Saturday 31 March 2012

Vienna, a marathon



The days were long. Even longer were the nights spent at the sound and company of those who love music and folk dancing. A calm intensity hovers in the air that marks the beat of our hearts, feeling the joy and wonders of a family gathering. For it is this magic the reason why we, from so far of on the globe, travelled such distances to be here... now... in Vienna, for the Folk Marathon, held from the 28th of December until the 2nd of January, 2012.








Changing in venues around the city, genres of folk music, what made this event special and intim was the fact that there were no 'official' bands: all the people playing at this gathering were mere music lovers who offered to the directors of the Marathon either workshops of a particular kind of dance, music workshop, themselves for the night gigs or even the three of them. Thus, this happening is the consequence of enthusiasts that want to give and share what they know with whoever might come. Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy? Noo! This is real; I can feel it in my bones, see it with my eyes, listen it with my hears... and they are not playing around with me!









Like any other's new year's eve, we also had ours, Vienna Folk Marathon way. A bit before midnight, after already plenty of dancing, everyone stopped and started heading to the river. On the way there we started to see some firework. Apparently, from what I was told, it's legal for people to buy their own firework. Thus, rather than having a single, massive assembly's firework, Vienna is ran by local firework that runs all night long!







Despite not having firework of our own, we celebrated the new year the best way possible: with folk music and, of course, dancing. What better and more magical way of making the first step into 2012 than being with such a group of magical people, next to the river, playing and dancing at our heart's content...!




It was, so far, one of the most incredible scenes I've ever witnessed. One that I shall repeat, if time and opportunity come to it! If not, I only wish that people get involved in it more and more, to allow it to grow more, and more, and more!

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