Dance has an incredibly special quality that is difficult to put your finger on. Anyone who has put on their favorite song and danced “like no one is watching,” alone in their bedroom or living room can attest to the feelings that it brings. A challenging, stressful day can be completely turned around by just moving your body to the music for a few minutes. Personally, I like a little boogie to some 1980s music on a Friday afternoon when I’m finishing up work for the week.
I’m also one of those people who will dance at any given party, as long as there are good company and fantastic music! As I’ve grown older, I’ve become less cautious of what people will think of me. These days, it’s all about going to a party and shaking a leg or two so relieve stress and just enjoy.
While dancing alone is fun and freeing (like all the times you dance in your living room, and no one is watching), dance also can bring people together. Dance defines cultures, can be a spiritual practice, or can simply be the reason a group of people gathers in the same place to do something that they enjoy. It’s the favorite part of social and cultural events like weddings and other parties and can turn a boring, stuffy event into the memorable party of a lifetime.
A young man named Matt Bray decided to use the power of dance for a project that would hopefully bring together people from all walks of life. The concept is simple: he drives 10,000 miles, stopping along the way to teach the people he met a choreographed routine to the song “Gone” by JR JR. He kept the moves simple so that nearly anyone could learn them and perform them for the camera and his Youtube channel called ProjectOneLife. Though it seems like a very simple project, it has a much deeper meaning, and you don’t have to look too closely to see it.
The final compilation shows the various people that Matt met and danced with along the way, as well as the different backdrops of places he visited. He showed how even though we are all a little different, we really have so much in common.
Watch the entire compilation below and if you enjoyed it, please like and share! Have you ever joined in on an impromptu dance performance? Tell us about it in the comments below!
