Night in the Global Village

Back in 2020, the world stopped. Most people, with the exception of those work worked in areas of critical services, were confined to their homes. No in-person dinning, no concerts and events, and travel was limited. One day, I received a message from a fellow dancer who decided to host online dance events to help dancers within the community to connect during a time when events were canceled indefinitely. She called this event "A Night in the Global Village". She hosted these events once a month on Zoom. They were free to anyone who wanted to watch or perform. To perform, the dancer contacted the organizer on Facebook to let her know what day they wanted to perform. They also send a personal bio or introduction, then on the day of the show, the performance would be live streamed on Zoom, Facebook, and Youtube. The dance also has the option to pre-record their performance, then send the video file to the organizer. My favorite thing about these events is seeing the comments from the other dancers and viewers. The audience cheering and sending heart emojis to each of the performers creates a very warm and uplifting experience, especially during a difficult time like the pandemic. Four years later, the event is still going on each month. Over time, it has gained recognition from many internationally recognized dancers within the community. I also know an elder dancer who danced in every single event since it began. She's an older woman who has battled cancer. Due to chemo, she has limited mobility, but still strives to dance with every opportunity she gets. A Night in the Global Village has become a valuable and respected fixture in the community. It provides a way to connect and an opptunity to perform for dancers who may not have many opportunities to showcase their skills in a safe and welcoming environment.