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Saturday, September 1, 2012

The Black Swan Dance



I watched the movie Black Swan a second time recently. A powerful movie of passion for dance, that didn’t fail to move my spirit as forcefully as it did the first time that I watched it.



It is the movie about a ballerina consumed with dance, who has to depict the coveted role of the innocent white swan and also its twin the guileful black swan. But she had the frigidity, a reserve in her dance that comes due to innocence and an unlived life. It made her perfect as the white swan but it prevented her from letting herself go, while portraying the sensuous black swan.


The words from her director asking her to ‘live a little’, to lose her frigidity and free herself; the incidents and competition in her life, all blow air on the dark side in her and ignite it to full flame. The result is that black takes over like a whirlwind and she dances the black swan dance in full fire and wins the audience
…but she loses herself, her life, to the act.

Her own desire to keep the role and end the one competition, her intention to meet the requirements for the role as hinted by her director; act as seeds that grow in her, that push her in a direction she was too inhibited to go in reality..and so she goes all that way in her mind. She moves swiftly from the sweet girl to the dark one, who in her stressed and twisted mind has ‘been there, done that'; murdering none else but her own self.


Are we the light or the dark or both? It is true that often in life, in order to leave our frigidity, to let go of our inhibitions, to become more at ease, we have to explore our dark side, we have to live a little; but the challenge is to not to be swept away by it and keep the balance. In life, when the dark winds blow like an unending storm we have to realize that it is the signal to stop resisting and go with the flow of life. Like a tree we have to bend in the incessant wind and not be too stiff, to avoid being broken!

Exploring the dark side is like climbing on a roller skate. If we keep the balance we can have a swifter, more graceful movement but we have to remember that the roller skate without awareness and balance can topple us over any time. The dark side is like a roller that can take over like a whirlwind and destroy all that was safely there as we walked on two feet. And so it needs a lot of control and has to be used with utmost care as we master it, and become fully aware.

The light with all its splendor and clarity, is indeed the real us, while the dark power is the tool, the roller skate, to be used carefully, a tool that when used with control can help live life with more freedom. Then as a swan we can dance sensuously with freedom and still be full of light...; be the White Swan doing... the Black Swan dance....

16 comments:

Monu Awalla said...

I actually believe in the same wat u tried to say here.. Living the dark side in a balanced way smoothens the flow of life in a positive direction...
I really appreciate your thought which carries a lot of sense...
A relaxing thought to ponder on which says,'' hey man take a break n live some quality life.." :) :)

Debra said...

Jerly, what a powerful archetype, this story of the innocent white swan being overshadowed by the black swan. And what an accurate analysis you’ve conveyed here. We are both light and dark, but I pray that the light in me will outshine the dark, altogether eventually. This is what the dance of life is all about. Wonderful post, friend!

Fhermission said...

For aesthetic purposes, black and white can compliment each other...especially if the artist can handle the balance and harmony of each element.
But in life, do we really have to touch the darkness in us? Do we really have to play safe all the time? Isn't it better to take some risk too?
The good news is, we are advise by God to be Gentle as dove but be as wise as the serpent also.

The Poet said...

Dear Jerly,
You are so goooood with words (smile). Great story and yes, with a lot of depth, style and humility. Also loved your little romantic words (smile). Deep down inside...I know you are a romantic....are you smiling?

Jerly said...

Thanks Monu; yeah chill and live a littlle ;)
Thanks Debra; "the one who holds till the end is saved." We have to hold on fast to our faith and the light does shine through eventually. I read on a car today "Jesus never fails"
Thanks Fher for bringing those points in; I love that comparision u brought in; in painting the balance of dark and light is vital without which the composition doesn't come out good; yeah exactly- innocent and wise.
Thanks Andy. Ha Ha..Hmmm You caught me there. It is very difficult to discern that side of me. Some who know me well say that i am hopelessly left brained and would bring logic into the most romantic mood; but the truth is as u said- i am a thorough romantic; its just not the "official" facet :)

Azra Raphael said...

first off, thanks for "finding" me! that way i got lucky to find YOU in return! lol.

loved your review since I've watched the movie and wanted to do a review myself. You did it with so much insight dear! imma follow your posts from now on. =D

for me, the best part of the movie (probably for everyone else too) was the dance of the black swan. so dark, so graceful, so intriguing. it was a perfect swan song (sorry for pun intended!) to the repressed artiste in her. she practically lived out on the stage as both the dark swan and the utter melancholy of the white swan was as breathtaking.

love ye!
-azra/raphael

Jerly said...

@ Raphael- Yeah the black swan dance is powerful and it pulls the curtain off much of the mystery in the movie. Its an intriguing movie all together. I guess as u tried to join my site u must have realized u are already there, that we are already google connected.:)Small world

Irfanuddin said...

for me "life is a constant struggle for balance between the two..."

BTW a very well penned write up and it makes to think a bit too...thanks for sharing.

I really like to read you time n again, plz keep them coming.

Jerly said...

Thanks Irfanuddin, that was truly encouraging! I am grateful for ur words of appreciation. Yeah Life is indeed a balancing act.

Melissa Tandoc said...

Deep and intriguing Jerly. I have not seen this but it emulates such intense emotions.

I like how you've carefully described the Black Swan ~ it's insidious act and portrayal of dual role makes me think a lot about myself.

I do lose myself every now and then experimenting on things...but the Lord holds me by the collar. It scares me to see my dark side... but facing it fully could uncover the works of the devil and allow my real self to emerge...

Jerly said...

I can understand u totally Melissa. I have heard that virgo's can have both the extremes of good and bad and it depends on their initial years. They are much affected by circumstances as to which way they turn. I think it is pretty much true. A faith is important to us that as u said would tether us as we explore out.

Melissa Tandoc said...

* its instead of 'it's insidious act' ~ pardon...

Rahul Bhatia said...

Very well written, Jerly!

Saru Singhal said...

I haven't seen the movie. I will catch it. You said it's about making a balance and I hope you agree somehow the dark things have the power to get absorbed by itself. For better or white things, we have to struggle a bit and we lack the motivation.

Thought provoking read!

Farfalla Dreams ~ Lisa Marie Farfalla said...

WOW! So true! It seems that the dark side has a way of intriguing us and it is fun, in the beginning. But it always seems to destroy us in the end. I love how you illustrated this. It is BEAUTIFUL. May all of us allow the White Swan to over rule the Black Swan, in us.

Jerly said...

Thank u Saru; Dark things sure are attractive, although sometimes it is more revolting to enter it if the mind is conditioned to religious and social rules. it can be difficult as I mentioned in this post to make an easy movement into the dark lanes. The first step is difficult. but then it can be more consuming than the good indeed!

Thanks Farfalla; The light can indeed master the dark. Where the light shines, the dark is overcome.Remember the lines "those who follow me will not stay in the dark forever, because I am the light"?

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