Isadora Duncan: Patron Saint of GITP

After work, I rushed like the wind back down to my neighborhood to catch the tail end of the annual Dance Parade--a real parade of a slew of local dance groups, which culminated in Tompkins Square Park.  I pulled up on my bike as a company of young woman performed something by Isadora Duncan on the central stage.  They pranced barefoot in filmy costumes, smiling with glee.  I remembered, while watching, that Isadora was the first choreographer/dancer to make a sharp break from the angular restrictions of ballet, and that for Isadora, the torso--rigid in ballet--comes to the fore.  (Interesting, right?--please correct me if I'm off.)

So, since the governing metaphor of this blog is coming out of tight places, it follows that Isadora Duncan would be another patron saint of this blog.  Too pat?  I don't care.  It's fun to collect patron saints.

It made me wonder what I could get from Isadora, how she could inspire my own movements and the directions I take my life this year.  Still thinking.

Anyway, I wandered around the park, trying to catch the last shreds of the Dance Parade.  You can see some of it here.

Seeing today's event also reminded me how important it is to move, not just for practical purposes, but for sheer celebration of having a body that works.