The beginning of the line dance idea

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Growing up, my parents would take me to dance festivals at least 7 times a year in central France and all over England. Being an only child meant that there usually wasn't any other children that I could play with, so I would usually sit in the corner of the dancefloor entertaining myself while my parents would be attending dance workshops and dancing through the night. I've been dancing since I could walk. Started ballet when I was 2 and continued until I was 14, learnt a variety of dance styles from the numerous festivals I attended with international styles being a part of my cultural surroundings since I can remember. 

This has led to me being able to learn dances very quickly and I remember getting to an age where I was too "cool" to stand up and learn the dances during the workshop and instead would sit on the sides and map out the moves in the air with my hands acting as my feet. Being younger than everyone was just more of a reason for people to notice me and look at me at these dance festivals and being creeped on by older men was just not fun. It allowed me to fulfil my lazy desires of not moving but still stimulated my mind and expanded my knowledge by learning different dance styles while comfortably sat in a corner where no one was paying attention to me. Folk dancing is mainly couple dances and that is also no fun when you're a short child that is sweaty armpit height. Luckily there are line dances that you get to dance on your own with a bunch of people. They were the only dances I would do for a while to avoid dancing with older men and its been the only type of dance I could do in lockdown because I don't have a dance partner in my house.

A bi product of this childhood is the skill I have developed to dance with my hands and this is exactly what I attempted for these next two pieces. I held a pen in each hand and danced through the steps of line dances played at the virtual weekender to see what journey my feet took over the page. I love them. This skill is something that I didn't realise the potential in until I thought I would give it a go. Goes to show how just doing things creates a space for inspiration to flourish. I have so many ideas of how to push this further. This is definitely going to lead to something much larger in size.

Song: Just Got Paid - Johnny Kemp
"T.G.I.F. Line Dance", A4, Promarker on paper, right foot orange, left foot blue.


Song: Jerusalema - Master KG
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TR-JP7yWpLY
Two iterations of the Jerusalema line dance, Promarker on A4 paper, left foot yellow, right foot purple. 

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