Dance, Life and Passion

Here is where it all begins...Life without dance (and music) is like living in black & white instead of technicolour. Laeti, my best friend has asked me to go out dancing like we used to. Before work got the better of us and ruled our lives. Laetitia has been part of my life since day 1 in Belgium. Although we are different, her intelligence, dedication to her work, and zest for life made me realise how lucky I am to be able to call her my best friend. Laeti is the sister I wish I had. 3 years younger, and way wiser than I am. We used to hit the salsa clubs in Brussels every weekend, till about three years ago, when we both became overwhelmed with work.

Yet I'm still dancing, as I brush my teeth, as I cook, and as I clean the house. Hell! I dance when I'm waiting for the train (very discretely of course). Some people notice, but I'm not trying to get their attention, just living in my own world which is full of music and passion for dancing. It's something in me that responds, connects to whatever music I'm listening to, and I start moving. Favourite dances of all times are salsa, flamenco, samba, r&b and of course, Indian rhythms like the bhangra - feels like I'm flying.

Biggest regret - never learnt the Bharatanatyam when I was a kid.

When I was a kid, Madd's dad used to freak out when I watched Solid Gold (half naked women gyrating provocatively, he said). Badbadbad influence...Well, almost twenty years later, I'm still dancing. Alone or with partners, a dance is a dance.

Depending on which culture we belong to, dance can been seen as evil or good. Dance is so deeply rooted in certain cultures that it is part of religion (Hindus call Shiva Lord Of the Dance, Nataraj; in Santeria, the priests and priestesses often dance in rituals, and of course, the whirling Sufi dervishes as they get into a trance) , and other religions frown upon it. FROWN all they want, I'm still SMILING and dancing...