What is dance? Really.

For me, dance is a communication. To deliver ideological message of choreographer and physical message of dancer, which both parties need to negotiate how things can work out. Dancer’s body is the tool and it needs mediums to make effective conversation – steps (prescribed or spontaneous), movements, postures, gestures, energy, expression; or with the external means such as sound (from body or other devices), lighting, text, digital projection, outfit, probs or sets. Some may argue, dance is pure movements/steps or alignment (or even some say ‘figure’). I wonder, can the human’s body itself communicate well enough in dance? Given that movements and steps entail a specific kind of ‘language’, how sure are we this language is common enough to be understood in a way that message can be decoded by the recipient i.e. audience of our own community? If a message can be decoded, it may (or may not) create resonance or agreement hence understanding exist. If the message cannot be decoded, the dance may turn to pure entertainment and it may subject to spectator’s individual aesthetic that’s satisfiable by visual, aural or perception. What is dance and why are we making dance? I couldn’t stop questioning myself.