DCDanceBlog

The performance at joe’s the other night was great, really great. It felt much like what I’m imagining for an open showings series in dc—informal, cozy, pretty well-attended, and with quality performances on show. I think most people were pretty impressed with what they saw. Each performance was surprising in its own way, I thought, and each had a freshness about it.

After the performances, we had a boogie. It’s funny about boogies: sometimes they work, sometimes they don’t. I’m a massive fan of them, so I was feeling sort of disappointed at first when I didn’t find myself genuinely inspired or feeling completely free. I thought maybe it was the fact that the audience’s chairs were still set up, so that some folks were lounging and watching us as we danced, making us feel sort of on show.

But as more dancers joined the group, I upped my moving and grooving and forgot about the audience. What I love most about boogies is just how free they can feel—how welcome everyone is, and how we’re all completely able to be our full freak selves, together and individually. At one point we gradually found ourselves following each other, until we wound up in a big circle going round and round and round. I was smiling so hard. I mimicked my friends, danced sensuously, jumped up and down, all depending on what music was playing. It was the greatest, most welcoming place, and the evening just took care of itself.