The universal language of dance has emerged as a companion to everyone at some point in life. It is an unspoken narrative that unfolds across cultures, countries and continents. Dance can provoke joy, sorrow, pain, passion, love, war and aggression.

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Recently, in the bustling city of Jaipur, I found myself engaged in a fascinating conversation with a close friend. Amidst tales of family and tradition, he shared a curious anecdote about his father, Yogendra. For his 86 years, Yogendra remained an island of stillness, surrounded by the rhythmic chaos of children and Indian traditional life.

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"People can be dancing all around him, but he will never lift a limb," his son mused.

 

Yet, in Yogendra's tranquil smile, I discerned a profound truth: dance isn't merely a physical act; it's an expression of the soul's melody, a silent symphony that resonates from within. This revelation led me to ponder the diverse manifestations of dance across the globe. From the lively céilí dances of Ireland, where the community comes together in a whirl of joy and camaraderie, to the passionate tango of South America and the pulsating rhythms of African dance floors, to the street dancers

or the perpetual dance sequences that populate social media, each culture offers a unique testament to the power of dance.

 

In Bollywood's grandeur, dance becomes a spectacle of colour and emotion, narrating stories of love, struggle, and triumph. But as you will observe in this story, through the lens of war photographer Sebastian Rich, even the cameraman must be a dancer to capture the spirit and emotion of these oral traditions. We can share all of our experiences of the world through dance.

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