Middle Ground

And what I found.

I’m a periphery kinda gal. Well, at least as it relates to dancefloor locales. My outlook and attitude is that longitude and latitude matter. And being about as picky as they come, I’m prone to a whole host of peculiarities.

Goldilocks is someone I relate to, because like her- I can’t rest until I find juuuust the right spot. A quest that proves trickier at certain times than others. My tendency when whirling it up to twirl is to flock where there’s room. Which is usually at the rear, where space allows me to extend my extremities without bopping into fellow dancers.

My technique is one honed over decades. And like a hawk, I circle the dancefloor before settling on a spot and nesting in a nook. My sensory requirements (in no particular order) being dancefloor density, sound quality, sights, lights and the material nature of the floor itself. Of course not every dancefloor delivers on my whims and desires. That expectation is certainly out of whack- and whack. Because dancefloors aren’t built solely for me, you or anyone else. They’re for US.

As always, to each their own. But the fact that the majority of folks flock to the middle of the dancefloor gets me flabbergasted. I’ve pondered just why that is for seemingly forever. Could it be magnetic attraction or perhaps pheromones? Maybe a feeling of safety in numbers? Temperature seems an unlikely draw given most dancefloors range from warm to sweatbox. Though I’m far from mad at any of the myriad of potential reasons. Because from my vantage point it just leaves more room on the sidelines.

All that being said, I recently found myself in the middle of a dancefloor. As my friend led me towards the center, my mind nagged at me to turn around- and find more familiar ground. But my gut said to try something new, live a little, YOLO or something along those lines. So off I went.

Now…this wasn’t just any party. It was Soul Summit. A phenomenal Brooklyn institution started in 2002 by collective co-founders Sadiq Bellamy, Tabu, and Jeff Mendoza. It transcends comparison to anything else I’ve been to. The dancefloor is at the apex of Fort Greene Park. And being at the top of the hill physically represents the epitome of house music’s historic roots in Black and Queer culture- and the monumental impact they’ve had across the globe.

Clinton Davidson- an actual icon, at Soul Summit in 2025.

The core of Soul Summit are free Summertime events, which draw musically-minded and diverse souls of all ages to the heart of the park. Part party, part family reunion- full of history, connection and brimming with jubilance and positivity in the present and towards the future.

As I twirled in the tight space, my aversion to the middle was far from mind- as I was overcome by the gorgeousness of the moment. I tried to put my finger on the proverbial pulse. A reverberating and contagious joy permeated amongst the trees and greenery- so much so that it almost became tangible. A gathering and reprieve in a world teeming with negativity and destruction. My mind flashed towards my times twirling on the sidelines. Perspective really is everything.

On the inside looking out, I was beholden to an intrinsic sense of being held- a rare feeling in today’s society. I took in all I could in- ‘twas quite the whirlwind. It was a feeling so strong, but not one to linger too long, I took off towards my natural habitat on the edges. Now with a renewed sense of future.

NOT A SIDE NOTE: When attending functions- mind your space and know your place. While it might be open to all, it’s not a free-for-all. It’s each of our responsibilities to educate ourselves on context, history, roots and intentions.

If you’re a guest in a space outside of who it was originally intended for- polish up your respect, awareness, etiquette and manners. These common courtesies really should be perpetually present- everywhere and all the time. Because entitled actions and attitudes are bogus across the board. And taking time to think these things through, shifts one’s point of view. Which is a small- yet big step towards manifesting the pinnacle of what’s possible.