Happy feet

The nights are getting longer than usual. A peek at whats coming soon to Uppsala- fall. A time when nature prepares us for darkness and cold round the corner. Trying to make the best of what they have are the Lindy hop dancers I discovered recently.

One thing that brings people together is this spontaneous art called dancing, a mash up of music and good mood thrown in with energy. Lindy hop dancing is a dance for couples that originated in the USA. A time when jazz music was an indulgence in New York city. Described in colloquial lingo as Jazz dance or Swing dance is this art where couples portray a number of aerial moves to a fast tempo song. A delight to watch in its own. Me, being a man of classical taste was invited by a new friend of mine that I met at a house party. He had taken up Lindy hop dance lessons in Uppsala, sometime last term. He and a bunch of fellow learners decided to put it to use or practise amongst themselves at a particular venue every tuesday of this summer, atleast, till the weather remained inviting.

The venue is a wooden plank platform by the river that runs through the heart of town. Members had decided on an area that is suitable for dancing, while not disturbing the mood. Alongside the city park was the common favourite of the lot. The friend and myself took all the equipment that went with the arrangement. A stereobox with decent decibel output and a collection of American classic jazz music. And off they went. It was a fusion of tap dancing with the usual swirls and twirls.

I am a person who is so scared of dancing that I wouldn't even dance in private. The reason? I ve been told that a brick is more likely to be better looking at it than me. While I was there, I did not attempt to dance but I was enjoying the evening by the river. Dished up some new friends when they took a break from it. Later on when most of them had left and the pavement crowd thinned, I learnt a few steps from a member of the group.

I am going to enjoy it while I still can, cos only Penguins danced in the cold (the movie Happy Feet). Now on, tuesdays are going to as dancing nights.