Dancing In the Streets

Do you feel that summer is slowly slipping away? I do.  It was so unusually hot and humid here in New York City this summer that many of my usual outdoor activities and plans did not materialize as I stayed inside in air conditioning instead.  I may have read more books than usual but I missed going on picnics, outdoor concerts, and taking more long walks.  One thing I happened to see recently this summer, however, which raised my spirits, was public displays of dancing!   
(all photos will enlarge when clicked on once and then again when it opens in a new page -- use the back arrow to return to the post)

The photo mosaic above is of the Canadian choreographer-dancer Paul-André Fortier, performing a 30-minute dance called “ Solo 30 x 30.” He performed at noon each day for 30 consecutive days, ending in August 14, in the open air at 1 New York Plaza in Lower Manhattan as part of the annual summer "River to River Festival." Rain or shine, and through oppressive heat, he danced in silence to his own internal sound track. Whirling, pantomiming, reckoning, and gesturing, his artistic contribution to the summer festival was a joy to watch!

Seeing one of his performances made me remember the 1964 Martha and The Vandellas song "Dancing In the Streets."

"Callin' out around the world

Are you ready for a brand new beat?

Summer's here and the time is right

For dancin' in the streets...."

This photo mosaic is of an assortment of dances I saw while walking along the Coney Island boardwalk a week ago.  There were small groups of people having a good time dancing to live music all along the almost 3 mile long boardwalk. The small boy was an amazing break dancer for his age!

"... All we need is music, sweet music

There'll be music everywhere
There'll be swingin', swayin' and records playin'

And dancin' in the streets..."

The last group of dancers I saw that are in the photos above were dancing to the music in the New York Mets baseball team's beautiful Citi Field before the game. There is a restaurant and lively Fan Fest family entertainment area behind the scoreboard area of the stadium and many fans took the opportunity to dance to the music!

"Oh, it doesn't matter what you wear

Just as long as you are there

So come on, every guy grab a girl

Everywhere around the world

There'll be dancin'

They're dancin' in the street..."

If you'd like to hear the "Dancing In the Streets" song watch this video:

"This is an invitation

Across the nation

A chance for the folks to meet

There'll be laughin' and singin' and music swingin'

And dancin' in the streets."

I hope before this summer is over you have a chance to dance a little in the streets where you live!

I'll be adding this post to Mary's "Mosaic Monday" on her blog Little Red House. Please drop by her blog on Monday to see her beautiful photos mosaic and links to all the other blogs participating this week.