The Groove is in the Heart!

[Catalyst]

There's a thread about a dance off between Portland and Seattle that inspired me to write this post. I've noticed that the main difference between Portland and Seattle dancers is that Seattle is based more around the "art" of dancing, and Portland has more groovers. Before I say anything ... I want to say that I love all kinds of dancing, from liquid to pure grooving. But I'm wondering how many people can relate to what I'm about to say.

To me, to really become a part of the music and to get personal, physical RELIEF from the music, I have to groove. To truely let yourself just go off and turn every note and every beat into a physical expression, I have to groove. The beat hits my ear, strikes an emotional nerve, and is channeled straight into my muscles and limbs. To me, this is ultimate satisfaction. I'm one of those people who sits down and hears music and just HAS to beat on shit, or sing, or somehow channel the music through myself and into a kinetic outburst, otherwise it builds up inside me and stresses me out.

So what am I saying? Grooving is all about YOU, it's all about pure satisfaction to the dancer. Technical types of dancing like liquid and breaking are a reaction to a learned pattern (like ballet or modern dance would be) rather than a channeling of the emotional energies created ON THE SPOT by the music. This type of dancing is meant more for the onlooker than the dancer. I want to make clear that I FULLY appreciate artistic forms of dance. But I don't think I'll ever learn to liquid or break or anything like that. I just can't contain myself long enough. I just have to start moving in a different way that my emotions are telling me to move.

For these reasons, I don't think you could really compare a groover to a person who does liquid. ALSO! I could never take part in a contest because the knowledge that I'm performing would throw me off. I wouldn't have that same feeling that makes me just GO! To see me dance my best, you have to sneak up on me and watch when I am unaware. I almost always stop dancing when I spot someone staring at me. It's true.

Even though it isn't meant for me, I looooove watching people groove. I remember about 2 months ago when this girl was just totally in her own world and just going OFF! I could feel her emotions, like I was in her world. I walked up to her out of the blue and said..."I can TOTALLY relate!" She knew exactly what I meant by that and we both just started laughing. That was awesome.

As Dee-lite once said: The groove is in the heart!

Jason

[GroovyGoddess]

Jason -
I totally agree w/ what your saying 100%. Good way to put it...

-Groovy

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****R.I.P Eddie Hart (6/15/82 - 11/28/99)****

~*The chills that you spill up my back -
keep me filled with satisfaction when we're done - satisfaction of what's to come (Groove is in the heart)*~

[fortheluvufunity]

i can totally feel you. thatz exactly how i dance. to me the musix iz my soul. when i dance the musix muves my body in wayz i neva thought i could muve.i juzt close my eyez, get a smile on my face and i wont stop till the musix does.sumtimes i cry when i dance b/c the feeling iz so wunderful and happy.it makes me happy juzt talking bout it. well me all done. i send my energy and smilez to evaone

[Pandora]

YES!!!!!!!!! Im not the only one who doesnt like to perform, (as I call it) I do relate totally to what you wrote. Because as soon as I try to plan out what moves i do or try to copy someone else I lose what was originally intended, my enjoyment!
Thank you for sharing, its nice to know you are not alone, as you already know.

"Dance because you have nothing to do,
Dance because you are feeling blue,
Dance because you cant sit still,
Dance because surely it will heal!"
- Cassy Petrich

[Dancin' Queen]

I understand fully what you are saying. Any kind of beat makes me move! I'll just be walking down the street listening to my head phones then all of a sudden just start dancin'around. People look at me like I'm nuts or somethin'! Even now I'm movin' around as I type while I listen to Ed Rush. MMMMMMMMmmmmmmmmm Jungle is the shit. When I dance to Jungle or Drum N Bass I get this mean lookin', determined face on. YEAH!!!!!!

[Dancin' Queen]

By the way, I love Deee-Lite! I posted about Deee-Lite. Groove is in the heart is a cool song, but there's alot more better songs.

[Catalyst]

I love dancing to Jungle. Even when I stop dancing I stand on the sidelines and I'm still kinda dancin' I can't control myself!

And to all kinds of music, do you ever just get so lost that when you finally look up, and see someone smiling at you, you feel like you've come back to the surface or woken up from some sort of dream? Like...whoah! Where am I?!

I LOVE THAT!

[jrzmike]

i've been all over the country dancin and i would have to say that seattle is defintly the liquid city.....but there are groovers every where...it's not like one city gooves and another pops...to me a groover is some who doesn't just dance to music but lets the music move them... images/smilies/smile.gif shoelace

[Dancin' Queen]

I'll add on to what I was saying. Sometimes I'll be goin' off in my own land, starin' at the ground when I'm bustin' out. Then all of a sudden I'll look up and notice people are watchin' me at parties. Then we smile at eachother and dance together. It's so cool that you can totally connect with a stranger through dance, and not even have to say a word to them! Know what I mean?!

[Catalyst]

I know exactly what you mean. I love it when someone is having as much fun as me and we both connect on that level. Someone you've never even met, and the best part is when you haven't even said a word to them ever and after a bit of jumping around you get a big old fatty hug! This is the kind of energy that keeps me going even when the party's over.

I stare at the ground when I dance too...if my eyes are open at all. It's all part of getting lost and slipping into sync with the music and the energy that's buzzing around me and through me. Ugh...I wanna go dance.

[RiceDiva]

i CAN RELATE!!
I love it when someone is having as much fun as me and we both connect on that level. Someone you've never even met, and the best part is when you haven't even said a word to them ever and after a bit of jumping around you get a big old fatty hug! This is the kind of energy that keeps me going even when the party's over.

at beez wax, i had that experience...i only met this person once, at the flavor. and then i saw her at beez wax...and somehow we just danced together the whole night. for hours, and we didnt talk much...just looked at each other and danced!! it was such an amazing feeling, after you dance with someone you dont know, and you just feel connected. kinkyKATE...i had soo much fun!! *hugz* luv my bestfriend.

and jason i am the same way, i cant sit there and just listen to music. any type of music. rap, country, techno, anything...i must move some part of my body to the beat. its hard to contain myself when music is playing. i guess i have a love for dancing and music. like when im just walking in the halls or streets, i'll have my own music in my head, and just move to it. well--just wanted to let you know...i can relate.

<3 tamme images/smilies/smile.gif

[This message has been edited by RiceDiva (edited 04-07-2000).]

[bsweet]

Yeah yeah!! There is no definition to the way I move...the music just flows through my body. I definately agree that Portland has more groovers...I love that city!!! Everytime I go there for a night out I feel so comfortable on the dance floor...the kids there know what it is about. I have seen a few posts shittalkin' about Portland groovers...sayin that they have no skillz!! I don't know what those people are talking about!!
Groovin' isn't about skillz...its about how your body twitches, flows, moves, reacts to each beat and each note in the music. I like to do silly stuff when I dance. Not practiced moves...its all spontaneous.
I know how ya guys feel about connecting with another person on the dancefloor. It doesn't happen often enough for me!! In the midwest, at Ohio parties everyone dancing would dance with each other. Its so cool. I find less connectness out here. But when it does happen it gets my adrenaline going! I have this silly dream that someday I will meet my dancing soul mate...I dunno if that will ever happen though. *sigh* Buts its all good. images/smilies/smile.gif If I'm dancing I'm happy.

[Dancin' Queen]

When I dance I like to just move and flow. But also it is fun to throw in a couple liquid or box shape moves. I like to move my feet alot when I dance, Foot work. I also like to put my head forward and then kind of roll the rest of my body forward. It's kind of hard to explain. I guess I just like to straight groove! There are alot of Seattle GROOVERS too ya know.

[L]

Hehe i have to say i jus kinda bounce around. .hecks yeah i jus move the way i wanna move and yeah i cant splane it at the momento its all wierded out like. but anyhoo whenever i hear musik i get all happy and hyper like and jus start bouncin around and cant stop smilin.

*hugz*
L

[Catalyst]

Yes indeed. Yet another night of successful groovin'. I could go another 4 or 5 hours. My ride was pooped, so no after hours' for me. PHEW! I swear I still learn something new every night I go and dance.

Jason

[PsirusChild]

Amen to that Jason.... another night well spent on tha joy of dancing!!! yeah.... you really do learn something new each time don't ya?? i know i do... and as for the origional post.... RIGHT ON BRO!!!! you got tha whole thing in that one!!!

*hugz*
Bren

[Tertyl]

damnit jason...stop spreading good vibe around! i just bought a few lug wrenches and have been in contact with tonya harding so i could prepare for this SEA-PDX dance-off. i even got my hiding spot picked out...

[freakykitten]

i just love to let the mucic seep in and flow out with a passion...and just let my Emotions just run wild! OoOo last night was the first time in a long that i've been able to let myself completely loose . i feel soooooo good!

[groovinkim]

I've noticed that the main difference between Portland and Seattle dancers is that Seattle is based more around the "art" of dancing, and Portland has more groovers.

hmm

have you been to any seattle events that weren't at naf or fx?

if not, i think you should withhold judgement

images/smilies/biggrin.gif

[Snapp]

I hate dancing it is just not evil enough for my likings.

[Krackle]

Dancing is for loosers.

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I am going to rip you a new ass hole!

[Crisco]

I can fully agree with what most of you are saying. *except for Krackles "Dancing is for loosers."* I don't just listen to the music, I hear it and connect. I loose all thought and feelings and just do what happens. If it has even the slightest beat, I am "groovin" and movin to it.

Chris

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*~*~Grease to the
Candy Kids!*~*~

[Dave]

hmm well i agree and disagree...

i have been dancing and partying for a good bit now. i have developed my style of dancing and i take pride it how far i have come from when i first started. though i have a style i dont do the same thing over and over. a lot of the time music dictates what i do and thats the way it should be in my eyes. i asure you i feel the music and it drives me all night long. miss Joy can tell you that me and here have danced the night away more than once.

i think a little dance off is would be cool and a good way to see new styles and see how someone else feels to the same music. i think a little compatition is healthy as long as its all in good fun and no one takes it serious.

granted there are people out there that dance the way they think every one else thinks is cool and never really feel the music. you can see the differance in the dancing and i asure that just because i dance in a certin style does not mean i dont feel the music.

just my thoughts
dave aka dj simple

[~*~KiKi~*~]

im a HARDCORE! groover!!!!!

[Catalyst]

My point on the contest was that when I groove it's cuz I'm really feeling it and I let myself just go! If a bunch of people were watchin' me and said...ok, now it's your turn...dance! I would feel really REALLY wierd and it would ruin my whole thang. What I CAN do, is dance with another person who is sharing my vibe. Then you feed off each other!

So sure, I guess I COULD take part in the contest, but you'd have to all sneak up on me and watch me when I'm in my own little world. Sometimes that isn't hard because I bow my head and often close my eyes and leave the real world far...far behind =)

Jason

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When you discard arrogance, complexity, and a few other things that get in the way, sooner or later you will discover that simple, childlike, and mysterious secret known to those of the Uncarved Block: Life is Fun!

[PsirusChild]

Yeah... when i dance with someone who is diggin the music as much as i am (jason i know you can relate) i just get deeper into my groove... i put my hand up to tha side of my head and let my body say what my soul wants to get out!!! before i begin to dance though, i take a few seconds and let the music take over... after that its just a matter of how tha music makes me move!

I was at an afterhours after sensation just chillin, but then the dj spun this killer break, and a friend of mine and i got up and danced..... i was so into it that the whole party ended up watching me for like five minutes.... i didn't even notice. i got compliments from people i don't even know... it felt soooo good to just let it all go!!!!

But yeah.... just ramblin!!!!

Bren

[Efun]

when i dance or atleast pretend to dance i just throw my hands in the air to the beat i call it "raging" but i know a few other dances too the one i really want to learn is brandons seizure dance thats the funniest shit ive ever seen if anybody knows what im talkin about then you know its the funnniest shit there is god everytime i think about it i laugh uncontrolably

[**tinkerbell**]

when i first started dancing at parties i went with what i saw everyone else doing. since then i have learned to forget others are around and let the music move me..i have never been happier dancing and i have even gotten my own style..i found my groove!! images/smilies/smile.gif omg and last fri i even recieved compliments on my dancing which totally blew me away..i love watching others get totally lost in the music..it makes me smile.
hugs sandra

[AliciaisAlwaysPimpin]

<-------groover right here

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-*~Nuttin But Love~*-

"pippy twat corn... and i don't care..."

[capttwinky]

Hmmm

When I started dancing out in front of people it was in Gothic clubs in Florida. It was there that I learned about graceful self expression. You move in the manner that your soul wants to, tempered in order to make sure that your motions are aesthetic as well.

Update to today- often in a more uptempo environment I find myself doing what I consider "theatrical dancing" which I would define as expression intended to be observed. In downtempo environments my Goth blood comes out again and I find myself dancing in what I consider a spiritual style.

For me, dancing is an ecstatic experience. When you dance long and hard enough, the endorphins kick in and you get a better feeling than even the best extacy can confer. I don't really have words for it, but I know it is as close to a divine consciousness as I have ever come.

so- what do you think- Is there room for a performing groover?

--Joel

[Stacey]

Well said, Jason images/smilies/biggrin.gif you're an awesome dancer, I've watched you before, and I can see what you feel. I get the same way, I can't just listen to music, I have to let it out and unfortunatly, I haven't been to a party since October and it's all built up inside of me. When I let it out though, watch out! images/smilies/wink.gif Thanks for this post though, Jason, it's one of the most heartfelt things I've read on here in a long while and I wouldn't expect any less from you images/smilies/smile.gif Write me soon!

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~ Stacey ~ >"."<
AIM: TigerKitten19

[Chief Na-Fun]

Ya know what really makes my day? When that *one* track comes on. You know, the one that's completely cheesy but you love it anyway? And you're going completely nutz dancing your heart out, and somebody sees you and gives a smile and starts laughing with you at how happy you are at that moment. That's the best.

Nathan



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"... Boredom is the root of all evil."

-Soren Kierkegaard