You know it’s a dance party when the cake has 10 dancers (upright) and ready to boogie with actual spotlights putting them in focus! While most went about their day as per normal on Wednesday evening, close to a 100 people came together at a packed 02 Health Studio in Nungambakkam to ‘move and shake’ all night long. International Dance Day, though the occasion was, the fun part was that a bulk of these folks were first timers on the floor, but whether in their teens or a grey haired 70 - all inhibitions were left at the door.
“These people for the most part were strangers,” shares Jeffrey Vardon of the Hot Shoe Dance Company, who put together the event that was open for everybody and completely free. “So it was heartening to see nobody hesitated to holding hands for a jive or a cha cha,” he shares with a smile.
Between eight workshops of 20 minutes each, ranging from styles as varied as the Rumba to Zumba - the energy was insatiable and water breaks were frequent. “For once, even I was breathless by the end of the night,” Jeffrey admits with a laugh. And after 20 years of teaching, that’s saying something!
With most dance classes in the city ending around 9, this marathon series of workshops for beginners ended close to the Cinderella hour. And whether sporting stilletoes or sneakers, everyone left feeling energised and exhausted all at once as this one-of-kind, crazy evening drew to a gradual close. That’s dance for you - a happy feeling - that leaves you smiling, irrespective of whose hand you’re holding.