Sunrise Dork Dancing: A New Community Routine
Da Nang, Vietnam has been in lockdown for 2 full months. For the first month we danced online. We tasted freedom for one week and then with less than 10 new cases in the city, we were brought back indoors for another 21+ days. This is something tiring but we are finding new ways to cope.
Over 1 month ago, Thanh, one of the biggest Dorks in the community, took matters into his own hands and embarked on a morning challenge: he has been dancing every morning from 5:30-6:30AM. Within restrictions, authorities have allowed this activity — so long as we are wearing masks and socially distanced. This experiment has worked without issue.
We are proud to report, Thanh has successfully inspired a new morning routine within and for our DORK community. Now a group of 7-12 dorks routinely join him!
But it’s not just dancing. It’s 1 hour of Dork Dancing, 10-15 minutes of meditation, and then 10-30 minutes of swimming in the ocean. Every morning (except once!), without fail.
This has been something so refreshing and helpful for our community, especially during these difficult times in lockdown. There’s something quite special and powerful about waking up, dancing freely with friends, watching the sunrise, meditating, and swimming. It’s not only refreshing, but possibly life changing. It is inspiring the formation of new, healthy habits within our community.
For a number of us, lockdown was winning the mental health battle — depressing our psyche. Since going outside with Thanh, we now are winning. It helps too that lockdown restrictions are easing, but here you really need to take these things with a grain of salt, the rules can change back at any moment.
Regardless of what happens with COVID, we explore what is within our control. For now, Sunrise Dork Dancing has been something great, purifying even. By the time we walk out of the ocean, we feel quite inspired to take on the day.
If you are in Da Nang, Vietnam, we hope you may consider joining us! And if you are outside of the city, we hope you can connect with us too. We want to dance with everyone and are creating different opportunities to do so.
Congratulations Thanh on what you have inspired, you are really leading this community. You should be proud — observe what you have inspired! P.S. — none of us Sunrise Dorks were “morning people” before. Habits can change.
Dork Dancing is a grassroots mental health initiative, campaign, and community effort. We depend on charitable giving to inspire impact. We hope you may consider supporting by donating.