I Learned To Solve All My Interior Design Problems by Dancing and Learning to Tell a Great Story. | Mary Ann Benoit-Northern Lights Home Staging and Design

A Great Story Makes the Dance

A great dance performance always has a story.

It might be a love story set to a song based on romantic Persian poetry. The Persians really know how to tell a romantic story!

Maybe it’s the story of the love affair between a girl and her drum.

Maybe it is the story of an epic battle between warrior queens.

It can be anything. The key is that there is an interesting journey, with a beginning, middle, and end. The path leads the audience to a final destination, feeling, revelation, or something that moves them in some way.

The choreography is the story and the choreographer is the master storyteller.

The dance has meaning.

It is not just a collection of a dancer’s favorite moves set to music so that it looks pretty and the dancer can show off what they can do.

That’s like someone reading an encyclopedia to you instead of a story. BORING!

Every move has a meaning and all of them together create the magic. There is nothing more or less than needed to tell the perfect story.

A great story is authentic to the storyteller, comes from the heart, and is told so the audience can relate it to their own experience.

Sometimes the story can take on a life of its own if it captures people’s imagination. For example, in the picture above, fellow dancer Doreen Valadez took this photo in Seward, Alaska next to Resurrection Bay of me in an Afghan folk dance costume, as part of the story for this dance. Somehow it got picked up in Iran by the Ministry of Culture, went a little viral over there, and was noted as an Iranian girl at the Caspian Sea.

Interior Design Lessons from Dance

What does it have to do with Interior Design? A great story is the key to a beautiful dance and room. This is Part 7 in my revelations from dancing on how to create your perfect space.

The older I get, the more I realize the connections between all things artistic. The same principles apply to making the magic happen in Interior Design or any other art form. You just need to open your eyes, listen, and feel it to notice.

It always seems to come back to the alignment between art (creativity), science (color), and energy (connection) that makes the magic happen. I use this alignment to create both beautiful dance pieces and interiors.

How Does a Great Story Relate to Interior Design?

Just like the perfect dance, a beautiful room has meaning.

It is not just a collection of your favorite decor items put in the same room so it looks pretty, like the dancer showing off their favorite moves without a story.

I often see people trying to create their perfect space by buying all the things they love over time, with no plan, and hoping for the magic to appear. It rarely turns out well.

As in the dance where every move has a meaning, and there is nothing more or less than needed to tell the perfect story, the same is true for your room.

If you have too many things, the room feels crowded and chaotic, and the star of your room can not shine. Too few things and it feels like something is missing and loses the feeling of comfort and connection.

It is important to start with a plan and figure out first what story you want to tell. That story can be your personal style, the story of your travels, your life, your family, or whatever has special meaning to you.

It’s important to have your beginning, middle, and end. The end is generally your focal point or star of your show as I mentioned in a previous article. The beginning should be an interesting entrance to your space that directs you to the focal point. The middle is all the other pieces of the room that support your story.

A Story of Simplicity and Connection

Greek Interior Design is simple and elegant, inspired by nature, and looks light, bright, airy and clean. The energy of Greek interior design is a blend of serenity, simplicity, reverence for history, and a deep connection to the natural world. It’s an energy that invites introspection while also encouraging communal bonds. The art in this design show motifs, colors and elements that are simple, connected to nature and the ocean, and community.

The Story of Transformation

The design and fractal energy art below were a story of transformation for me, and the series is called “Transformation”.

As the date February 22, 2022 approached, the numbers alone, 2-22-22 predicted a powerful energy day. I started to wonder what the energy would be like at 2:22 pm. I decided to set aside that time to create something and see what would evolve. I had no plan or idea.

Here is what I was inspired to create. Originally, I named it 22222222

Clearly, the number 2 held significance on this day. Upon researching numerology, I learned about its implications.

The number two amplifies intuition, enabling a deep, subconscious understanding. It can sense energies that aren’t visible, only perceptible.

Known as the peacemaker, number two promotes partnerships, balance, and teamwork. It symbolizes grace and diplomacy, harmonizing people, ideas, and elements.

While creating these pieces, I didn’t consciously think about the significance of the number two. I was simply guided by my intuition. I looked up the meaning later.

Originally, I labeled these artworks highlighting “2” in the title. But an observer’s comment, noting their resemblance to “transformation in action”, struck a chord. Over time, I recognized their symbolic essence and renamed them “Transformation”.

Personal growth is much like fire. Sometimes it’s as evident as a raging wildfire, changing our landscape. Other times, it’s subtle, smoldering beneath until it’s ready to surface.

Fire rejuvenates, clearing away the old, making room for new growth. Similarly, as we let go of our past, we pave the way for new beginnings. After a fire, though the land might seem empty, new life eagerly emerges, free from the shadow of what once was. This mirrors our journey, shedding old narratives to truly embrace our potential.

This design tells the story of transformation and is a reminder to celebrate it in yourself, whether it is a slow burn or a dramatic wildfire.

A Story of Prosperity, Hospitality and Protection

The design below is an example of Turkish style, and it is highlighting energy art of fish which is a sign of prosperity and protection against the evil eye. Turkish style is warm and inviting, earthy and exotic. It is simple, soft and relaxing. It is a great style for feeding and entertaining guests and sharing prosperity yet protecting its inhabitatants. The or evil eye, symbolizes the jealous and envious look of others, which can cause misfortunes to a person or his property. Turkish people believe that this amulet protects its holder from these types of bad energies by absorbing them. This story says to open your home and share your prosperity with others, yet don’t worry as you are protected from jealousy.

A Story of the Great Conjunction

In this room, the story revolves around the synergy of positive energy and alignment with our true selves, and its significance in our lives.

At the heart of the design is my “Great Conjunction” fractal art collection, inspired by the celestial alignment of Jupiter and Saturn on 12-21-20. Delve deeper into the backstory of this piece in my blog, “Do You Need an Alignment?“

Upon entering, this artwork immediately captures your attention. Guided by the rug’s patterns, your gaze is naturally directed towards this centerpiece. Every other element in the room gracefully complements the art, serving as the ensemble cast enriching the primary narrative.

The colors are vibrant, inspiring, and energetic.

The Story of Serenity and Alignment

The story of this office is “serenity”. It was designed for an artist that loves watercolors because the colors and flow of the art make her feel serene. This office was designed with the watercolor mural as the focal point. I designed a series of fractal art prints called “Watercolor” to go with it. The modern global design style is clean and uncluttered and filled with calming blue tones. Learn more in my blog article, Your Office is the Perfect Space to Relax and be Happy.

This energy art inspires you to go with the flow of energy in your life, while staying strong yet fluid, like water. Creating your perfect space matters because it can support you in your journey to BE the person you need to be to live your perfect life.

What is Your Story?

Your story is authentic to you, your life, your style, your energy, and the mood you want to create. Consider the story you want to tell, develop a plan, and think about how you want to tell it to create your perfect space.

Are You Ready to Tell Your Story?

Now that you know some of the elements that work together to create your perfect space, are you ready to take action to make it happen in your home?

Let’s tell your unique story and find the alignment of art, science, and energy that makes you happy. Try my Aligned Design consultation and let’s get started.

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