I Learned to Solve all My Interior Design Problems by Dancing

I Learned to Solve all My Interior Design Problems by Dancing

I learned to solve all my Interior Design problems by dancing

It’s true. Doesn’t matter what type of dancing. Belly dancing, Persian dancing, salsa, and more. There are lessons there. And, it is a lot more fun to learn them dancing than in a classroom.

 

It’s funny, 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.

 

And sometimes that includes feeling the principles in how you move your body and express yourself.

It always seems to come back to this alignment between art, science, and energy that I combine when I am creating a perfect space for myself or you.

There is an interconnectedness of all artistic endeavors. Let’s delve deeper into this concept:

  1. Movement & Flow: Just as in dance, where fluidity and grace are key, a well-designed space should enable ease of movement and a harmonious flow between its different parts.

  2. Balance & Symmetry: Whether it’s balancing your weight on one foot during a pirouette or ensuring that the furniture in a room is symmetrically arranged, the concept of equilibrium is pivotal in both realms.

  3. Emotion & Expression: A dance is more than just steps; it’s about expressing emotion. Similarly, a room is not just furniture and walls; it’s about conveying a mood or sentiment.

  4. Attention to Detail: In dance, every hand movement, every facial expression matters. In design, it’s the same – from the color of the throw pillows to the texture of a rug, every choice contributes to the whole.

  5. Rhythm: As in dance, rhythm in design can be established by repeating patterns, colors, or shapes, creating a visual tempo that guides the eye.

  6. The Spotlight: Just as a dancer uses the focal point on stage to captivate the audience, so does an interior designer use a centerpiece or focal point to draw attention in a room.

  7. Adaptability: Dancers adjust to the music, the space, the partner. Similarly, a good interior designer adjusts to the constraints of a space, the needs of the client, and the available resources.

By seeing the common threads between dance and design, I  draw inspiration and solutions from one realm and apply them to another. It’s a testament to the universal language of art and creativity and how understanding one form can enrich our appreciation and execution of another.

 

So what do I mean I learned to solve all my Interior Design problems by dancing? There are so many ways and examples that I will write a series on this.

Let’s start with one example, how to mix styles.

Mixing Styles

Merging dance styles isn’t about merely mashing two forms together; it’s about synthesizing them in a manner that feels organic and new while still respecting their origins.

Let’s draw a parallel to interior design:

Imagine if you’re merging two distinct design styles, say, mid-century modern with rustic. Here’s how this dance choreography analogy can be applied:

  1. Understand the Base Style: Just as in choreography, it’s vital to understand the core essence of your primary design style. If mid-century modern is your predominant style, recognize its key features: clean lines, organic curves, and functional form.

  2. Introduce Elements from the Secondary Style: Now, take elements from the rustic design: raw wood, handmade items, and weathered materials, and incorporate them in a way that complements the mid-century modern vibe.

  3. Maintain Essence: While adding the rustic elements, it’s crucial to maintain the essence of the mid-century modern style. It’s not about cluttering the space with mismatched items but choosing elements that augment the primary style.

  4. Fusion, Not Confusion: The goal is to create a cohesive look that feels fresh and unique but still rooted in its origins. Every choice should be deliberate and not just a random addition.

  5. Telling a New Story: The merged style should narrate a new tale, one that carries the legacies of both styles but stands on its own.

In the same way, a choreographer uses movement to weave a story that fuses two dance styles, an interior designer can blend elements to craft a space that sings a fresh, harmonious song of its own. The beauty lies in the balance, in understanding the essence, and in ensuring the fusion brings forth something novel while staying true to its roots.

 
I Learned to Solve all My Interior Design Problems by Dancing

For example, I see dancers that want to do a belly dance/flamenco fusion. They do some classical belly dance moves, then some flamenco moves, and then back to belly dance. They alternate the twor recognizable elements and assume because they are together in one piece, they have created a “fusion” of styles. Really, it is just a bunch of moves mixed together.

It reminds me of what many people do in a room and they call it “eclectic”. That is an elegant way of saying, “I threw a bunch of things together that are unrelated into a room with no plan or story”.

A real dance artist will know the classical Egyptian moves and feeling well, and also the flamenco. They will notice where moves are similar in their feeling, flow, intention. They will naturally notice where a move of one style could “go with the flow” and move into something from the other style seamlessly and beautifully, creating a new “move” in the process, different from the 2 separate moves that inspired it.

They know the rules of both styles enough to break them and create something even more powerful by doing so.

True fusion, be it in dance, design, or any other art form, is about creating a harmonious blend where the resulting product is a beautiful and novel offspring of its parent elements, rather than just a juxtaposition.

  1. Superficial Fusion vs. Deep Fusion: In the dance example, merely alternating between belly dance and flamenco is superficial fusion, much like putting different styles of furniture in a room without a connecting theme. It lacks depth and intention.

  2. Understanding the Essence: True fusion requires a deep understanding of both styles. It’s about recognizing the essence of each and finding points of convergence. Like noticing the rhythmic footwork in both flamenco and certain belly dance styles and blending them to create a novel movement.

  3. The Narrative: Every dance tells a story. The same goes for a well-designed room. This narrative gets lost when styles are jumbled together without thought. But when fused with understanding, they tell a compelling tale that carries the flavor of both, but the uniqueness of something new.

  4. Breaking Rules Creatively: Knowing rules well means you can break them intentionally, not accidentally. It’s the difference between creating a masterpiece and making a mess. A dancer or designer who understands both styles can take risks, pushing boundaries to create something revolutionary.

  5. The Emotional Connect: Beyond moves or objects, both dance and design are about evoking emotion. A true fusion evokes feelings that resonate with both styles but also elicits something new.

In sum, whether it’s dance or interior design, true fusion is an art. It’s not about mere combination but integration. The resultant creation should not only reflect its parent styles but should also stand on its own, captivating and novel.

I Learned to Solve all My Interior Design Problems by Dancing

In my choreographies, I frequently delve into the realm of fusion, an artful blending of disparate dance styles. In these captured moments, my dance piece seamlessly unites contemporary and timeless forms, exemplified by the harmonious pairing of silk butterfly wings with the ancient elegance of Persian Miniature dance.

The heart of my creation lies in the revival of Persian Miniature dancing—a classical tradition where living brushstrokes animate the pages of ancient paintings. This fusion, however, is not an arbitrary union. It’s a masterful dialogue between the ethereal elegance of the past and the vibrant innovation of the present.

The dance I unveiled on that stage is more than a spectacle; it’s a tapestry woven with the threads of life’s journey. Through delicate motions and symbolism, I wove a tale of metamorphosis, tracing the profound evolution of an individual from innocent childhood to the wisdom of old age. Every step, every movement, conveys a narrative of resilience, growth, and beauty, much like the emergence of a butterfly from its cocoon.

In this choreography, I beckon the audience to witness the human experience in all its stages, translating emotions into motion, and blending diverse elements into a choreographic symphony that celebrates life’s transformations.

I Learned to Solve all My Interior Design Problems by Dancing

That is the artistry, the magic, the creative force that makes something beautiful. It is the unique expression of the dancer. It tells their story. No one else can do that.

I Learned to Solve all My Interior Design Problems by Dancing

Use that same artistry to create your perfect space, which is a unique expression of you. It is the dance or alignment of  creativity, color and connection that tells your story.

My personal aesthetic gravitates towards what I call “Modern Global” style—a unique blend that might not be commonly recognized but resonates deeply with me. At its core, the Global Style echoes the bohemian ethos, drawing inspiration from the vibrant colors, intricate textures, artistry, and eco-conscious sensibilities of diverse cultures such as Morocco, India, Turkey, Mexico, and Greece, among others. These designs are inherently tied to nature, evoking the myriad hues and rhythms of the great outdoors.

However, the typical Bohemian aesthetic leans heavily toward maximalism—embracing a lavish abundance of elements and layers. While I’m enamored by its rich colors and textures, I’m inclined towards a more refined simplicity that aligns with contemporary design.

In crafting my unique “Modern Global Style,” I extract the essence of both worlds. This style marries the vibrancy, artistic flair, and natural resonance of Global Style with the sleek sophistication of modern design. It presents a harmonious dance between the two: exuding elegance, it spotlights art, often my energy art,  as the centerpiece. Instead of the stark lines usually associated with modern looks, my style incorporates a harmonious blend of curves, lending it an organic fluidity.

In essence, “Modern Global” is a curated symphony of the world’s artistic treasures, distilled through a contemporary lens, producing a design that’s both expansive in its influences and precise in its presentation.

I combine what I consider to be the most important elements of each to create a more elegant “Modern Global Style”. It has the color, texture, artistic elements, and connection to the outdoors but is more elegant and graceful, often making my energy art the focal point. It is sleeker and streamlined while maintaining lots of curved lines compared to straight lines more typical of modern styles.

I Learned to Solve all My Interior Design Problems by Dancing

I tell you this to show you how it works and reflects my personal style and what I am drawn to. It is what flows naturally from me if I am designing for myself or have few limitations.

The understanding of mixing styles I gained as a dancer helps me get to know and tell your story and express your style, which is totally different than mine as we are all unique.

That is why finding inspiration photos from a magazine or Pinterest is helpful for inspiration, but should never be copied. That is someone else’s story.

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By Mary Ann Benoit

President- Northern Lights Home Staging and Design Owner- Arctic Paradise Bed and Breakfast Artist- Stained Glass, Jewelry and Alcohol Ink Art Wildlife Biologist Director- Kaleido World Percussion and Dance Company Director- Tavus Dance Company of Alaska Lover of music, art, dance and animals.

8 comments

  1. I appreciate your insight into how dance and design are related. I too think that most creative endeavours are related and if you explore creativity in different ways it will build your artistry in all areas.

  2. Combining design with dance, it is a natural flow! I wouldn’t have thought but it makes perfect sense!

    1. Haha, one of those weird connection you never make unless you do both things, and then it is so obvious:)

  3. Great analogy, Mary Ann and a fascinating lens with which to view design as a way to tell your own story! Well done!

  4. What a refreshing and inspiring post! I have always felt that we do our best work when we employ all of our senses! Love your creativity, and such a fun post to read!

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