The Art of Dance is Accessible to All

Shows like So You Think You Can Dance dazzle us with amazing movement technicians from all over the country and from all walks of life. Through such shows more Americans are magnificently opened to the world and possibilities of expression through movement. However, the styles of dance, highly skilled dancers, and judges may sometimes combine to make dance appear as only for an elite few, only for those who can jump high, turn twenty times, or do unique tricks.

While there is a place and appreciation for such pyrotechnics, there is another approach to expressing one’s self through movement that makes dance available to anyone with a story and a body. Dancer and choreographer Marianne Goris not only believes in this approach, but practices it. It is the foundation for the way she moves and the way she guides her dancers to move.

In this approach, choreographers have the capacity to act more as guides than solely creators of steps. They guide dancers through a process of recognizing the inherent power of what already exists within them and allowing the release of that through movement.

In this way, anyone is capable of movement that tells the real story in some way of their life. It can be argued that allowing others to see into who you are, a piece of your experience is more captivating than a thousand turns executed perfectly, but disconnected from the heart. For this reason, anyone willing to share this with others is capable of dance worthy of sharing with an audience.

Ethnic Radio Builds Majority and Minority Communities in DC

A diversely populated city such as Washington DC elicits an equally diverse range of radio stations serving the area. The 2010 population of our nation’s capital is 50.7 percent African American, 38.5 percent white, 3.4 percent Asian, and 9.1 percent Hispanic/Latino. Each of these communities are reached by multiple radio stations.

Correlating to the above percentages, DC’s Asian population has the fewest radio stations serving them. The most prominent is the Korean religious station WDCT which began in 1955. WDCT unites Koreans within the DC area though its broadcasts are mostly in English rather than Korean.

There are five radio stations serving African Americans in the greater DC area: WEAA 88.9FM, WKYS 93.9FM, WPGC 95.5FM, and WHUR 96.3FM. The most popular of these is WHUR, Howard University’s school station. The Washington Post first owned WHUR in the 1940’s when it was then known as WINX 1600AM. Since then, the station has undergone name changes and conversion to FM and most recently (1971), it was donated to a Historical Black University, Howard University. Today WHUR airs one of the most popular African American programs called the Tom Joyner Morning Show which invites the voice of the listeners in addressing struggles and victories within the black community.

Though the Hispanic/Latino community makes up only 9.1 percent of DC’s population, there are over nine radio stations reaching this demographic, including WBZS 92.7 FM, WBPS 94.3, WDKL 730AM, WILC 900AM, WKCW 1920, WACA 1540AM, WZHF 1390 AM WLXE 1600AM, and WACA 1540 AM. Since 2000, Alejandro Carrasco from the Dominican Republic has owned WACA. Carrasco was discovered at a wedding which led to him hosting a radio show, “Calentando la Manana” (Heating up in the Morning). A picture of the American dream, he finally bought the station which was broadcasting him, keeping Spanish as its language.

Prayer is Personal...and Makes a Difference Personally (and Beyond?)

Prayer…what is the point? Ok, first…what is it…really? I have described prayer to others as being an authentic space to pour your heart out to God. I have heard it described as being a way to align yourself with what God wants for your life. I have also heard definitions that don’t include God. Dear reader, I wish I could hear your own views on prayer over a cup of coffee (and for any reading this, that is a sincere and standing invitation). In the absence of a face to face discussion, however and taking advantage of e-communication…I welcome any thoughts you care to express through comments.
I went to an expert on prayer to hear her thoughts. Since her husband is a pastor she has been within circles which talk a lot about prayer. However, she has her own personal and deep connection to praying. She employs it in her own life and also leads a weekly group which gathers to pray together. For them it is a collective process of speaking and listening to God and each other. They do this on behalf of people they know and those they do not know…on behalf of people in their communities and overseas.

So, back to my first question…what is the point of prayer? It seems to make a difference at least in the lives I have witnessed. I tried unsuccessfully to find statistics on prayer that had not been conducted by those who already believe in its power. Perhaps the best way to test its effectiveness is to try it. Just a thought…