I finally got to participate in my very first flash mob, thanks to the Sustainable Food Center. This past Saturday, Oct. 22 was National Food Day Celebration. Austin’s already very focused on supporting local businesses; so it’s natural that there’s a huge emphasis on buying organic, local food from our “neighborhood” farmers as well.
One volunteer, Andrea, choreographed a jazz routine to “Yes, We Have No Bananas” and posted it to Youtube. As soon as I saw the routine, I was pleased that I already knew how to do all the moves, but, as usual for me, I had to work on remembering the sequence–nearly the same challenge I have with capoeira sequences except there are some moves that I’m not sure I’ll ever get the hang of in capoeira!
We started rehearsing it last Saturday and although I kidded myself that I would practice along with the Youtube version at home, I never found the time to do that, but attended the Wednesday rehearsal along with the early Saturday morning rehearsal, an hour before the event.
About 50 or more of us volunteers and vendors participated. We ranged in age from about 4 to “mature, retired adult.” It was an exhilirating experience; so I won’t bother dwelling on the few mistakes I made. I’m just happy that the small child to my left who I bumped into/stepped on a few times was a real trooper and kept dancing.
Afterwards, another volunteer, who had worked with the children to make flags, passed them out and we had a little parade around the market. We even had a marching band song playing over the PA system.
That was a fantastic way to start off the day. I returned home to paint, clean up and attend two hours of tango lessons. We had a substitute teacher who actually ran the class at a refreshingly brisk pace and introduced us to different beginning and intermediate moves. In between the beginner’s and intermediate lessons, I went to the bathroom and read on one of the posted flyers that there was a samba de gafieira workshop afterwards. This couple’s style of samba isn’t taught in Austin; so I felt obligated to stay after my three hours of tango lessons. Besides, samba de gafieira is touted as the samba version of tango.
The Houston-based Brazilian couple were very friendly and patient with us. My heart went out to them since they had to teach in a foreign language, something I’ve not even done despite the fact that most of my teaching experience has been outside the States. At the 4 1/2 hour mark of dance lessons, I felt that I couldn’t absorb another thing. My partner, who takes tango lessons, hit the same wall. We’d learned four different moves with the basic step being the most challenging since it involved putting the opposite feet forward and back, compared to other ballroom dances such as salsa.
I crashed out on my bed for a good 40 minutes before tackling my daily fiction writing and a week’s worth of cooking. I’m so glad that I’d had four hours to get those things accomplished and just relax before heading back out to a birthday party that one of my capoeirista friends was celebrating downtown.
I’d never gone to that particular bar before and was rather surprised when the guy working the door asked me if I was there for karaoke or the birthday party. I immediately said the birthday party since there was no way in hell I was there for karaoke! As a matter of fact, the last time I went to a karaoke place, a friend had chosen to celebrate his birthday there.
Despite the fact that I was the first capoeirista to show up to the party, I must admit that I was highly impressed at the collection of interesting, friendly people who I did not previously know. That was the first time in a long time that I had socialized easily with people I didn’t already know.
As a special treat, my friend had sent a shout out to all her favorite DJs to stop by and play for a bit to help her celebrate her birthday. I had already danced for 5 hours; so I was not at all disappointed that not a single DJ played any salsa, samba or tango. As a matter of fact, I found it rather pleasant just to talk with people and pass out my business cards.
Around a quarter to two am, my day was finally done. Not a moment too soon…I still slept well enough to make it to my 10 am bikram yoga class. I feel that I’ve hit another good milestone with my yoga practice since my left lower back didn’t pain me as much.
And some strange mood has overcome me, but after months of making a small pile of clothes that I can no longer wear, I’m in the mood to go to Goodwill, get the replacements and then the mall for some inexpensive, going out dance shoes. My cheap pair have seen better days and are in danger of falling apart when I least expect it. Not that I care too much about looking shabby, I just don’t want anything to cause me to have another fall when I could have prevented it. Besides, I must live to marathon dance another day!