When I went to contra dance with our class, I was expecting to be awkward and terrible at the dancing. However, I was able to pick it up rather quicker than I had even hoped. The dancing was nice because I wasn't worried about trying to fit in with my class or how I think it's ok that I'm antisocial even if no one else does. It brought me into my element. If I am not seriously with people I like, it is hard for me to relate, join in, and be social, but these people didn't care that I was antisocial, and I didn't have to work hard to make them like me, or look good to get asked to dance. And that's what made this so different and so much fun. No one judged.
I can't wait to attend again and bring the friends that I will make with me. I want to attend the contra dance again partially to become better and partially because of the environment. The environment in almost any social event, for me at least, has always been filled expectations where I am really not allowed to be myself. I have to say the right thing, wear the right thing, talk the right amount, act like I enjoy where I am. I don't like that, and at contra dance I didn't have to work hard for acceptance, or be an outcast when I didn't try, because often I don't care enough to try.
I believe that participatory music is a form of participatory social action. They are both DIY. The benefits of these movements is that there are social changes that go on as a result of each. They become important parts of communities, and help bring in other people, help kids in the community, and help keep cultures alive.
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