particularly free.
   • A telling criticism, and perhaps a reason for training ones body.
   • But not a reason for making standards into gods.
3. Free form dancing is not well suited to dynamic physical interaction.
   • True. In fact if you are not trained in dynamic physical interaction it can be quite dangerous.
   • The answer to this is to stay well within your limits and within your partner's limits.
   • Also, there is a lot of meaningful partnering that does not involve dynamic physical interaction.
4. Free form dancers miss out on the sheer joy of following (leading) in dance.
   • This may be true in many cases. But one can explore other aspects of interconnection.
   • Or one can be more subtle in leading and following, not necessarily even touching.

Free form does not exclude incorporating into one's dancing what one learns in Ballroom and Swing. Understanding this mitigates all the criticisms of free form made above. But free form ceases to be free form when the forms you have learned dictate how you dance.

A Recommendation

Personally, I recommend free form partner dancing as an activity that has a great potential for magical experiences. The keys for me have been being present and placing my attention on my partner, the music and what moves me in the moment.

© Copyright 2001 George Woolley

to home page of Dance Magic Review