John Tyler -- Participator vs. Spectator (2-26-13)

Participator vs. Spectator -- Class reading

Van der Leeuw asserts, “In writing about dance, I discovered that, even more than in other arts, participation is necessary if it is to be understood” (12). 

Every human hungers for beauty.  The depth of the soul is not satisfied with the mere knowledge of beautiful things, but instead it longs for a personal encounter with the act of beauty - art.  This reality raises the contrast between experiencing beauty through participating in the ritual versus observing or spectating the art being presented.  Here the first approach is taken to be considerably more complex and desirable then the latter, seeing that participation is necessary in order to grasp beauty in its many forms. 

Beauty is revealed to those willing to participate.  If one desires to vicariously worship through another individual’s expression of worship, they become a spectator and not a participant.  Up until 2 years ago I rarely danced.  Even when I mustered up enough courage to step out on the floor, my actions were still fear based, worried about being judged.  Recently, however, I have acquired an entirely different mindset and attitude toward dancing.  Now, experiencing the fullness of joy and freedom of dance as I move unhindered and unbounded, I encounter the Beauty.  Only through this type of participation, can something so profound and enjoyable be grasped.