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The Bizarre And Brilliant World of a ‘5 Rhythms’ Dance Class
Looking around the room, I realised it was just as I imagined. Circa 2011 Peep Show Episode of ‘Rainbow Rhythms.’
One girl was stood with her hands outstretched in a doll like expression, a glazed look in her eyes, whilst a guy in an orange skirt was twirling round the room.
(Oh god, what have I let myself in for).
Over the last few years, I have become more and more interested in dance and the psychology of movement to get in touch with the body and emotions, and induce a sort of meditative state — an altered state of consciousness where no thinking is allowed.
In the words of the Chemical Brothers — ‘Don’t think — just let it flow.’
And it seemed that ‘5 Rhythms’ might be the place to explore this a bit more. My friend Kasia had asked me if I was interested (she had been before), and since I love anything to do with dance, I eagerly agreed.
All I knew is that it was 2.5 hours of dancing, in a room where you’re encouraged to completely ‘let go’ and allow your body to move in exactly the way it wanted to.
It soon became apparent that whilst I was going to get a good bit of dancing in, this was also going to be an incredibly hilarious experience, and I secretly wished that some of my other friends were there to witness this amusing spectacle.
(My internal dialogue echoed the words of Mark Corrigan: I’m Louis Theroux, I’m Louis Theroux).
‘Have you been to 5 Rhythms before?’ the friendly clerk asked.
I shook my head from side to side, remaining tight-lipped (strictly no speaking in the 5 rhythms hall, I was told).
Me and my friend were taken over to the dj in the middle of the room, a trendy looking guy in front of some brightly lit cdj’s.
He looked at me with wide, hopeful eyes.
‘So, the aim is, that, there is no aim, and you just do whatever you feel like doing — totally surrender into the body’, he enthused, getting a little too close to my face as he breathed these words exuberantly.
‘There is no right or wrong way of moving, and the only way to get it wrong is to just sit and watch. Ok?’
