Fresh from my twirl around a Maypole, I realise I’ve seen rather a lot of dancing recently. From the gentle sway of tulip fields in Skagit Valley….
… and the thrilling swirl of dancers during Holi …
…to a spirited jig or two during Irish Week.
But the most unexpected dance of all was during a Sunday walk along Seattle’s waterfront. In the distance I heard the warble of Leonard Cohen’s ‘Dance me to the End of Love’ – one of my all-time favourite songs, so I felt compelled to seek out the source. Close to the shoreline, hidden by a rocky outcrop, I spotted a couple with a boombox weaving intricate figures around each other. I sat and watched their secret tango until the song ended and the plaintiff call of gulls filled the air once more.
Are you ready to dust off your dancing shoes and go for a twirl around the dance floor? It doesn’t have to be a literal interpretation, let your imagination shuffle around with this week’s theme. If you would like to join in (everyone’s welcome!) here’s what to do:
- Create your own post and title it Travel theme: Dance
- Include a link to this page in your post so others can find it too
- Get your post in by next Thursday, as the new travel theme comes out on Friday
- Don’t forget to subscribe to keep up to date on the latest weekly travel themes. Sign up via the email subscription link in the sidebar or RSS.
“Dance first. Think later. It’s the natural order.” -Samuel Beckett
xxx
Ailsa
Where's my backpack? 
Ailsa, I LOVE that last photo of the couple dancing all alone, and a tango no less. How romantic can it get!!!! Look forward to the theme entries :0)
It really was such a beautiful sight to happen upon, Tina. 🙂
I’ve heard of the Skagit Valley Tulip fields just two days ago, and low and behold, here’s a picture of the tulip fields. Now I know I must go there. What a lovely post!
Oh Cindy, it was magnificent – follow the link and check out the photos of my trip – I’ve never seen anything quite like it. xxx
More than the picture I love how your words describe their dance.
Thanks, scenes like that bring out the wordsmith in me. 🙂 It really was the most mesmerizing sight. I love Seattle.
I a falling in love with it through your posts. It will have to be a LDR, but I think Seattle is okay with that. 😉
I’m sure Seattle is okay with that 🙂
lol 😉
Wow! The photo of the tulips is spectacular!
Oh Jill, that was just the tip of the iceberg – there were miles and miles of tulips of all kinds and colours. I was in photographer’s heaven! 🙂
Wonderful! All! But, that last photo of the couple on the shore…that one is so full of love and dancing of old times and …everything! How lucky you were to see this!
I felt pretty lucky to have glimpsed a little stolen moment, so romantic. 🙂
Lovely pictures but my favourite is the last one, Tango in Seattle. Such romance told in that one shot!
I agree, I saved the best for last, it was such a romantic scene! 🙂
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Such a beauty, Ailsa but I must agree about the last one – that one is a gem! 🙂
Must admit – this is a tough theme, yet wonderful one and here’ re few dance moves from me: http://esengasvoice.wordpress.com/2013/05/03/3863/
Ah, lovely, Ese, and you got your post done so quickly you must have been doing the foxtrot! That top photo is wonderful, and I love that Nietzsche quote.
Thank you, Ailsa. It’ s rather…quickly when one has pretty much only…3 captures that might fit the theme. 😀
Samuel Beckett wasn’t stupid at all… ‘”ol”
– my favorite dance is tango, love to dance tango… 😉
Excellent captured photos… 🙂
Interesting man, that Beckett! 🙂
Samuel Beckett had (have) a huge impact on subsequent drama writers – his personal descriptions were “naked”, “simple” and to the bone descriptive – perhaps a bit pessimistic for my taste but he was fantastic… 🙂
I adore him, Drake, and he actually makes me laugh, but then perhaps that’s because I have a distinctly Irish sense of humour. 😉
I adore him too – maybe I have spent too much time with all these lovely “crazy” Irish in Liverpool – but they make me feel home because they act like we do in my danish home area Jylland a region in Denmark… “lol”
I love dancing. Any kind will do. Thanks for the wonderful pictures.
both my left feet thank you for this. I can dance through these photos with grace.
Great post Ailsa, It combines so many of my passions; flowers, photography, dancing and writing. Lovely photos and wordplay to help the pics come alive. I too could fall for Seattle and the tulip fields! thanks, Brad
Pingback: dance | photo theme hop
Thanks for a fun theme. http://themehop.wordpress.com/2013/05/03/dance/
Yaay, there’s something wickedly wonderful about dancing in the rain and mud!
Pingback: Travel theme: Dance | So where's the snow?
Austrian folk dancing! http://annarashbrook.wordpress.com/2013/05/03/travel-theme-dance/
Ooh how fun, a pole for all seasons. Love it, Anna. 🙂
Pingback: Travel Theme: Dance | LoganBruin–An Unauthorized Autobiography
I always feel joyous when someone is dancing by the river, even if they’re indoors, so thanks for that.
You think tango in Seattle is weird? How ’bout flamenco in Vienna? http://loganbruin.wordpress.com/2013/05/03/travel-theme-dance/
Pingback: Travel Theme ~ Dance | Stories After Bedtime
Heh heh – a dance it is…! Thanks again, and lovely cultural tour..India..beautiful…http://coffeewithyerbuccaneer.wordpress.com/2013/05/03/travel-theme-dance/
that took less that a nanosecond to decide on the photo
http://mrscarmichael.wordpress.com/2013/05/03/travel-theme-dance/
I’m inspired. I’ve lived in the Seattle area for 18 years and haven’t seen the tulip fields yet. It’s time!
I like the picture with the field of flowers and the two girls doing the Scottish dance.!
The first picture is unbelievably beautiful!
What gallery again – the tulips are so stunning .. and planted in shade like that .. makes the impact so much greater – but my favorite is the tango couple.
I love those PNW tulip fields. So fun to come across.
Pingback: Travel theme: Dance | Figments of a DuTchess
Irish dancing *dreams* I love it! And that last photo is superb, Ailsa. I’m so happy you’ve got an inquiring nature 😀
Here’s my contribution to DANCE: http://drieskewrites.wordpress.com/2013/05/03/travel-theme-dance/
Thanks for another great post Ailsa. I experienced a similar dance situation on a ski field several years ago where a couple on very short skis serenely waltzed down the slope in a little world of their own. It was so unusual, and seemingly incongruous, that it left a lasting impression. Chris G
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Didn’t have to travel far for this one: http://windagainstcurrent.com/2013/05/03/travel-theme-dance/
Here’s my entry
http://wp.me/p2ddEF-1nI
gorgeous tulips – nothing could be – what? inspiring? It’s more than beautiful? Enchanting at the least. Free range flowers ( sort of)
great post to welcome May.
(Note to self: must revisit Seattle – it’s been too long)
Pingback: Ailsa’s Theme: Dance | Travel Monkey
Different kind of dancers in NYC
http://shaanthz.wordpress.com/2013/05/03/travel-theme-dance/
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I really love the dancing couple by the water! Here is my not-so-literal interpretation of Dance. 🙂
http://nwframeofmind.com/2013/05/03/weekly-travel-theme-dance/
Leonard Cohen is one of my all-time favourites – his songs are timeless.
I am back to Seattle at the end of the month – hopefully to my favourite B&B on Capitol Hill, and many a meal in The Coastal Kitchen down the road. I will dance down the street (when no one is looking) on my way to dinner, in tribute to your post!
Hurrah, that sounds like a wonderful tribute, Pat, I have a vision of you dancing your way to dinner now 🙂 I love the Coastal Kitchen!
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Love the “HOLI Girls” and I love me some Samuel Beckett (as I believe you know).
http://quotidianhudsonriver.com/2013/05/03/5-3-13-travel-theme-dance/
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What a great challenge, once again, Ailsa. I love that song by Leonard Cohen as well: “Dance Me to the End of Love.” I especially love that couple dancing in the park and the Irish dancers.
Here’s mine for this week: http://catbirdphotography.wordpress.com/2013/05/04/travel-theme-dance/
Pingback: Travel Theme: Dance | Transplanted Tatar
Lovely dances, tango by the waterfront, especially. Here are some dances of my own: http://transplantedtatar.wordpress.com/2013/05/04/travel-theme-dance/
Pingback: Travel theme: Dance | no step too loose
great theme, once again I join the challenge!
http://wp.me/p3galV-F3
Pingback: Dance Three Ways | dadirridreaming
such elegant dancers you found ailsa! here are mine http://dadirridreaming.wordpress.com/2013/05/04/dance-three-ways/
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