A good friend of mine is faithful in coming to watch all my dance performances. After being greeted with the usual "congrats, you did such a nice job!", her comments drift to rebuking the 'pedestrian' movement style. "I just don't get it," she'll say. "What's up with all the random running and walking interrupting the dance?"

We're experiencing the coming of a new dance era with the rise of pedestrian contemporary. This style exhibits human-like qualities and often includes familiar gestures of everyday life. It is far from the 'leaps, kicks, and jumps' focus of dance or talent competitions.

On one side, I totally understand where my friend is coming from. How can that be dance? Whether I'm a dancer or in the audience, I am expecting the choreography to showcase the dancers' technique and dedicated training. I may be disappointed or frustrated if I feel like I am just walking across the space.

But then I gave it a little more thought. How can I insult the choreographer that designed every part and step? He or she most likely has an idea of a concept they are trying to present to the audience. The reasoning behind such movement may be to add organized chaos in the scene or to reflect a flaw within humanity or maybe it is to bring awareness to a certain human characteristic. Whatever the meaning behind it may be, it is still art and it is still dance.

Furthermore, dance isn't the exclusion to this conversation as to what qualifies as such. In fact, it's been an ongoing dialogue in the art realm for centuries. Have you ever been to a modern art museum and wondered how a piece is identified as worthy of museum art instead of a spot at a garage sale?

Well, I have. However, I think the ultimate question we should be asking is not "is this dance?" or "is this art?" but "is there a meaning behind this piece?" or "what is the choreographer/painter trying to make me understand?"

I'm not saying there has to be an underlying meaning behind every brush stroke or choreographic move, but what are you going to take away from this art?

Challenge yourself to be open-minded and experience a greater appreciation for the creativity others provide. Challenge yourself to not solely focus on the pedestrian type moves but to see the greater picture.