Let’s Dance
One, two, buckle your shoes.
Three, four get on the floor.
Five, six, step on your feet.
Seven, eight, dance on the beat.
Nine, ten, move like the wren.
Eleven, twelve, roll like the fawn.
Thirteen, fourteen sway like the swan
Fifteen, sixteen, swing on the tune.
Swirl with joy, transcend time.
Dance, the form of cultured minds.
Feel the rhythm and dance divine.
Let’s dance!
Dance Across the World
Dance across the world,
All leave their own trace.
Ballet, balanced, flawless grace,
Eight body limbs poised in perfect space,
From Italy to France it spread,
Angels with pointed toes waltzing pirouette overhead
Flying on clouds, ravishing danseuse,
Each movement a dream, tender and loose.
Ballroom couples’ alluring smiles that gleam,
Elegant posture, rolling shoulders in style, a flowing stream.
Europe to the USA curving patterns, swaying hips,
Thrusts and lifts; locks and drops they flip.
A story of passion silently told in a gist.
From San Francisco, the Contemporary began,
Beginnings of Modern Dance, where freedom ran.
Legwork strong and body controlled;
Contract, release, daring and bold.
Shifts of rhythm, sudden speed,
Floor work, fall and recovery freed.
Flamenco flames from Spain arise,
Posture proud are main, spirit flies.
Fierce glances turn with daring, artful charm;
Swirling flounces of dress; upheld naked arms;
Flirtatious gestures, hasty, heated rhythms;
Clapping the castanets, spread darting flame’s prism.
Street dance, hip-hop, energy vast.
Borrowed, versatile style, the die is cast.
Tap, tango, jazz dances flow.
From European, African, the American modern shows.
Emotions and moods to design their steps,
Feet like drums, rapid footwork sets.
Dancer’s foot and shoe work, so intricate.
Salsa and Rumba, down in Cuba,
Fusion of dance and music of Ganzá,
Mambo, Cumbia, Festejo roll.
Break steps, spins, loud moves and drops.
Trinidad and Tobago do the Calypso.
Everybody dances to the beat of the disco.
Buenos Aires hums with Tango’s heat,
Milonga, flamenco, rhythms meet.
Fast, sensual dance from Argentina;
Influences from the Cuban habanera.
Brazilian Samba, hypnotic, bright,
Guatemala’s Marimba dances the night.
Egyptian belles sway with might,
Dynamic shaking solo with torso twists in moonlit light.
Middle Eastern rhythms ignite.
Torso isolates, artistry shown with body parts;
Fascinating, beautiful body art.
From India’s heart, classical dance,
Bharatanatyam tells tales at a glance.
From Tamil Nadu, southern India
Hand mudras tell a story that’s the idea.
Kathakali: southwestern India’s religious dance.
Inspiration from Ramayana and Shiva’s romance
Ramayana’s lore,
Kathak: northern India,
A dance of love, ghungroos implore.
Manipuri from Manipur, northeastern India.
Folk traditions and rituals, from life of God Krishna.
Smooth and graceful, oh what charisma!
Andhra Pradesh: Kuchipudi, sensual dancing,
Sprinkling holy water, a ritual with singing.
Odissi, from Orissa in eastern India
Fifty mudras, lyrical, sensuous dance
Goddesses rise, deities loom.
Dazzling, daring goddesses, deities pursue.
Indian dance lifts souls and leaves all in a trance.
Soulful hearts immerse in beautiful romance.
Bhangra, vibrant martial movements, folk dance from Punjab
Jhumer dancers sway folk dance with roots in Punjab, Balochistan,
Dhali, war- themed, martial arts dance with swords and shield
Baul, mystic tradition with expressive moves and spiritual themes,
soul is healed.
Manipuri, Santal tribal dances graceful and intricate moves revealed.
Festival dances from Bangladesh fascinate the audience; they beam.
Methodical, precise, yet free;
Dancing soft, swift feet to the beat in harmony.
Perfection with passionate emotions ignite;
Eases mind and lifts high to divinity, excites.
Glittering garments shine like tremulous waves
Sparkling trinkets sparkle with rhythmic display.
Dancers’ eyes ravish with rapture,
Amazing aura, audience easy to capture
Dance from east to west, north and south
Continents with diverse traditions and muse.
Dance, dance! Dance with the steps
Shake your body, the way you can best
Let it touch your heart and soul
Let music lift you and make you whole.
Let the onlooker applaud and smile;
Stress will fade, your spirit will sing,
Poetry births song, and dance takes wing.
Poetry gives birth to music, song and dance.
Poetry gives life, meaningful contrasts.
