top of page

Dance and Sing like there is no one watching...

  • Writer: TIMOTHY SHORT
    TIMOTHY SHORT
  • Sep 15, 2024
  • 3 min read

Even as an aged/middle aged/ late aged individual who might not sing in the shower like they used to, or dance alone like they used to, or dance in front of others like they used to, or go to gigs like they used to etc – even these people will sometimes be in a car (ideally as you drive out of the woods into the countryside as the beat drops) or on a walk or while on the computer and a tune will grab you by the Central Nervous System and get you bouncing and thrilled and young again. There is something deep and primal about it. The feeling might not last very long so you have to ride it and enjoy it and feel it.

Like people tens of thousand of years ago doing mad things on cave walls like it meant something special, that you can’t define or truly touch. Like some kind of initiation ceremony that might involve natural substances and a fire in the remotest parts of the world going back to ancient times. Deep within you. A spirit. An abandon. A Dionysian abandon. Like something from the Secret History but that might not involve a death. It is catharsis and meaning pure and simple. An expression not regulated by social expectation. It is why people get covered in mud and rain in tents and shit down holes at festivals. I cannot explain it, but sometimes a certain melody or lyric just hits the spot. These episodes might last a few minutes, or maybe 15 to 30. You might get it at a gig or club or when riding the love drug.

As you get on, these times grow rarer but more special. Your senses dull to them somewhat.

Chase a tune. Sometimes a choon catches you. Chases you. An album. A memory. Memories coming and going.

Cherish these moments. Sometimes a film does it. The music.

Cherish them.

You are complete.

Nothing else matters.

Dance like a fool.

Sing like you mean it.

Dance like that girl in Toronto in 2001 on a Wednesday night.

Only one other person knows that reference.

But we have all felt it in different ways to different things.

But feel it.

Just feel it.

And let it go…

Let it flow through you…

And get it out there…

Sometimes others round you get it…

And that makes it even better…

But the ones just for you…

They are good too…

Dance and sing like no one is watching...

Sometimes it is inside you but you suppress it...

Or it just doesn't take you that way...

Sometimes an art gallery...

Sometimes someone special...

Although how can I bring that type of love into a poem like this...

It deserves its own...

But has the same deep and sacred root...


And if you can perform it or write it...

I guess that is even better...

To let it out...


My Dad calls me downstairs...

It is the late 80s...

There are people on TV singing...

My sister is next to me...

And it is amazing...

And I remember it now...

How is took my heart...

Like the first holiday when you feel the wonder of life...

And travel...

So lucky...


And the singing is deep...

And it is sacred...

It is the 9th...

And I got it...

Right there...

My Dad got it...

And showed it to us...


And that moment right there...


Right there...


It is 2001 again, and I enter a club with my mate Mick...

People are on raised platforms dancing...

The beat and the melody and the atmosphere...

Transcend...

The people...

The unity...


A Church...

A bombed out Church...

And people are dancing in the rain...

To house music...

And the rain makes it better...


And that moment right there...


Right there...


And there is a dot...

A pale blue dot...

Far far away...

All that we know and feel...

So far far away...

Comments


In June of 2024 The Inclusion Network, a fantastic CIC (Community Interest Company) and North and South Education CIC did a joint bid to Sefton Community and Voluntary Service (Sefton CVS) as part of the Hearts of Gold Project celebrating 50 years of the Borough of Sefton. This is a heritage project focused on putting heritage front and centre in Sefton. North and South had already done a Project (Project 3) with The Inclusion Network -  an excellent community organisation in the heart of Bootle, providing a range of services from Nursery Forest Schools up to Warm Hubs for the elderly. Check out their website here - https://theinclusionnetwork.uk/

We started work in September and the project lasted six months, with a series of podcast recordings at The Inclusion Network, online (with one participant from the east coast of the United States!) and in Bootle Strand – a shopping centre in Bootle currently undergoing a massive redevelopment.

We did three podcasts – one on the now demolished school – St. Augustine’s - which closed in 1987. It was great to hear stories from the past from an ex-student who still lives in the area, and an ex-teacher who now lives in the USA. They had such fond memories of the school.

The second episode was about the current use of the site of the old-St. Augustine’s, which is the home of The Inclusion Network and Northfield Juniors Football Club. We spoke to John, who helped found The Inclusion Network and was involved in the early days of the football club, which provides up to 17 youth teams to the community. We also spoke to Aaron, who is the Secretary of the Football Club today, about the great work all the volunteers do in keeping the club going and giving so much to the young people involved. We then did sessions with people who work at and use the services at The Inclusion Network. We looked at the range of services on offer, and it was so heartening to see how happy all the people are who work at and come to The Inclusion Network. To see the site today as such a community asset is fantastic.

The final episode related to the Strand Shopping Centre, the main centre of Bootle. We spoke to people who remember the Strand from the 1960s onwards. There were so many memories! We spoke to people who shopped there and worked there. We then chatted to people who work in and use the Strand today, including the Big Onion, a community-based enterprise hub. Finally, we sat down with Paulette Lappin, Deputy Leader of Sefton Council, about the redevelopment of the Stand and her key role in it. Exciting times!

The past, present and future elements of this project and the sites and places and people we visited and talked about is clear throughout!

We then did a celebration at The Inclusion Network, where excerpts from the podcasts were played. (Please check out the podcast page on this website to listen to these or visit The Inclusion Network website near the top of this article). It was great to see so many attend, including people from Sefton Council, Sefton CVS, participants in the podcasts, employees at The Inclusion Network, and also members of the general public! We also celebrated a 60th Birthday Party with one of the participants!

Heritage is alive and well in Sefton. Thanks to everyone for taking part.

We did a review process with Sefton CVS at the end, with plenty of feedback given about what went well and how we could make projects like this even better in the future!

Special thanks to Heritage Lottery for providing the funding to Sefton CVS too!

 

WhatsApp Image 2025-03-24 at 15.43.45.jpeg
WhatsApp Image 2025-03-24 at 15.33.25.jpeg
WhatsApp Image 2025-03-24 at 15.43.37.jpeg
bottom of page