liminal

You learn something new every day.

Today I got schooled on the deeper meaning and origins of the musical term "dancehall". (For those living under the square rock, Dancehall is Jamaican pop music, characterized by instrumental tracks enlivened with the chat of a deejay, who traditionally would speak to a live congregation while playing a selection of local recordings on vinyl.)

My girl Molli Fire showed me the meaning of dancehall as a place. Apparently, dancehalls have never been the walled-in ballrooms that the word has always brought to my mind. A dancehall is a space created by the gathering of a community around a sound system in the outdoors, under the stars.

Because, I figure, you can't have anything boxing you in when you celebrate. One does not demonstrate awe and appreciation by exercising restraint. There's a reason that it's called the outside dance.

Feel that. Love Molli for renewing and expanding my view of my life and cultural history. The woman knows her music! Read her blog at
musicnewsculture.com