Documenting Something BIG: 2, 3, 7, 12, 28, 44 and…?!

Looking around, so many people, both Vietnamese and foreigners. Left, right. Behind, in front. People jumping, spinning, laughing, upside down. Twists, turns, high fives. Strangers, family and friends. The hour was packed, with lots of people doing different things. Sometimes together as a group, everyone would come together. Mostly, though, everyone doing their thing. 

This was the scene of #dorkdancing for mental health, on February 21st 2020. This day, just yesterday, we broke a record. Too many people to count, our estimate is over 40 dork dancers. 

Reflecting back, understanding where this started, it was quite a scene to digest. Never did we imagine so many people joining us on the beach. That feeling of BIG progressed bit by bit, over time, throughout the course of 7 months of Dork Dancing everyday at 5PM. 

On that first day, 2 people felt BIG. Dancing out in public, it was questionable if anyone would even join. The expectation that was held was dancing alone for days, maybe weeks, who knows. But someone did join, Thai. WOW. Amazing. Someone joined. This meant the world. It meant not dancing alone. It meant someone cared enough to join a stranger and dance like a dork in public. This feeling was something else. Something BIG.

On that second day, 3 people felt BIG. Not only did Thai join once, he joined again that very next day because he had a good time. Incredible. Dancing like dorks, out in public, with a stranger was both something different and exciting. But 2 people felt like a pair of weirdos. Would anyone else join? Someone did. She did. Her name was Anna. She loved it. We loved it. 3 excited dorks. This was a trio, a strong spine of support. It felt heavy to dance with 2 other strangers. This was something BIG. 

On that third day, 7 people felt BIG. Dancing with 2 strangers was really fun, and then suddenly the size more than doubled. Wow, where did these people come from? How cool. This is more than a trio. This is now a real group. These speakers aren’t loud enough for so many people anymore. New speakers are now required. How amazing. This was not expected, especially so fast. This was something BIG.

On the twenty first day, 28 people felt HUGE. What the heck?! So many people, from different days, decided to come today. But also, where did half these people come from? All at once. So many people. Beach security had issues. We were blocking foot traffic, with some complaints from everyday beach walkers. We were kicked off the sidewalk and brought the party to the beach. So much energy, amazing music. This was wow, ummmmm, cool?!! Couldn’t have expected this. Need to talk with security now to find permission and city partnership. New location needed. Really, something BIG (to see the progression of these first weeks, read more about Why & How Dork Dancing Began in Da Nang).

6 months of Dork Dancing pass by. Each day different, with attendance oscillating mostly between 10 and 20 dancers. Our daily average remains a bit over 12 dancers. The event is everyday, some people come, and stay, and then go. Others stay, stay and some give it one shot. Rainy season and lockdowns added some challenge. Canceled days, bad weather. That was tough. Not so easy, or comfortable to dance. Sometimes not many. 

Tet holiday. 2021, mid-February. We stopped dancing for a week. Our first ever vacation from dancing daily. Now, the weather, much better. A few days back in, 26 dorks came to dance. After break, dorks are returning eager to let it out. That grey, endless rainy weather was enough, and now we can step into this beautiful beach setting sun together. 

This brings us to yesterday. 

On the one hundred ninety second day, with an estimated 40+ people attending, this again felt HUGE. Yea, nice. Wow. Yea. Again, where did half these people come from? Which way to turn attention? So much going on, really. Lots of jumping joy. Understanding the journey to get here, this was amazing. 

Now moving forward what’s next? Well, the same thing. #dorkdancing for mental health everyday at 5PM. Now, we do our best to document this journey and share what’s happening here with the world, with hopes to get others #dorkdancing for mental health.

For the first time ever, we are planning, and promoting, BIG. Next Sunday, we are hosting our first ever BIG Dork Dance event. The reason? We are creating a documentary for #dorkdancing and we’d love to get some shots with lots of people on the beach. 

Marcus Statz, a dork and local videographer, is leading this documentary project and it already is creating massive opportunity. Never have we made a specific effort, with the intention, to organize something big.

Now we are doing so with great curiosity. If we could get over 40 yesterday, what can we do next week? We don’t know. Could be less, could be similar, could be more. 

Any way, either way, any how, it’s a party. And regardless of how many people show up, we are grateful for this journey. It is about impact. If we can impact one person, that’s the start of hitting gold. It’s a success. If we can do it for two, that’s really something awesome. 3 nice. 7 yes! 12, great. 28, amazing. 44, OK, we’ll take it. 

Finding gratitude for what’s in front of you is what’s best. No matter where we are at in the journey, it somehow all feels…BIG.

For those in Da Nang, hope to see you out there next Sunday for the BIG Dork Dance. #dorkdancing for mental health starts in Da Nang. It starts with YOU.

Dork Dancing is a grassroots mental health initiative, campaign, and community effort. We depend entirely on charitable giving to inspire impact. We hope you may consider supporting by donating.