#dorkdancing into 2021
For the Dork Dancing community here in Da Nang, New Years Eve was something different. The celebration kicked off where it always does: on the beach at 5PM. New Years Eve landed on a Thursday, meaning Bence was hosting. As always, he was prepared with a great playlist and good energy.
The dancing was memorable because of the day’s significance. Not only did this December 31st mark the last day of 2020, but Lan’s last day at #dorkdancing too (because she was moving). You can read more about Lan and our final goodbye (post soon to be published).
After dancing, we prepared for VEGAN Dork Dinners. Typically our Dinners repeat every Friday, but we rescheduled this week to celebrate the day together. On special holidays, we tend to come together as a community. On Christmas Day, we did the same thing, sharing a meal and good company.
This dinner we went to a new restaurant, Tinh Quan, where staff and friends are one and the same for us, because they too are local (Vietnamese) dork dancers! This restaurant, like many businesses in Vietnam, is housed within a home, and this home offers more than just good food. On the third floor is a meditation center. The spiritual energy here sustains a culture of family, positivity, and togetherness.
Walking through the doors, we were welcomed fully and whole-heartedly. There was no better place in Da Nang for the Dork community to share our last meal in 2020 together. Foreigners and Vietnamese, together. Younger and older, together. Dorks, together.
After sharing very tasty food at very good prices, we were shepherded to that third floor, with speaker in hand. And so we danced! This was new. Never have we dork danced at a Dork Dinner event. It was really fun doing this. A bonus. A great space and time.
The dinner and dancing brought us to near 10:00. At this point, our large group split. We lost some friends who left for early NYE celebration. The rest of us continued with our typical dork dinner routine: now was time for some games. Back to Werewolf.
Baris distributed the cards and we played our assigned roles. Like every time we play, it was a lot of fun.
An hour slipped. Already 11:00. Only one hour until the new year, with clock ticking. With those of us remaining, we spent 15 minutes deliberating plans, eventually deciding to go to the Dragon bridge (opposed to meeting with our separated dork friends who we feared we might not find within a large crowd) with hopes to get a good view of some fireworks.
Hopped on the bikes and jumped in the car. 10 minutes later we arrived. Nobody there but us. Yes, this isn’t the spot most people were for New Years Eve. Just us.
But heck, we like it that way because we like each other.
Speaker by our feet, we turned on the music and started our own party. We danced, letting loose, as we know how to do so well together. Good friends, good dancing, good celebration. All of us sober, which is something different for many of us at this time of the year (New Years Eve = popular occasion to enjoy or indulge in some alcohol).
As time got closer to 12:00, more people arrived at the bridge. Onlookers enjoyed and some even decided to join.
Without a countdown, we lost the precise time and before we knew it, we stepped into a new year together, #dorkdancing in shared joy. The fireworks sparked in the sky.
Comically, these sparks flew far away from us, closer to our friends at the festival. Despite our desire and in spite of our deliberation, the fireworks (which lasted only one short minute) escaped us. It made the moment quite funny. Laughter, hugs, smiles, high fives, and lifted spirits.
The dancing continued. Another hour of play, mixed with a “laughing game,” a “crying game,” and other dorky outcries. We sat to meditate and breathe, still on the streets. Entering the new year, this was good energy. Something fun. We really enjoyed our time together. Looking back, there’s much to be grateful for in 2020 and looking ahead, there’s much to be excited about in 2021. Now the transition is complete. Bye 2020 and hello 2021. We made it.