Dance is Life
Part 1
By Vania Bynum
Vania Bynum | van-ee-uh bye-num | pronouns: she/her
To dance is to embody freedom.
To dance is to express oneself in a most powerful way.
To dance is to share oneself with others so that their lives might be enhanced by a blessed gift.
When I think about my journey in the arts, I reflect on my love of music, my desire to sing, and the excitement of theater and performance. When I think about my specific journey in Dance, I reflect on the fact that my whole life has been enhanced through the power of movement and dance. I ponder the truth that I would not be the same person without dance in my life. And I acknowledge that the healing elements of Pilates, yoga, and dance totally transformed my quality of life. After being struck by a pickup truck, a life of daily pain became an opportunity to heal and give thanks for the basics in life. I danced with praise for the ability to utilize my body as a tool for self-expression, and to bring joy to others by inviting them into my love of the arts. I dedicated my gift to liturgical dance, ministering to others, sharing stories through the power of gospel music and dance. The effect that the arts have had on my life and my health are undeniable and will continue to manifest as I enter my next phase of dance in my 50+ Vessel. With a recent diagnosis of Lupus, which has potentially debilitating effects on my body, the ability to move as long as possible has become even more precious. I am even more committed to embracing the spirit and vitality of dance so that I CAN live.
Although the diagnosis of Lupus was greatly unexpected, it was not completely surprising because the disease has shown itself in our family history with devastating results. As I navigate this new space, I now understand where some of my pains have come from. I understand why I danced consistently with ankle braces for no apparent reason, why I have mysterious joint pain that magically goes away, and maybe why I have had ongoing hip pain… even when I felt at my best. Oblivious to what was happening internally, I took the no pain, no gain stance because I was determined to dance at Cornish College of the Arts with other artists almost half my age. I was Free to Dance after a corporate job in Computer Engineering. I was committed to dance ministry as my way of communing with God and giving thanks for my life. I was thankful to Edna Daigre for introducing me to Pilates and the power of moving with Negro Spirituals, and to New Beginnings Christian Fellowship of Kent, WA., who embraced my gifts and provided a platform to speak from the heart through dance. And there are many others to thank that you will read about in the future. I am beyond grateful that I did not know that Lupus lurked in my body when stressful seasons came. All I knew was that I have a desire to dance and that throughout the “episodes,” I have never lost my ability to move. The flame still burns as I am challenged with the reality that I must be consistent in taking medication despite my free-spirited personality. I must monitor my stress levels and change my diet to keep Lupus at bay. I communicate with a family member to learn more about the disease so that I can be responsible. Lupus is a disease that affects people of all ages. I am not the first dancer who dances with Lupus, and I will not be the last. For this phase of my life, the arts will help me continue to thrive. And I can inspire others like those who inspire me. See these inspirational stories below about beautiful people and their journey with Lupus.
“ “To dance is to live. But to live, I must dance.” I dance for my Life. ”
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Sources:
Journeys with Lupus...
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