DCDanceBlog

john sent me this video of folks in some central american country doing punta, a dance that is apparently ”the contemporary offshoot of an ancestral rhythm and dance of the Garifuna people of Central America, performed during celebrations or festive occasions, with links to West Africa and an ancient rhythm called Bunda, or “buttocks” in the Mandé language.” basically some serious booty shaking.

it’s not the best quality video (mostly because the guys in the picture keep getting in the way of the very hot women who are shaking their buttocks!) but it’s still pretty great. i just love seeing these very modern looking women doing a dance that’s as old as the hills, and yet still relevant.

it makes me miss social dancing in this country in general. it’s such a shame that we don’t have any tradition, at least at this point, of dancing together–whether fast or slow, touching or not. going out dancing on 18th street is great, for example, but among white guys of european descent it isn’t comfortable and thus isn’t an option.

i was thinking about speed dating, and how in the past the same results were achieved by people going out dancing, having a 5 minute dance with someone new. it’d be a chance to talk, but also to glide and be physical together in an enticing, but innocent, way. i’ve never had that, but i miss it.