Δαφνη Ευτυχια Αρθουρος

"When safe and wanted touch feels so affirming, why has it become confined to only romantic encounters? How can sustained physical communication be reintroduced into the lexicon of relating to others so that it can be an available and integrated form of communication across the lifespan?

"While working at the senior facility and thinking about touch and physical acknowledgement, I met a friend who invited me to go contra dancing with her. [...]

"Although I knew that contra involved partnered dancing, the amount of physical interaction in the dance was initially jarring for me, especially since there is such an absence of touch in my life. [...]

"[...] Through our visual gaze and tactile interaction of our hands guiding our steps and body positioning, I felt more alive and awake than I had ever experienced before. My dancing partner affirmed my presence and importance in the room. My eye contact mattered, but so did the actual matter of my being; my physical presence. I felt a sense of wholeness, validation, excitement and pleasure in being seen by my partner and seeing how much I mattered through his gaze. Though I was firmly rooted to the ground, the happy feeling elicited in me made me feel like I was flying. As the dance progressed, and I continued to make eye contact with my partner and with my neighbor, who kept changing throughout the dance, I felt that same amazing feeling with each person I danced with. This person sees me and feels the weight of my body! This person sees me too! I couldn't wipe the smile off my face."

-- Sarah Rubin, 2014-11-18