Sol (sun) and Luna (moon) are archetypes. What follows is a brief sketch of how I see these archetypes and their relation to partner dancing.
Some of the associations with Sol are: judgment, discrimination, insight, right/wrong, order, law, harnessing of energy, overcoming of nature, objectivity, hierarchy, and control. Sol is related to Logos, animus and male consciousness.
In contrast some of the associations with Luna are: capacity to relate, feeling, creation & destruction, fertility, magic, capriciousness, irrationality, vagueness, apparent meaninglessness, spirituality, roundness, intimacy, passion and subjectivity. Luna is related to Eros, anima and female consciousness.
In dance Sol/Logos translates into: standardization, judging, levels of dancers, competitions, dancing as a sport, patterns, techniques, counting (e.g. 1 2 3&4 5 6 7&8), being in time with the music, avoidance of error, linear movement, deliberateness, and looking good.
On the other hand, Luna/Eros translates into: connection (or oneness) with one's partner, connection (or oneness) with the music, rounded movement, feeling good, the kinesthetic experience of moving across the floor together now, play, lack of judging (especially with respect to "errors"), spontaneity, dance as celebration, dance as an expression of love.
How do Sol and Luna show up in your dancing? In your dance values? In your dance instruction? And in your life?
When Frankie Manning (one of the originators of Lindy Hop) was here in February 1995, people commented on his musicality. It was as if the music was within him. And when he danced with a lady, he appeared to be, as he says, in love with her for those three minutes. He was deeply involved with his partner and the music and life and that spilled over to all of us. What I saw and felt was a room filled with dance magic. And this was at a workshop!?!
But you don't have to be a professional or even a well trained amateur to partake of dance magic (and you don't have to know zillions of steps). One of the most special west coast swing dances I ever had was with a lady who had taken a single 4 week west coast swing class. She was totally present. We did mostly simple steps - basic whips, push breaks, side passes, ...., but the feel was amazing. It was as smooth and as connected a west coast swing dance as I've ever had.
Roughly speaking, what I mean by dance magic is the experience of Luna/Eros in dance, (See "Sol and Luna in Dance" above.) It sometimes shows up when you and your partner are open to experiencing each other and the music deeply.
© Copyright 1995 George Woolley
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