Pop Up Silent Disco Steet Mambalsa Meetup and fear!

The Walk of fear to Ally Pally

Another first at Ally Pally

There's a lot of books written about fear. How it can shape our lives and distort out view on the world.
Today I won an important battle with my fear.
My fear was exposing myself to the public as a dance teacher. Of putting myself out there, approaching people.

I've always hated flyering with a passion. To hand out a flyer about me would send me into a tailspin of negativity. I once employed a bubbly girl called Louisa to flyer outside Kings Cross Station. Off she goes with a smile and a carefree attitude. Meanwhile I had to stand at least 20 metres away just to stop the palpitations and sweats. I have tried it in the past outside Farrindon tube. All I could see in the eyes of the disgruntled commuters was 'I hate your intrusion into my space!' Last summer in Edinburgh I help Gary Shaw for a few minutes outside his comedy venue. His company and the idea that if I ever wanted to run a show I need to do this helps me through.

Today I strapped on my Mambalsa Bag and armed with silent disco headphones I strolled up to Alexandra Palace where they hold a farmers market every Sunday. A great place to meet humans! As I strolled the length of the stalls I felt my fear growing and my confidence ebbing. Every person was not right to approach. Too tall, too old, too fat , to disabled, too child-carer-ish!
Get a grip man!! Isn't that the problem? I don't see myself as 'Mr Mambalsa' the dance teacher so I'm not seeing it others.
I get to the end and start to come back. There's a trendy thirty something couple! 1 2 3 and chat.
He's totally not into dance. What I now call a 'Never, Not Now, Not Ever' she did ballet when she was young.  Nice but no dancing Mambalsa for them.
Couple no 2:  She's got Green Hair and not English. 'What dance would you do? .... The Waltz
The Waltz! What century are you in girl! I can't wait for the 1800's to start! You've got green hair and the dance of you dreams is the Waltz!
THE ONLY MUSIC YOU CAN@T MAMBALSA TO IS THE SODDING WALTZ!

Breath.

Arlene moments before we get going!

Two pretty twenty something girls.
Do you dance? 'a bit of salsa'
Where?  'there's a club called Salsa'
I teach there! (you are now in my power!)
Head phones on and our trio is Mambalsa-ing along the stalls! Our own little bubble of silent dance to Uptown Funk.

Yes!

'What was it you were doing?' a stall holder asks. blah blah blah I reply
'My daughters' an artistic directer at the Fringe' chat chat chat
'I'll do it!' next stall holder says who's called Arlene.
Headphones on and pow we're away!
Four approaches and two conversions! 50% !

Recover :-)

It's doable people! Fear beaten for now and so on to the next battle with fear!