While in Honolulu, my family and I had a few hours before our flight back to San Francisco, so we went for a walk in a park nearby.
My mother perked up when she saw a line dance group. There were about 40 people, of mixed ethnicities, mostly in their 40s and 50s.
“I know this song!” My mother said as we walked past the group. She also picked up line dancing as a hobby during the pandemic.
“You all keep walking. I go back.”
My mother approached the group and started following the dance moves from afar. After the first song, two friendly dancers invited her to come closer.
“Follow the guy in the orange shirt—he’s terrific!” a woman advised. She had a kind face.
After another song, the leader directed the group to turn around and welcome us in the back. He asked for our names, and everyone cheered.
The man in the orange shirt guided my mother. She asked questions and received more coaching. Everyone laughed.
I had never seen my mother form an intimate bond with others in a foreign land in such a short time.
What made my mother—a reserved woman with limited English in an unfamiliar city—engage with strangers without hesitation? What prompted her to participate in an activity that could make her look stupid?
It was the power of a community with a common belief.
This community in Ala Moana Park believes that dancing is a free gift to be given and received. It is inexhaustible. Better yet, it multiplies when shared.
My mother believes in that, too.
The community isn’t concerned about who the best dancer is. Its people enjoy dancing. What matters is that more people get to share the joy of being in motion.
A community gives life when it seeks each other’s well-being. Its energy is palpable and contagious.
A community like this is remarkable because it transcends above language and speaks directly to the heart. People behave differently: they care for each other. They create a space where everyone can be themselves. People do not worry about judgement, success, or failure.
With psychological safety, everyone can explore, try new things, and take risks. Dancing alone in public can be intimidating, but it becomes fun when you do it with a community you trust.
The most impressive part of this story was how it unfolded like an impromptu dance. My mother accepted the invitation, participated, and fared well with the group within half an hour.
All this happened unprompted and unscripted.