If I could only choose one thing from my childhood to pass onto my own children, and any young person, it would be Impromptu Dance Parties.
I grew up with my parents dancing around me.
Our tradition for every family party consisted of talent shows, where my parents actually put on costumes and performed for us.
Some of my favorites:
Alley Oop: For one party in the mountains, my Dad tore up his t-shirt and went into the woods for a secret mission of gathering pine boughs- he made a skirt for himself and sang and danced to the song “Alley Oop.”
Sonny and Cher: One year, my mom dressed as Sonny and my Dad dressed as Cher and they lip synced “I Got You Babe” in between their doubled-over-laughter.
“If You Want My Body”: For one family party, my Dad took the microphone and dedicated the upcoming song to my mom. We all assumed it would be a love song but it turned out to be “If You Want my Body” by Rod Stewart. He danced over to her and pulled her up to dance with him.
Then there was the time he danced “I’m Too Sexy for my Shirt” and revealed he was wearing a t-shirt with those words on it.
Then there was the daily dancing for no reason at all. It didn’t matter if things were going well, or the world was crashing down around their ears, they danced together through it all.
I saw firsthand how dancing can instantly change the energy in any situation, shake off stress, tears to laughter, mundane to magic, grumpiness into giggles…
I sometimes forget where I am and in a meeting, I will yell “dance break” and turn on a song, pop up and dance.
In my experience, life is better peppered with impromptu dancing.
I’m curious to know if you picked one thing to pass along, what would it be?
