Dance, Little Man, dance!

6am  Friday 26^th August

Watched 'Ron'  in concert in Assisi last night.  Must buy his CD

Assisi is so beautiful at night - Santa Chiara

Had one of these unexpected magical Italian evenings  that my daughters know so well.  We’ve had lots in the past – some arranged – suppers in the garden at an Italian friend’s house where we would sit  watching the sun go down, eating, drinking and talking into the early hours while cicadas sang in the trees.  Others like last night where we just happened to be in the right place at the right time. 

Last night we called in at Assisi  after a trip to Perugia. Still hot at 7pm (but had been 42C! )
After buying some pottery and having a meal we wandered into the square by the fountain only to find a performance of drumming and flag waving and throwing. (actually they dropped quite a lot!) The energy put into the beating of the drums is amazing! I could listen to them for ever!  There was also a concert by, I think, 'Ron'?  

Two toddlers stood in front of me watching the drummers and just couldn’t keep still!  They were so cute but didn't dare take photos in this weird age we live in. They danced for the full time and showed amazing rhythm which just shows how natural movement and dance is.   It’s a shame that we knock it all out of them by lack of example and encouragement in the pre-school days and then put them straight into severely disciplined ballet classes at an early age.  

Night market

Thank goodness for ‘Twinkle-Toes Dance’ !  They have the right idea – to encourage a love of dance and music while developing natural rhythm and learning basic steps.  Their teachers are also performers so naturally radiate enthusiasm and passion.

That’s really got me thinking now - how often do kids in the UK see adults dancing or performing music apart from bobbing around aimlessly at a disco?  We  used  to have folk-dancing when I was little and everyone from the village would gather in the village hall, children and adults together and so we learnt by example.  It also enhanced our confidence and made us less embarrassed.  Now there is nothing.  Here, in Italy, children regularly see adults they know performing music, singing and dancing as every village and town seems to have their own orchestra and band and dance group, and, of course just about the whole village is involved with the annual Festa. It is also 'cool' to belong to such groups.  This makes a big difference! 

Also, when do UK children see Professional dancers performing – maybe on an occasional theatre trip? And how many children are taught by REAL dancers?  People who live to dance, who can inspire their pupils.    Those who attend Dance Schools where the teachers are also performers are very lucky.  There are not many of them around!