Singing and Dancing

The season opener for Prairie Home Companion took place this past weekend.  What a great welcome to autumn!  The street in front of the Fitzgerald Theater in downtown St. Paul, Minnesota was blocked off in order to set up for a street dance!  The scene was complete with pumpkins centerpieces and little white lights that glowed as the serene colorful sunset brought in the night sky.  The festive eats included meatloaf and mashed potatoes, along with seasonal goodies like pumpkin bars with cream cheese frosting!  What could be more fun!

As the music started, I noticed most people stood around watching and listening to the foot-stomping band -- where was the dancing?

I did join the group singing of great patriotic songs -- it was fun to know most of the words by heart.  But I must admit I stood with the "standers" and I thought of something I read recently -- likely from one of the books listed on the right; it goes like this:  If you asked a class of first graders, "Who here is an artist?!"  Most would enthusiastically raise their hand.  Ask again in the fourth grade and then the seventh and each time those who identified themselves as or aspiring to be artists dwindle to just a few, if any.  How sad..

I believe, in the hearts of most of us, we are all an artist of sorts.  In the "olden days" communities sang and danced together -- pure talent didn't matter.  Singing and dancing raised spirits and bound communities together.  Nowadays it seems no one wants to do either unless they are certifiably talented -- or liquored-up!

I want  to dance.  Between now and next year's season opener, I will become a dancer.