Movement

Cyprus is a country infused with many if not all aspects of Mediterranean culture. The staples of a society I’ve been raised in are noticeable everywhere. I can’t help but feel uplifted since I’m constantly being drug in and out of a familiarity that I hold dearly. Watching the Cypriot people in their element has been the main fundamental in my truly enjoyable month study here. They radiate a vibrancy that can’t help but be noticed.

As a group, we have been exposed to so many incredible experiences throughout our journey here. Many of them have had a more serious tone, so, it was rather enjoyable to have some light -hearted experiences as well. The opportunity arose when we were given the occasion to learn how to Greek dance at a restaurant in old Nicosia.

Xephotos, is a restaurant bustling with life. Traditional, hand woven crafts litter the wall along with bright tapestries and lanterns. The owner of the place prepared a huge meze (traditional Cypriot meal) and made us eat it before he allowed us to partake in the dancing that we were so earnest to begin. The meze felt like it stretched on forever; All of us playing musical chairs with our bowls around the table.

After our dinner, we started to hear music being played. As we peered around the corner, we laid eyes on three young Cypriots, who were about the same age as us, dancing to traditional Greek music. They were so carefree in the way they moved. There were no routines or choreography since every step was improved, twirled and snapped to the beat of the music. The laughter reverberated throughout the restaurant as four of our group members stood up to try and imitate the Cypriot dancing. I can’t say that it was exactly their forte.

The Cypriot dancing is an exotic blend of many different cultures mashed together to form the modern movements of today. As the restaurant owner began to fiddle in his seat, I realized that he was dying to get out of his chair. As he stood up and proceeded to dance, I couldn’t help but laugh. Cypriots don’t have an age limit on who can or can’t dance. The sixty nine year old owner of the restaurant was dancing just as fast paced, if not faster then the Cypriots who were our age. It was evident that to simply be joyful and passionate was all that mattered. The music was to be felt, not structured. The worst crime one could commit would be to not flow with the rhythm.

Cyprus is a place with many stagnant lines that have created a lot of hard feelings. These feelings are evident on all the people that live on this small yet vibrant island. The problem with lines, though, is that they are unmoving. It is these walls that with time become permanent divisons between people that don’t falter or wave. What I do hope for the people of this beautiful place is movement; movement towards forgiveness, fresh starts, and the erasing of those harsh lines.