Nobody dances anymore?

Hi! Welcome to the first blog of XSTSY MEDIA’s new installment, ‘Check Your Pulse.’ I'm excited to share thoughts and ideas as I'll leave the comments open and encourage others to speak their mind. Don’t be an a$$hole, but voice your opinion whether you agree or disagree. Because a lot of the time these blog posts act as data collectors for possible future pieces of mine. So I am creating a comfortable forum for people to be #relatable.

Anywayyyyyyy, I am someone who LOVES to dance. I actually call it a form of self care and recognize my sacral root chakra as a container of energy that needs to be released via dance! I sure do love some hard house and electronic music, so finding a place to release my pent up energy is easy on a Friday and Saturday night in Los Angeles.

As a journalist and a Libra, I find observing the human race in public settings fascinating and often explore night life alone to stretch my bounds of connection to strangers. I study before taking action, which typically looks like a compliment to an outfit or a vibe caught on the dance floor from a recognizable track.

Some things I have noticed lately in public and also seen conversations being had in social media post comment sections about how no one dances anymore. The argument that people just go to music events to take pictures for social media and not to enjoy the music, has been made and that is something we can all agree on and have probably seen happen but I don't think that is the root of why people are not dancing

I believe the people that are taking the videos are discouraging people from fully being themselves and letting the music control your flow and not the thought of online embarrassment.

I studied abroad in Berlin, Germany and danced at KitKatClub where they had coat check and you needed to check your phone or they would put a sticker over it to prevent photos and videos. I felt like that reassured the people dancing that they can be who they want to be and use dance as a form of expression.

On the weekends, many people have told me that ‘I am so fun’ or they love the way I dance, and I probably have two vodka Redbulls in me and am just letting the music do its thing. But it's a moment for me where my brain goes silent and all I can hear is the music. An escape if you will.

But ultimately I am just being me, not caring what other people think of that because, why would I? And why would their opinion change who I am? On the dance floor I can wear what I want, dance with who I want and kiss who I want hehe.

I also never remember what people were looking like the next day so they probably aren't going to remember you either. What I do remember is the music, the laughs with my friends and the girls I met in the bathroom. Also the dance moves that I performed because I have been working on those all week in my bedroom. (lol)

The act of being perceived is getting in the way of being present.

I do have to acknowledge the people that still DO dance! Shuffling is not dead and I often see millennials and Gen Xers keeping that skill alive in the 21st century.

As well as I do see a slight cultural shift in embodying your own uniqueness. I feel like the narrative of ‘you are you and no one is like you which is beautiful’ is being pushed a little more.

However, the terminal use of social media in young adults convinces them that trends and public figures are there to tell them what is ‘cool’. Ultimately telling you what you should be wearing, doing and acting.

The dance floor has always been a place of acceptance such as practices like P.L.U.R. So inviting devices that interfere with the freedom of the music and the people, strays the concept of dancing farther from its roots. #freedomofexpression

A few collectives host device-free events which is a cool concept that inspires those attending, to be in the moment. I don’t think removing phones from events will promote dancing but I do think providing a more encapsulated dance floor filled with appreciation for the music and the people around you, might allow people to start GAFing less (GAF= give a f#ck, DGAF= don’t give a f#ck, FYI)

#IDGAF

To be me is to be free, to be me is to be cringe and it's only cringe if you let it be, just remember that. Dance in your car even if the windows aren’t tinted, or in the break room even if someone might walk in.

It will forever be a struggle to influence people on the art of not giving a f#ck, but if we can start on the dance floor, maybe it will translate.

Let me know your thoughts about dance culture at music events below!

XOXO,

S☮︎