The Way Of Art

or those who don’t take part in dance, the difficulty and athleticism involved in this activity are sometimes lost. The importance of proper training cannot be stated enough and neither can the need for correct gear. Dancing, depending on its form, can really take a lot of a practice and good gear not only serves to make a performance “look” better, it can also make a difference in the wear and tear a dancer’s body will undergo. With this in mind, it’s important not only to make sure gear looks good, but also performs well.

The uninitiated may not understand the value of good gear, but when it comes to dancing, it’s vital. This is very true especially of the shoes needed for various dances. They are specifically designed to help a dancer perform the moves necessary for each basic style of dance.

Ballet shoes, for example, come in several different types meant for beginners and more advanced dancers. The basic slipper of the dance is the standard gear for many dancers of this form, but the more advanced will use what’s called a pointe shoe. This shoe supports the foot with a stiff sole. Its boxy shape encases the toes and will allow a skilled dancer to rest his or her weight on the platform, allowing the famous toe stances signature in any ballet performance. When the shoes or the skill level required aren’t present, this form of dance can be impossible to execute and can even lead to injury in the dancer.

Like ballet, tap comes with its own type of shoes. Designed to create the signature sound of the dance style, tap shoes are specialized gear. Without the right shoes, a tap dancer just won’t tap. Beyond the noisemaker, however, tap shoes are designed to support the dancer and help him or her avoid injury.

Other forms of dance each come with their own shoes, as well. The basic tenant behind them all, however, is a drive to help ensure the foot and legs are properly supported to not only allow the moves necessary for the style to be executed, but also avoid injury.

Beyond the shoes, dance comes with a whole host of other required gear. From costumes and workout suits to bags, towels and beyond, dance is an art form that requires its own specialized equipment.

Those looking to buy dance gear should make sure they pay attention to a few things to help their dancer do their best:

* Fit. Any gear from workout clothing down to the shoes should be fit correctly to ensure the clothing doesn’t get in the way and performs its job correctly, too.

* Appearance. While almost anything will go for classes and practices, the style of clothing for actual shows will be very important. Many times set costumes are required and must be purchased in accordance with rules outlined by a school or team.

* Comfort. Dance gear should be comfortable and be of materials that enable free movement. If they don’t, the routines can be jeopardized.

Dance is an art form that uses the human body to create the picture. When the gear is good, a dancer is free to perform at his or her best. When it’s not, movement can be hampered and even worse, injury can happen.

Art in Latin means “skill” or “craft” and it is generally accepted to be “the product or process of the effective application of a body of knowledge, most often using a set of skills, which from concept to creation adheres to the “creative impulse” of the maker.” As centuries of art study reveal, art has taken many forms and has touched upon many disciplines. From the creation of a painting to the design of a video game, art is now a much more generic term used to describe many of today’s human creations.

Whether or not you consider yourself to be an artist or have an artistic nature as people often claim, it is interesting to discover that your skills and abilities can help you develop products or processes that could be characterized as a type ofart form . Have you ever taken a picture, created a film, painted an image, performed in front of an audience -your mirror does not count- or even found a new way to use that old pair of jeans you have kept inside your closet? If the answer to these or similar questions is yes, then you are “officially” informed that you canconsider yourself as a creator or better even, an artist! Even if this statement is not one hundred percent true, you got the idea.

Due to the technological innovations used today, new art forms have been developed and thus new ways for artistic expression. The birthday card you decided to create from scratch for your friend, the picture frame you decided to “transform” so as to make it a bit more contemporary, the song you recorded while playing at your garage with the band, are all different types of art forms and should make you proud of yourself and your abilities. Moving from the “classic” forms of art, like painting, drawing, sculpture, music, literature, printmaking, and architecture, to the more “modern” types of art forms, like film, photography, digital art, installation art, performance art, land art, fashion, computer art, comics, and video games, the human ingenuity and creativity found new ways of expression. People are today thrilled to discover the gratification of being able to complete the art project of their choice while using a variety of available tools.

Since within each art form a wide range of genres exist, like for example painting includes still life, portrait, or landscape, a work of art can be anything, from a representational painting to the abstract wallpaper of your PC screen. Whether theart form you like belongs to the category of fine arts or applied arts, the big issue here is that you are a creator, a designer, a painter, a sculptor, a craftsman, an artisan in general. If your art will make you rich one day is a matter of talent and luck, but during your project’s creation and upon its completion, you will experience a life changing realization; you will feel capable of accomplishing almost anything. After all that amazing thing is your own creation!

My time as a companion may have been brief, but full of lessons and discoveries. Being able to listen, emphasize, understand, question, hold, touch and be touched – and see how it impacted another – was rewarding. I chose it, I loved it, and I treasure the friendships that began to establish. I will look back with the fondest memories. It is, however, over.

The website is being revamped to cater to my other passions and interests. While I may no longer be available as a courtesan, I maintain deep interest in all aspects of sensual connection and healing, a never-ending quest for balance and exploration.

Companion is an archetype. People change and grow – at least, they should – which is why it’s useless and even dangerous to associate oneself with an archetype, static by definition. Using one as a guide and reference is a completely different matter, and that is what I intend to do.

I like the ideas of sexual healing, coming to peace with ourselves and redirecting energy away from all the destructive conflicts brought forth by cultural and religious conditioning into more creative and positive venues. Yet the “new age-y” framing of spiritual traditions, so often accompanying these concepts, makes me uneasy. I want it all in simple, lay terms, supported by evidence, and turned into practical techniques. I want the bottom line, tangible and intangible assets properly and conservatively accounted for. And so the quest continues.