SFPNN Special Edition –
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— Thanks to author, Ellie Braun-Haley for today's Special Edition
THERE’S MORE TO
Everyone is a Teacher
By Ellie Braun-Haley
When I was challenged to teach a blind singer to dance I had no idea I would become the learner.
I was a dance teacher for a local college and had been
learning a series of new dances to introduce into the communities in the area.
My partner and I decided it would be fun to practice to a live band at a
lounge. We didn't know we'd been the topic of interest where the band was
concerned until they approached us during one of their breaks. Admiring our
footwork, they asked if we could spend time with the three female singers in
the group and teach them some of our steps. It was felt the steps would enhance
their singing routines. Thinking it would be a fun morning and give us more practice
we agreed to meet at their motel the following day.
My partner was interested in working with two of the
singers and suggested that I work with the third singer, Gail. The challenge
for me would be to accurately describe each move for Gail. She had the greater
challenge, to process, interpret and simulate. Being blind, Gail had never seen
us dance but she exuded confidence. She also trusted her fellow singers that
the steps would be fun and a great addition to their act.
I went from feeling sympathy for Gail to admiring her.
She was able to accomplish all that her sighted colleagues had in the same
amount of time. She was an amazing woman and the session with Gail taught me
more than I realized.
A few weeks later, while I was teaching a group of
adults a country western Line Dance I noticed that most of them spent a lot of
time looking at my feet, or the feet of someone in front of them. I wanted them
to feel confident on the dance floor but I could see that they were relying too
heavily on others. A memory of Gail came to mind and as I thought of her I
realized she had learned so quickly because she did not use her eyes. The
message went from her brain straight to her muscles.
I told the group about Gail and suggested we try
something new; to pretend we couldn’t see. We went over the steps a few times
and I matched each combination of moves with a trigger word or phrase. Then we
focused on a spot on the wall, never looking down and went through the dance
again using only the trigger words to remind our brains of what we wished our
feet to do. Invariably and with unbelievable consistency the students learned
the dance quicker than usual.
I never saw Gail again yet her dance lessons taught me
something I would use again and again over the years. The lesson eventually
helped hundreds of students to learn better and to thereby feel more
confidence.
Without Gail I doubt that I would have discovered a
new method for teaching dance. Her attitude showed me that we should not be afraid
of the things we can not see and do not know. Gail didn’t see herself as
courageous, learning to dance in spite of blindness,
no instead she accepted new challenges as an opportunity to taste more life.
Gail laughed at her mistakes. She lived in the moment.
— © Ellie Braun-Haley, shaley@telusplanet.net
Ellie says she
"has learned that the sidewalks of life may be filled with breaks and
cracks but the scenery en route is worth the walk." Ellie has had numerous
short stories published in Chicken Soup for the soul, Heartwarmers
of Spirit, Emerging Courage, Concious Women and many
other publications. Ellie is a prairie girl born and raised in Alberta,
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This and
every issue of SFPNN is dedicated to MISTY, a tiny angel who taught us to love
unconditionally and bask in the glory and joy of each moment.
For more information about Misty, please visit Misty’s
Miracle at: http://www.sfpnn.com/SoulMagic/Soul2001/sm040601.htm and our Reflections of a Zen Master / Fuzzy
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