Chapter 6. States of Consciousness
SC.15: Deep Dive – San Trance Dance
Approximate reading time: 2 minutes
Imagine a dance that’s more than just moving to music. The San trance dance is like that. The San people, who have lived in Southern Africa for thousands of years, use this dance for something special. When they dance, they do more than just follow a rhythm; they enter a different state of mind that is like being in a dream while awake.
During the dance, the dancers engage in intense physical activity. They move vigorously, often for long periods, which helps them reach this trance state. In this state, they experience different sensations, e.g., feeling that their bodies are changing in unusual ways. This trance is not just for fun; it’s a way for them to connect with their spiritual world, heal illnesses, and solve community problems.
The San trance dance shows us how dance can be much more than just a form of art or entertainment. It’s a deep part of the San people’s culture, helping them connect with each other and their spiritual beliefs.
To calculate this time, we used a reading speed of 150 words per minute and then added extra time to account for images and videos. This is just to give you a rough idea of the length of the chapter section. How long it will take you to engage with this chapter will vary greatly depending on all sorts of things (the complexity of the content, your ability to focus, etc).
