Melbourne Ska Orchestra @ The Triffid

  If I wasn't so busy dancing and cheering I would have been able to stand still enough to take a non-blurry photo. If you like ska music and get the chance to see these guys play live, do yourself a favour and check them out. How they managed to fit 24? 25? musicians and their instruments on that small stage I have no idea. What a crazy, energy-charged, hilarious, infectious bunch of lunatics.

Panyiri 2010

Here's a shot from last week's Panyiri, which is Brisbane's annual celebration of all things Greek. The kids in the front are from the local state school, getting ready to take the stage. Like the other capital cities in Australia, Brisbane has a large and vibrant Greek community and the traditions of music, food and dance have been passed on to the emerging, Australian-born generations...    

By the way... if you haven't tried honey puffs before this is DEFINITELY the place to go!

Cheers to Mouse for getting this shot.

Raqs The Kasbah

It was a bellydance extravaganza last night at the West End Club. Some fantastic Egyptian music and the dancers weren't half bad either. I think in the end most of the audience (95% women) were up dancing too which was great fun!

Happy Mother's Day!

Jingle Jangle Morning

Toowoomba Morris Dancers (according to their shirts) wandering through the City Botanical Gardens yesterday. Perhaps they were heading to a "dance-off" with rival Brisbane gangs... the streets emptying, curtains and blinds twitching, sticks and accordions at 20 paces.

Tap!

Spring Hill tap dancing...

Friday Night Boogie

I had an extremely rare Friday night by myself so decided to stroll around town with my camera. This is Brisbane Square where last night there was a dj and sound system set up and people getting down to salsa music. I thought maybe it was a special event but one guy told me it's run by Brisbane City Council and is on every Friday night. I really should get out more.

Surrender To The Beat

Usually a busy street with cars and buses, Boundary Street in West End pulsed to the rhythm of hundreds of dancers and party people on Saturday.

Blackstar Coffee Street Party

Last night, Blackstar Coffee in Thomas Street, West End, threw a street party as part of the Brisbane Festival. Music, food, poetry, art, dancing and a 15 year old rapper who brought the house down.
The festivities continue today in Boundary Street... you're all invited!
(OK if you can't make it, I'll post you a picture tomorrow)

Up 2 U

I thought I'd milk another picture from the Up 2 U bunch - a group of dancers I managed to catch practicing in South Bank recently. They're representing Australia next week at the World Hip-Hop Championships in Las Vegas next week and if they dance like they did at rehearsals, the judges are in for a treat.

Vegas, Here We Come!

I was walking past the Suncorp Piazza when I came across this amazing group of dancers practicing their stuff. They were really giving it all they had - the energy was electric. It turns out they are "Up 2 U", an urban dance crew who have recently become Australian Champions and now they're off to Las Vegas to take on the world in the World Hip Hop Championships at the end of this month.

Pandemonium at Paniyiri

The kids' Zorba dance soon became a free-for-all and once the pace of the music picked up... well there were people going in every direction, it was hilarious.
What's that big shiny thing behind the laughing lady? Xena, the big shiny Greek dancing warrior princess...or at least the back of her head. There was also a big shiny dancing Hercules.
It was like being in the middle of a Greek-themed "It's A Knockout".

Everybody Zorba!

Yesterday and today see Musgrave Park in South Brisbane transform into the home of the long- awaited Paniyiri, Brisbane's Greek festival. More honey-puffs, moussaka, souvlaki and Mythos that you can throw a plate at. And to work off all that food and drink? Mass Zorba dancing! Hurray!
They eventually made an inner circle for the poor kids!

I'm taking part in Shadow Shot Sunday today, an initiative by fellow Brisbane blogger, Hey Harriet. Check out other shadows posted on her blog today here.

Morris Dancers (2)

Posting magically continues despite me being on me hols. Back in late June.

Morris Dancers

Here are the dancers that the accordian players from the last few posts were accompanying.

Posting magically continues despite me being on me hols. Back in late June.