It’s a beautiful summer night in
Two teens chat while fishing off the rock wall along the river, a man plucks at a traditional Japanese koto in the grass, children’s ribbon-walking lessons are happening between two large maples, a woman manages a melting ice cream cone and the playground is full of squealing children.
In the gazebo are a bunch of people who have come to dance. On this particular Tuesday it’s the waltz.
Twenty of them or so listen to some basic instructions from Gino Cadorin then partner up and glide around the gazebo floor with varying degrees of smoothness.
Flying Dance Moonlight Dancing has been going on for roughly six years on Thursday nights at the gazebo, and this year added Tuesdays.
Price is a $2 donation and things start at 7 p.m. Different types of dancing instruction takes place. This night it’s the waltz. Next week it’s salsa. Tango is on the menu. By 8:30 p.m., it’s social dance time and at 10 p.m. there is ballroom or latin dancing.
The event is run by Nico Kaburia, with help from Cadorin from Guelph Social Dance and others. Singles are welcome. Dance partners are shared.
“I see how dancing connects people,” says Kaburia. “Not just families or couples, but strangers.”
Plenty of onlookers admire the dancers as they dance to music played through a system powered by a car battery brought for just the occasion.
“Dancing keeps a smile on people’s faces at the end of a long, hot day,” Kaburia says.
“The more we dance, the more we feel alive.”
And happy.
“I have never seen anyone angry dancing,” the native of
On a bigger scale, the Flying Dancefest takes place at Guelph Lake Conservation area on Aug. 18 and 19. Lots of workshops, dance lessons and dancing of all kinds. More information can be found at www.fdfest.com.
