Why Tai Chi is like "dance" (not)
After reading the following, please explain why you are so enamored of dancers' movements as being de rigueur for Tai Chi, especially those hand flourishes? The delineation of Yin and Yang, what moves and what does not move, is the essence of the Square Form. But did you know that "delineation" and "what does not move" are extremely important in dance? "If I had a nickel" is not a meme but is a given when it comes to hearing Tai Chi compared to dance, dancers compared to Tai Chi, etc. "Compared" so much that students insist their Tai Chi should mimic dance movement...especially the hands and arms, AKA "Port de bras." Did you know that dancers also face problems getting students to Port de bras correctly? It is a classical ballet term meaning “movement of the arms.” It describes how dancers move their arms from one position to another. Now, doesn't the following sound more and more like the import of instructions for delineating what moves and what does not move in Square Form?
"When doing proper port de bras, dancers will move their arms from their back and shoulders (without lifting the shoulders awkwardly upwards) while trying to move as smoothly as possible. The shape of the arms should be rounded so there is no visible break at the elbows and wrists. In classical ballet, the arms should never be fully straight or hyper-extended at the elbows. Also, the hands should be shaped with the fingers extended, running mostly in the same direction, but not stuck together like a paddle or overly extended."
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