Dance within the 'art discourse'

Dance. It has been used by people in different cultures worldwide for centuries. It has been used and is still being used to express cultural beliefs and traditions. It represents the culture it was risen in, included all it's diversity and richness. It is used as a form of expression. In the western world's contemporary/lyrical dancing especially, there is a strong focus on dance as a way to express what words cannot express through themselves. The human soul is so comprehensive and complex in feelings, emotions and thoughts, no wonder dance was early applied as a way of sharing the 'most inner' within ourselves.
In todays western contemporary/modern dance there is a rich mixture of choreographies and performances being represented on the cultural stage. What I'm asking myself when I have witnessed certain performances is what did the choreographer want to say with this piece? Since I'm sitting here- with a feeling of emptiness- being slightly entertained, as far as technique goes- good dancing, but i still feel the exact same way as I did when I came.
I have realized the last year that there is a great difference between expression and communication within dance. Something can be expressed through the performing dancer , but that doesn't necesarilly mean that something is being communicated through the dance. In order to gain the audiences attention that evolves from their heart, the dancer need to be clear about her/his vision with the dance. Where did the passion for that vision occur from and how did it become sentral in the choreographers mind? I have often longed to be deeply touched through watching dance. I have been several times, but too often, I find myself in the midst of what I think is an artists intent and desire to be as creative and inventive as possible, without taking into consideration what she/he actually wants to communicate to the people outside. I am wondering sometimes wether the competitive environment within the fine arts grew so fast that it affected the artists desire to deeply touch their audience and communicate something meaningful. My opinion is that too often, artists seem to be in desperate need for attention for their work, so they create something as subtle and complex as possible, often with an intention to provoke. An intention to question and challenge universal limits and moral. To go so deep that maybe even the artist themselves got lost during the way and forgot what was worth saying..

Although I have to say, to the defense for the complex and diverse work of art; it may be very interesting and stimulating to watch a piece that you don't necesarrily know the intention or meaning of at the end. Cause it could still have been a journey for us to take part in it as an audience. A journey that cant really be expressed through words. It may have felt adventurous to be witnessing what took part on stage, in the interaction between the dancers. We may have got the feeling of being in another culture (often influenced by the music) or that the dancers invited us beyond another time and place. We may have felt that we took part in the choreography on stage through our kinesthetic awareness (often higly developed in the 'experienced' body of a dancer) and that may have left us with inspiration as far as choreography/creativity goes. Or it may, also through kinesthetic knowledge, have satisfied us because we felt we took part in the movements executed by the dancers...

But... In order for the performance to leave a long lasting impact on the audiences hearts, why not build up and emphasize upon what we want to communicate and share? Doesn't it result in a stronger impression if we dance in a way so that the audience can relate to it? I believe that dance can be used as a tool to promote better self- awareness among the audience (of course, also by the performers themselves). Because it is such a powerful way for people to get in touch with themselves. To get in touch with parts of themselves that have been forgotten through repression or hurtful times. When being an observer amongst the audience, I think that today, the average people simply aren't satisfied with just being entertained anymore. They long to be touched through the performance. Dance has the power to do that. As long as its not only build up by complex symbols that needs to be understood or interpreted, but that the performers/choreographers heart shines through the work. Simplifying the meaning of the piece doesn't necesarrily mean that the movements and quality needs to be simplified. Dance is such a powerful element that has the ability to leave traces on everyones soul. And I think it can make an even greater affect on people, as long as the intention and desire of actually telling people something meaningful through dance is present...