“Wherever you are, are you dancing on the dancefloor, drinking by the bar?” It’s a question posited by Ke$ha on her newest CD. And yes, I am willing to admit that Ke$ha is a guilty pleasure on my iPod.
The question itself though is one that echoes curiously throughout the world, though likely not by Ke$ha’s intent. Dances and music are intertwined with bars and with cultures in general in a I way that I could never hope to put into words. Yet, it is so interesting to see it in action.
The oddest example would certainly be the 4 degree of culture I noticed in Surin, Thailand of English speakers dancing at a Roman toga party in a Jamaican reggae bar in rural Thailand.
Then there are other simply embracing their own cultural heritage and dance, even far from what would be its home. For example, the Little India of Singapore is loaded with what would be considered Bollywood bars.
Despite being in a setting far from its origin, these bars draw in their ethnic crowds in for a form of their traditional dance. And they were exceptionally welcoming to any stray foreigner, namely me, who happened to be curious enough to wander in.
The night saw a couple people buy me a drink and chat me up, though I’m pretty sure one of them, a middle aged Indian man, was more interested in flirting with me than genuine conversation. I also made my way on stage at the invitation of an indian girl, though when I noticed a couple less than amused looks, my dance came to an end.