While writing stanzas to abstract for choreography, I looked for a symbol to encapsulate a sense of motion along with a sense of transformation. I found this symbol when a large iridescent dragonfly hovered around me the summer I was writing the stanzas outside by the lake. His antics caught my attention—he kept returning, landing, hovering, darting, and watching me from different angles. This seemed less like a chance encounter than a purposeful, personal one in which this beautiful creature was an accomplice, in harmony with what I was doing, and knew something that I had not yet discovered. Whether that particular dragonfly intuitively sought me out or knew I was creating something interesting, he brought me the symbol I was looking for. It was later that I discovered how fitting the dragonfly symbol was for the creative process—both my writing of the stanzas and the actual stanza ideas which are to be transformed (abstracted) into non-literal movement for dance that communicates the essence of the stanza’s idea.
Later, as I researched dragonflies to determine if they were a fitting symbol, this is what I learned.
THE SYMBOLISM OF THE DRAGONFLY
The dragonfly in almost every part of the world symbolizes change –the kind that has its source in mental, emotional maturity and in understanding the deeper meaning of reality and of life. … The Dragonfly’s scurrying flight across water represents an act of going beyond what’s on the surface and looking into the deeper implications and aspects of life.
Movement: Power and Poise
The dragonfly’s agile flight and ability to move in all six directions exude power and a sense of poise – something that comes with insight, age and maturity. The dragonfly can move at an amazing 45 miles an hour, hover like a helicopter, fly backwards like a hummingbird, fly straight up and down, and go to either side–all while flapping its wings only 30 times a minute while mosquitoes and houseflies flap their wings 600 and 1000 times a minute, respectively.
The dragonfly accomplishes its objectives with utmost simplicity and effectiveness. If you look at its proportions, it has 20 times as much power in each wing stroke as the other insects. The dragonfly flies with elegance and grace that can be compared to a veteran ballet dancer.
Defeat of Self-Created Illusions
The dragonfly exhibits iridescence on its wings and its body. Iridescence is the property of an object to show itself in different colors depending on the angle and polarization of the light. This property is believed to show the end of one’s illusions of self and a clear vision into life’s realities. Iridescence is associated with gaining confidence, of discovering one’s abilities by unmasking the true self which helps remove self-doubt. This results in self-discovery and reducing inhibition.
Living ‘IN’ the moment
The dragonfly only flies for a fraction of its life and usually no more than a few months. This restriction exemplifies the virtues of living IN the moment and living life to the fullest. By living in the moment you are aware of who you are, where you are, what you are doing, discernment about what you want and don’t want as well as how to gracefully make informed choices moment-to-moment. Living in the present, completely aware and alive, connects with the creative process in which discernment in the face of many choices enable the design of clear creative products.
The opening of one’s eyes
The awesome eyes of the dragonfly see 360 degrees–all the way around it. They symbolize uninhibited vision of the mind and the ability to see beyond limitations of oneself.
From http://www.dragonfly-site.com/meaning-symbolize.html,
Maybe this piques your interest in the exquisite, quixotic dragonfly so you’ll explore dragonflies further. For now, use the dragonfly stanzas I designed for you as a creative catalyst for lessons that also integrate arts and sciences.
All ages enjoy a lesson built around a dragonfly as a symbol for creativity in the classroom. The dragonfly diamante is designed to jump-start such a creative project—either creative writing, creative dramatics, creative dance, original music composition, choreography, improvisation, or a visual art project. Be inspired.
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Blog author: Brenda Pugh McCutchen
I chose dragonflies as the symbol for the original Dragonfly Diamante stanzas I created for choreography over the course of the last fifteen years and published in several books and booklets, such as Choreographic Impulses to Explore, Improvise, and Abstract. The dragonfly symbol is chosen because the written concepts in each stanza require one to see beyond the words in order to discover the movement potential that lies hidden beneath the words. To abstract the concept requires that it “change” its appearance while keeping its essence. To abstract is the type of transformation that aligns with the symbol of the dragonfly.
Edited and corrected errors 12-22-25 bmcc// ChoreoImpulses
DRAGONFLY DIAMANTES—Stanzas to Abstract for Choreography (2011)–a stand-alone book of 86 diamante stanzas to abstract into non-literal movement while keeping the essence of the idea. The book is written for dance composition classes from middle school through university. At the end of this book are found 18 “green theme” environmental awareness stanzas that address varied aspects of nature and environmental stewardship to abstract into dance compositions. They support an environmental awareness performance, whether as structured improvisations, a series of dance studies, a composition featuring recycled, re-purposed materials and props, or other creative ideas. The green poems use the bee as the symbol for “environmental mindfulness” which may also be interwoven into the performance in a meaningful way.
Edited and rewritten 12-22-25 bmcc//Dragonfly Diamante’s book.
Brenda Pugh McCutchen, author of Teaching Dance as Art in Education, writes stanzas to prompt choreography and other creative arts. One of her captivating poetic forms is the compact 9 word “diamante.” Each stanza presents a developmental sequence which includes one clear intent, a built-in beginning-middle-ending, and the design principles “repetition, variety, unity, and sequence.” Similar to Anne Green Gilbert’s cinquain, the artful diamante serves as a clear scaffold to create works that can range from the simplest to the most complex work. This simple poetic form is dynamite.
McCutchen’s creative books, Dragonfly Diamantes—Stanzas to Abstract for Choreography and its sequel, Choreographic Impulses, prompt others to make their own original works through nine-word stanzas. Because they portray “motional” ideas to abstract into non-literal movement, any age enjoys encountering these fresh ideas for dance. McCutchen, former dance professor and performing artist finds joy in designing catalysts to spark the creative process for others. She is the driving force behind Dance Curriculum Designs, www.dancecurriculumdesigns.com
Brenda Pugh McCutchen
Dance Curriculum Designs
Landrum, SC USA
12-22-2025 in process
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