Dance Lessons in Prague

6.20.24 – Prague, Czech Republic

My journal entry, as written:

Walking out of dinner, I heard lively jazz music coming from a nearby square. I followed my ear and found an outdoor performance of three very talented musicians. With no other plans, and no available seat in sight, I sat down on the street to listen. After three songs and a fabulous guitar solo by a boy no older than 10, the jazz band’s set was over. Promptly, an older Czech man took the microphone, announcing he was going to teach a traditional dance.

He instructed everyone to pair up with someone, as it was a sort of three step partner dance. On my own and without the moxy to approach a stranger, I resigned myself to happily watching from the sidelines – sitting, tapping my foot, and enjoying the music accompanying the simple quick-quick-pause patterned dance. Then, suddenly, I felt a tap on my shoulder. I turned around to see a middle-aged asian woman gesturing that I should stand up. A few steps behind her I saw what I assumed were her daughters giggling away at this scene playing out.

We ended up dancing quite terribly with smiles on our faces the whole time through every stumble while the instructor watched and laughed along. He seemed to get a kick out of me and my American-ness and the unlikely dancing duo that was clumsily clambering in front of him. My dance partner and I did not seem to speak a word of the same language, but luckily you don’t need many words to laugh and move your feet. A few songs and many missed steps later (including one interesting move where you shake your butt and flap your elbows like a bird), the dance was over, my dance partner and I hi-fived, and we parted ways.

I love solo travel sometimes – experiences like this wouldn’t occur if I’d been with a friend. I find that solitude often brings the most unexpected company.

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