|
Folk Dance Federation of California, South, Inc.
DANCING WITH TWO LEFT FEET |
|
CLICK AN IMAGE TO ENLARGE
I was just thinking if our folk dance traditions could survive the onslaught of time. Are we going to be dancing the same dances years from now? Are we going to be listening to the same music?
Who knows? Maybe we could learn from the Greek community on how to preserve our traditions.
Who knows? Somehow, the Greeks managed to keep their language, tradition, music, and dances while dispersed throughout the world. They make sure that Greek is spoken at home, marriages are among their own, and rituals and habits are maintained through the generations
Who knows? Many have seen the movie "My Big Fat Greek Wedding." If not, I highly recommend this movie by Nia Vardalos about a young Greek in her early thirties, single, and no immediate prospects of changing that status anytime soon. She works in the family business – a Greek restaurant. Desperate to get out of the situation, she takes matters into her own hands and signs up for a night-school class studying computers. Without getting into too many details, her action leads her to the altar and a "Big Fat Wedding."
Who knows? Over the years, my wife and I have been close friends with the owners of "Corfu," a Greek restaurant Agoura, and their daughter Demetra, whose story almost a verbatim follows the script of the movie. For the last fifteen or more years we frequented the restaurant religiously every Thursday to eat some great food, dance to Yorgo's bouzouki playing, and enjoy the company of a dozen of our Greek dancing aficionados.
Who knows? Yes, Demetra married a young Greek man and recently we attended their Orthodox Church wedding.
Who knows? One of the things that impressed me the most was that everybody in such a large group, from the very young to the very old, not only knew all the dances, but also joined in every dance. Demetra, in her huge and billowing wedding dress, led many of the dances, as her father and relatives alternately showered her with a rainfall of dollar bills. By late evening, we all danced on the floor littered with money.
Who knows? This is what made me think of the future of our dancing groups.
Who knows? Do we sit out most of the dances and dance only the ones we know?
Who knows? Or, do we learn from the Greeks, and enjoy them all, as we put our few dollars in the kitty to keep the lights on?
Printed in Folk Dance Scene, "DANCING WITH TWO LEFT FEET (34), April 2008.