By Lindsay Fritz '25, Glastonbury High School
The New York Times.
As a child, I never considered myself to be graceful, chic or balletic in any way. At a young age I was very much the opposite, inelegant and chaotic. However, that all changed when I discovered dance at the age of two. I always associated dance with music, music being that spark that lit up inside me, initiating my urge to perform. Dance, in a way, represents the definition of music as they share similar characteristics, those being tempo, rhythm and expression. Music was always the piece that accelerated my urge to dance, yet it was somehow the piece I least appreciated or valued. One night at my studio the stereo had stopped working during a run-through of our dance and my team and I were forced to continue without music playing. It was in this moment where my perspective and my outlook on dance had changed permanently. I was suddenly incapable of continuing, my body froze and my head drifted off into a befuddled fog. At this moment, I was confused and felt sluggish, unmotivated to keep going. I had never once associated a dull feeling with dance, that would never be a feeling linked to emotions I had while performing. I couldn’t quite wrap my head around an explanation as to why I abruptly lost motivation to continue, yet when the stereo went back on, my body was rebooted and so was my mindset. I walked out of practice with anew awareness and admiration for music and the effect it has on me and my teammates. Whether it be inside the studio or outside of it, I feel strongly that music greatly impacts many aspects of our own individual lives that many people may not realize throughout their day to day experiences.
Life without dance to me is nonexistent and dance without music is nonexistent as well. Music sets the mood, it creates the motivation people have to get up and dance. Without it, life is dreary and bleak. Music plays a critical role in dance, it creates the different beats and tempos that we move to. It paves the way for how the dance is going to be choreographed. If there’s no music, there’s no outline to follow. Not only is music significant for creating a dance, but it sets the stage for how the dancer is going to perform. Music is typically associated with various genres of dance. An example being slow music tied to ballet and faster music being tied to either tap or jazz. Music allows dancers to feel a certain way and therefore perform a certain way.
Music also influences people’s emotions and moods. Upbeat and joyous music causes the brain to release chemicals known as dopamine and serotonin. These chemicals make us feel happy, excited and rejuvenated. Slower and more calm music relaxes our body and mental state. I admire music because it plays a significant role in my dance life, but outside of dancing I find it affects my life in numerous other ways. Music has allowed my productivity to increase. When I study or have an essay to write, I listen to faster pace music as it allows me to think and type faster. Music can have avery powerful impact on the human experience and I think it’s meaningful for people to be aware of this. In times of stress and sadness, music is the “out” for many of those situations. Music triggers physical alterations in our bodies and our brains that can stimulate various emotions. A part of the human brain called the cerebellum is the part that gets “activated” or “stimulated” when we hear a song we love. This then causes increased blood flow to the legs which creates that urge people have to get up and dance. There is a prominent science between dance and music that should be appreciated.
The correlation between music and dance is a relationship being continuously analyzed. When people listen to music and the brain releases these “happy” and “feel good” chemicals, it stimulates the craving to move. Similarly, music has opened the door to benefits for my physical health. It brings down blood pressure, relaxes feelings of anxiety and stress and allows me to exercise more efficiently. Music is not something that’s specifically tied to one activity or any activity at all, it’s tied to many elements of our lives. Music means something different to anyone that you ask, it could be the way someone expresses themselves, the way people heal from pain, the way people deal with stress or it could just be someone's happiness and passion. No matter who you ask, everyone has a different definition and understanding of music. In my life, music is what allows me to keep moving whether that be through dance or through school, I find music playing a continuous role in my life story. I never noticed it was there, but now it’s hard for me to turn a blind eye to it.
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