A group of German journalists came to the Hall for the Cedric Burnside show on Mother’s Day. Cedric played one of my favorite songs of his, We Made It, and introduced it by calling me up to dance.
For a person who loves to dance, what is better than owning a dance hall? Not much, I can assure you. One of my favorite videos was the small after party some of us had after cleaning up from a drag show one December.
While Cedric sang We Made It, I tried to get people up to come dance with me, and noticed one of the German tourist, a tall gorgeous blonde, who had been taking a lot of photographs, sitting at the corner of a table by the dance floor. I beckoned her to join me. She kept shaking her head no, shaking her entire body no.
Later this week, the same woman returned with a smaller group for an interview and tour of the Hall. I asked her why she didn’t dance, and she said, “I can’t.” I egged her on a little, telling her dancing is good for the soul. She said, “I used to dance when I was younger, but now I don’t know, I’m too shy.” I told her people get self-conscious because they believe other people are watching them, but dancing is about moving your own body and it’s about freedom – your interpretation, your moves, your body.
I want to remember that dancing is always available to me. In my kitchen, in my bedroom, and lucky for me, in the Hall. Every Thursday, we have a little dance party. Lava Lounge is our happy hour and when Jesse plays the right song, at the right time, it gets us on our feet and moving our body.
My friend, Ann, sent me this song because she said it made her think of me. I would ask you to play it and see if it makes you want to dance. And while you’re dancing, think about how small your problems seem as you move around with joy.
Alan Watts wrote: “We thought of life by analogy with a journey, a pilgrimage, which had a serious purpose at the end, and the thing was to get to that end, success or whatever it is, maybe heaven after you’re dead. But we missed the point the whole way along. It was a musical thing and you were supposed to sing or to dance while the music was being played.”
