dance like nobody is watching
Last night I went to a Yom Ha'atzmaut BBQ in Jerusalem's German Colony. I actually saw a few people I knew, which always surprises me. I still assume being a relative newcomer to Jerusalem, I am unlikely to bump into anyone I know.
I started chatting with a nice Israeli guy who told me about this dance event that was happening around the corner. He was going along later and asked if I wanted to come. To be honest, I had nothing better to do and well to be really honest... I love a boogie (but that won't come as a surprise to those of you who really know me!).
I went along to this "thing" with a totally open mind. I had no idea what I was going to, or whether I would love it or hate it. I'll admit that when I had to pay 45 shekels to get in, I was really hoping I would love it!
Things were only just getting going when we arrived at around 11.30pm. In a large hall, there were about 50 or 60 people all dancing in their own little worlds. No one was dancing with each other; there was no 'couple dancing' in sight (yeah!) and everyone seemed totally unaware that anyone else was dancing around them.
I think I am gonna like this, I thought to myself. I scanned the room and marvelled at the diverse group around me. Young and old, religious and secular, hippies and super trendies... it was a come one, come all. I loved it!
Soon the hall was filled with literally hundreds of people. The DJ played a weird and wonderful mixture of contemporary (Israeli and Western) music, techno, hip hop, African and Indian beats, as well as good old fashioned "rikudei am" - traditional Israeli dancing songs. Whenever an old kibbutz favourite was played, large groups of men and women would instantaneously form and a frenzied circle of Israeli dancing would commence. It was dizzying and exciting and even when I was barely left with a breath in my body I couldn't help but think how unique this gathering of people was.
It was so unmistakably Israeli in its feel and flavour. Unlike the revolting nightclubs I remember being dragged to aeon's ago, this was something all together different. There were elderly men getting down and boogying hard to some seriously funky hip hop beats... and there were young teenagers screaming every word to classic Israeli folk songs.
People danced with passion and joy and utterly free of self consciousness. By 2.30am, I had danced my little bare feet off and I was most definitely ready to hobble home.
I found out from my new Israeli friend that this was not an unique occurrence. The organisation that put this event together (appropriately enough called "Boogie nights"!) run these dancing nights every two weeks. I think I have just found my new hobby!
Here are some photos I took last night. I only wish they could really capture the essence of such a magical night.
(You can click on the photos to see them at their full size)
I started chatting with a nice Israeli guy who told me about this dance event that was happening around the corner. He was going along later and asked if I wanted to come. To be honest, I had nothing better to do and well to be really honest... I love a boogie (but that won't come as a surprise to those of you who really know me!).
I went along to this "thing" with a totally open mind. I had no idea what I was going to, or whether I would love it or hate it. I'll admit that when I had to pay 45 shekels to get in, I was really hoping I would love it!
Things were only just getting going when we arrived at around 11.30pm. In a large hall, there were about 50 or 60 people all dancing in their own little worlds. No one was dancing with each other; there was no 'couple dancing' in sight (yeah!) and everyone seemed totally unaware that anyone else was dancing around them.
I think I am gonna like this, I thought to myself. I scanned the room and marvelled at the diverse group around me. Young and old, religious and secular, hippies and super trendies... it was a come one, come all. I loved it!
Soon the hall was filled with literally hundreds of people. The DJ played a weird and wonderful mixture of contemporary (Israeli and Western) music, techno, hip hop, African and Indian beats, as well as good old fashioned "rikudei am" - traditional Israeli dancing songs. Whenever an old kibbutz favourite was played, large groups of men and women would instantaneously form and a frenzied circle of Israeli dancing would commence. It was dizzying and exciting and even when I was barely left with a breath in my body I couldn't help but think how unique this gathering of people was.
It was so unmistakably Israeli in its feel and flavour. Unlike the revolting nightclubs I remember being dragged to aeon's ago, this was something all together different. There were elderly men getting down and boogying hard to some seriously funky hip hop beats... and there were young teenagers screaming every word to classic Israeli folk songs.
People danced with passion and joy and utterly free of self consciousness. By 2.30am, I had danced my little bare feet off and I was most definitely ready to hobble home.
I found out from my new Israeli friend that this was not an unique occurrence. The organisation that put this event together (appropriately enough called "Boogie nights"!) run these dancing nights every two weeks. I think I have just found my new hobby!
Here are some photos I took last night. I only wish they could really capture the essence of such a magical night.
(You can click on the photos to see them at their full size)
