Sky Greats was showing ‘Zorba the Greek’ recently. I hadn’t seen this film for years, and decided to download it. Anthony Quinn gives a terrific performance as Alexis Zorba, the middle-aged man with a passion for life. When he grips Alan Bates’ shoulder and starts to dance on the beach, he tips his head back in delight at the music he can hear in his head, and unembarrassed, lets his body move in time.
It occurred to me that the majority of middle-aged people are too embarrassed to display any outward signs of emotion in public. Alan Bates comes over as the buttoned up writer keeping any thoughts and feelings to himself until Zorba eventually breaks through his boss’s barrier, and delights in the fact that Bates wants to learn to dance the Greek way.
We’ve all seen young people at festivals and concerts dancing and singing loudly along with their favourite bands, while the majority of middle-agers just stand there and watch. At what age do we change from somebody jumping up and down with excitement at seeing their favourite singer to someone buttoned up like Alan Bates’ character? When do we become afraid of being ridiculed? We middle-agers stand back and smile at young people’s enthusiasm for life as we watch them leaping about in the mosh pit in front of us, all the time reminding ourselves not to jump in there as well in case we’re injured or somebody thirty years younger laughs at us. Where has our PASSION gone?
I love music and will dance at the least opportunity at discos or at parties, but only when everybody else is dancing. At home I’ll put a CD on and dance around the room like a whirling dervish when nobody’s about. At the Isle of Wight festival the year before last I couldn’t resist jumping up to dance when The High Kings played McAlpine’s Fusiliers. We danced, all ages, linking arms and running around in front of the stage like the sixteen year olds we once were, and do you know what, it felt great!
Do you dance when nobody’s watching or do you think to hell with it, do a Zorba, and jump in the mosh pit?
I’m over on the Island this weekend, so look forward to reading your comments on Monday.
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Stevie Turner said:
Thanks for the link-up.
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dgkaye said:
I may be an observer, but if the music is on, it’s always game on for me right in the thick of things. That’s just it, we’re as old as we allow ourselves to think we are. 🙂
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Stevie Turner said:
Absolutely right.
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dgkaye said:
🙂
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Darlene said:
I dance around the house when doing housework. Sometimes the dog joins me. I would be eager to jump in and dance at any opportunity but hubby gets too embarrassed.
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Stevie Turner said:
A girl after my own heart. Sam stands there at the edge of the dance floor always looking as though he wants to be somewhere else.
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First Night Design said:
I and my friends have never ignored an opportunity to dance – we’ve never been ‘reserved observers’ as Jennie puts it. Not so much for me these days because of disability which is frustrating. I’d suggest meeting up this weekend as you’re over here but I’ve been in hospital and am still not really on the mend. I’m waving at you though.
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Stevie Turner said:
Ah, hope you’re on the mend. We’re not over again until the week of New Year’s Eve. We can try again?
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Clive said:
I was never a dancer, even when younger – absolutely no sense of rhythm! But I do a really good knee tap 😊
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Stevie Turner said:
Sam’s the same. My uncle used to play the spoons between his knees instead of dancing.
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Clive said:
I might put my personal safety at risk if I tried that! Glad I’m not the only one though 😉
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franklparker said:
I’m inclined to agree with Jennie. I’m old enough now to not give a damn what others think – though the opportunity rarely presents itself!
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jenanita01 said:
I blame a dodgy hip and bad knees… but I hope these aren’t just an excuse!
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Stevie Turner said:
My mum had the same problem. She used to hang on to something, lift herself up on her arms, and dance that way!
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jenanita01 said:
In my heart, I am dancing!
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jenanita01 said:
Reblogged this on anita dawes and jaye marie.
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Stevie Turner said:
Thanks for the re-blog.
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Jennie said:
You are so right. I was ‘there’ dancing with abandon in my younger years. Then I became the reserved observer. The good news is that we older folks see the light and smell the roses. That means we dance with abandon, once again. Life really does come full circle.
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Stevie Turner said:
I love dancing, but my husband has no sense of rhythm. I did try and teach him to waltz when we were first married, but gave up!
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Jennie said:
Mine, too! 🙂
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