Why do blind peole sway back and forth instead of sitting still? (Think Stevie Wonder/ Ray Charles)?

Answer 1

First, not all blind people sway. It just seems that way because two very well-known people who are blind (Stevie Wonder & Ray Charles) do.

I've been told that the reason some people who are blind sway back and forth or side to side is because it is a way for them to provide themselves with sensory stimulation that they do not get through their sense of sight. Additionally, they do not know that other people (who are not blind) do not sway. The person who is blind assumes the swaying is normal unless a sighted friend or family member tells them that their swaying makes them stand out even more. In my own expereince, most people who are blind do not want to set themselves apart from the crowd, so if they are told that they sway (and that other people do not) they may try to stop. But remember, swaying is a habit (just like biting your fingernails), so once it is learned, it is very hard to stop doing it.

Answer 2

I'm not sure two examples are sufficient to fulfill a norm.

How many blind keyboardists do NOT present such exagerated movements when performing? Country singer-pianist Ronnie Milsap is an energetic entertainer, but he doesn't perform the back and forth or side to side swaying which are familiar to fans of Ray Charles and Stevie Wonder. Terri Gibbs is another blind singer-pianist whose stage demeanor is unremarkable as compared to sighted entertainers.

George Shearing, the popular blind British jazz pianist, often played with orchestras, where he may have been a featured soloist, but his movements were necessarily controlled so as not to distract attention from the ensemble as a whole. Another blind pianist to check out is the inimitable late jazz virtuoso Art Tatum.

I have performed with blind singer-guitarists and bassists whose stage personages would not be characterized as "animated"...

Answer 3

I'm not blind and not a doctor, But I wonder if it is a way of finding their space, swaying may tell them if there is things around them, if they softly sway then the would softly bump things such as walls, people and such, I feel uncomfortable when I don't have plenty of personal space... I can see when and when i don't, they can't, so maybe they sway since touch has to help compensate for lose of sight.

I would also add in the dead of night I find myself doing gestures allot like a sway to keep from hitting things.

Answer 4

I am pretty sure that it also has to do with equalibrium. Your balance is partially determined by sight. Since they can not see they have other ways of keeping thier balance, determining where they are at etc. When you lose any sense your body adapts in different ways to compensate for the loss.

Answer 5

Not all blind people sway. Many sighted musicians sway. It has NOTHING TO DO WITH EQUALIBRIUM.

Answer 6

I often end up writing the same question on other sites

Answer 7

I was interested to know this as well

Answer 8

They cant see themselves move and don't know their doing it.