I love to dance. Ever since I could shuffle my feet, tap or wiggle my toes, music moved me. I grew up in a home in which my parents danced in the kitchen, which was one way that they showed playful affection. As I little girl, I would be Daddy’s dance partner by standing on his feet as we would sorta glide across the floor. Keep in mind that neither of us was smooth or adept at it, but what we lacked in talent, we made up for in enthusiasm. That is still the case, as every time I have attempted to learn formal dance steps, including Cajun and Zydeco, Contra and Ballroom, I have ended up stepping on unsuspecting toes. I am a much more comfortable and confident improv dancer. A few belly dancing lessons helped too. When my cousin Jody and I lived together in our 20’s, we used to do what we called nightgown dances in the living room. This past weekend while at a Counting Crows concert, my friends Janet, Gary and I danced our hearts out with kids young enough to be our own and had a blast. I think that dancing keeps us (all in our 50’s) youthful.
A friend sent me this video featuring Matt (he of “Where the hell is Matt?) dancing with people from all over the world. What I was struck by as I watched with delight, was that no matter where on the planet folks hailed from, they danced with abandon. Some steps were more formal and structured, while others were free form. What if, instead of fighting, conflicted world leaders could meet on a dance floor and turn on multi-cultural music and just close their eyes and be ‘danced’? It’s hard to be contemplating Weapons of Mass Destruction when you’re shakin’ your tush or wiggling your hips. I dare you to do it now…find some music that beckons you to immerse yourself in it. Close your eyes and imagine a huge dance floor with room to really move about it. Then, choose either to dance like no one is watching or like everyone is watching. Can you lose your self conscious awareness in favor of just being worked by the music?
If not yet, let this video inspire you too.
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