There’s much to love about town fairs. One of which is it brings the community closer together through various activities and that mutual desire to have fun.
But more importantly, people get to see their neighbor’s secret lives depending on what event is on for that night, much like this lady who wowed her audience.
The video begins with an empty stage.
People from all walks of life, young and old, gathered around the performance area. You can tell it’s an impromptu community event, especially with the different types of lawn chairs these people were sitting on.
Then, an unassuming woman walked to the center. She was wearing something similar to everyone else’s, very casual and none of it was showing that she’s a contestant to a dance contest.
As the music started, however, it became pretty clear quickly that she was so much more than she was letting on.
She even squirmed to shake off the nervousness but with her talent, it was largely unnecessary.
The woman moved her feet into a precise flurry of quick steps and shuffling. The crowd came alive with cheering and rhythmic clapping.
The ringing of the banjo became a backdrop to hollers and whistles while the woman kicked to the front and the side like her legs had their own life. It was just too quick and too coordinated.
This dance is called flatfoot dancing.
It can only be described as music that “just goes in your ear, down through your soul, and comes out through your feet.”
While that is widely broad and poetic, the dance focuses heavily on leg and foot movements much like what she was doing on the video.
Unlike its counterparts, flatfoot dancing is done solo.
The tempo of the dance is much faster too as both feet must be as close to the floor. The steps aren’t flashy or fancy and most of them are improvised – thus the saying above.
For some, this kind of dancing is said to be born from different disciplines such as the Irish stepdance, polka shuffle, tap dancing, and line dancing.
This type of dance is much more complicated than it seems.
While other dance genres are structured or held to a specific context, flatfoot dancing can be considered a bit of a free-for-all.
Its physical demands are made more difficult by the improvision of the dancer. This largely depends on their creativity, passion, and physical capabilities.
People all over the world loved the woman’s version of the dance.
“Her knees were replaced with those hinges that allow saloon doors to swing open in both directions.” Quipped one of the commenters.
“That is the remnants of Irish folk dance!” pointed out another, “That dance was the history of the people’s past!”
“Flatfoot, clogging, Irish step dancing — they’re all really great styles of dancing that are fun to learn and enjoyable to watch.” Shared another, “It’s a big planet, and folks have found lots of ways to dance and express themselves.”
Watch how this woman made an easy work out of flatfoot dancing in her short performance.
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