Duvet
Member
Sometime ago I found this poem on-line, the sentiments of which I really like;
The poem crops up on dance focused websites in all sorts of disciplines. It is always attributed (if it gets attributed at all) to St. Augustine of Hippo, but I’ve come to doubt that.
I’m trying to find the original source, and wondered if anyone could help?
I praise the dance,
for it frees people from the heaviness of matter
and binds the isolated to community.
I praise the dance, which demands everything:
health and a clear spirit and a buoyant soul.
Dance is a transformation of space, of time, of people, who are in constant danger of becoming all brain, will, or feeling.
Dancing demands a whole person,
one who is firmly anchored in the centre of his life,
who is not obsessed by lust for people and things
and the demon of isolation in his own ego.
Dancing demands a freed person,
one who vibrates with the equipoise of all his powers.
I praise the dance.
O man, learn to dance,
or else the angels in heaven will not know
what to do with you.
for it frees people from the heaviness of matter
and binds the isolated to community.
I praise the dance, which demands everything:
health and a clear spirit and a buoyant soul.
Dance is a transformation of space, of time, of people, who are in constant danger of becoming all brain, will, or feeling.
Dancing demands a whole person,
one who is firmly anchored in the centre of his life,
who is not obsessed by lust for people and things
and the demon of isolation in his own ego.
Dancing demands a freed person,
one who vibrates with the equipoise of all his powers.
I praise the dance.
O man, learn to dance,
or else the angels in heaven will not know
what to do with you.
The poem crops up on dance focused websites in all sorts of disciplines. It is always attributed (if it gets attributed at all) to St. Augustine of Hippo, but I’ve come to doubt that.
I’m trying to find the original source, and wondered if anyone could help?
Last edited: