Even though I live in Israel, I still check out the New York Times (especially the arts section), and today they had an article about Matt Harding’s dance video on YouTube. Here it is in case you haven’t stumbled across it yet - I thought you might get a kick out of it (and maybe you’ll see your home city in it - the clip from Tel Aviv is at Kikar Dizengoff, around the corner from my flat!).



L-Jay
This is amazing. This is what dancing is all about. This is the visual image of the International Dance Day message by Gladys Faith Agulhas:
The spirit of Dance has No colour, No selected shape or size
But Embraces the Power of Unity, Strength,
And Beauty found within us.
Each Dancing Soul, Young, Old, person livng with a disABILITY
Creates and transforms ideas into life changing moving Art.
Dance is the mirror reflecting the impossible made possible.
For all to touch, hear, feel and experience.
Sounds from our hearts and Soul is our rhythm,
Our every move reveals the history of mankind.
It is the element where the Human Spirit can embrace the ultimate Freedom.
Whenever our hands touch, something beautiful happens,
What the Soul remembers, the body portrays through movement.
Dance is therefore the healing force for all to access,
You are my eyes and I am your feet.
Celebrate INTERNATIONAL DANCE Day,
Use your Passion for Dance to heal each other,
Unify your dance community,
Most importantly be the Best that you can be in your Own Right,
We are able to stand unified through the Power and Spirit of Dance.
GLADYS FAITH AGULHAS
Jul 08, 2008 @ 11:20
Doug Fox
Matt Harding’s videos are growing on me. His first efforts, maybe it was last year or the year before, I didn’t care for too much.
But I like his new video - the site-selections, the music, colors, fun and participatory nature.
Jul 08, 2008 @ 11:39
kristin sloan
wow. i had only seen clips on the news where it was just him.
having the people join in completely changes it - amazing!
Jul 08, 2008 @ 13:31
Tony
Someone sent this to me last week and there is something going on here. Looking at the dancing itself we see the same step over and over. Not much is really happening in the body. Cute? Unnerving? Its only in the changing geography that we really see movement. Are we looking at the multicultural or the monocultural? I think its great Matt Harding is getting his groove on and moving so widely.
I wonder what the carbon footprint is of this dance.
Jul 08, 2008 @ 14:15
tonya
This is so cool! Thanks for finding it, Deborah. Tony’s right — it’s not so much the specific movement that is so mesmerizing; it’s the changing geography and the multitude of people who inhabit it. And thanks for posting that lovely poem, L-Jay.
Jul 08, 2008 @ 18:40
Erin
Thanks so much for posting this Deb! Like many other people I had heard he was doing this and almost a little sick of hearing about it. But I really liked this video, and it was great to think how many people you know in the different locations!
Jul 09, 2008 @ 16:04
Patricio
THIS IS GREAT, I LOVE IT, THANKS SO MUCH FOR POSTING.
Jul 13, 2008 @ 05:52
Deborah
It’s wild, huh?
Tony, after your post I started wondering what people in the Laban community (movement analysts) would say about it . . .
Jul 13, 2008 @ 06:19
Angie
I love this video, because all of the people in it are so happy! It just shows the world as one big community. I wish everyone could see it that way.
Jul 14, 2008 @ 14:12