THE LONG GAME
An alcohol-free February spurred an new appreciation of movement
Sophie Moeller on dancing like no-one is watching.
Ah March, here you are again, my favourite time of year.
The heat is out of the sun and a new breeze brings a fresh take on the nascent year but, most of all, your coming heralds the end of February, in other words, Febfast.
You mark that first glass of wine in a month and confirm, I do indeed, have some discipline over my habitual addictions.
That initial sip at dusk brings both sense of levity and clarity. My thoughts on the day are mirrored in the sunset and all, as I make dinner, is right with the world.
As I dance round the kitchen “I can feel it coming in the air tonight”. I toast Phil Collins, Paradise FM and my radio. That Ballina station never disappoints and my little transistor remains my most stimulating and familiar drinking partner.
I must admit, however, it is definitely a good exercise to experience a slice of life on the wagon. Apart from having a newly generated liver and a brain flushed with sleep hormones, a month of tea and Sodastream definitely provides interesting opportunities for selfrealisation.
Middle age has been blunting the care factor, when it comes the opinions of others, for a long time. Even so, sobriety can definitely challenge one’s inhibitions.
The aim is to get to a place where we can “dance as if no one is watching’, but boogying without inebriation takes this to a whole new level.
I was totally back to my youth at the 18th birthday party of my friend’s daughter in February, when Ian Dury’s Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick came on. Before I knew it, my inner child was strutting my stuff like a Blockhead around the room in time to the music. I was as carefree and as sober as a seven-year-old. The good old-fashioned fun thing though
“BEFORE I KNEW IT, MY INNER CHILD WAS STRUTTING MY STUFF LIKE A BLOCKHEAD AROUND THE ROOM IN TIME TO THE MUSIC.”
was that teenagers, who would previously have recoiled in horror at the sight of adults on the dance floor, were sharing in my iconic eighties moves.
Legendary choreographer Martha Graham said of dance: “There is a vitality, a life force, an energy, a quickening that is translated through you into action, and because there is only one of you in all of time, this expression is unique. And if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium and it will be lost. The world will not have it. It is not your business to determine how good it is nor how valuable nor how it compares with other expressions. It is your business to keep it yours clearly and directly, to keep the channel open.”
Let’s face it, after we’ve been at work all day, paid the bills, done the housework and taken responsibility for our loved ones, our artistic expression should be about the joy after all.
I am looking forward to the next party now, even if I can’t guarantee I won’t have a slight hangover..