With HK, we want to keep dancing!

On Saturday night, when night overtakes day, a new message appears on my phone screen. It invites us to a dance appointment on Sunday morning at 10.45 am on the Place de la République. What if we go there?

Translation of the panel: A country without culture is a country without a future. Immediate reopening of the places of culture.

But yes, of course we’ll be there because despite the Covid and the biting cold, we want to keep dancing!

Place de la République, Sunday 10:45 am, as planned, in front of the statue facing the metro mouth, a band of sweet dreamers is already in place! They have come to re-enchant the daily life of Parisians!

Translation of the panel: Immediate and definitive reopening of theatres, concert halls and all places of culture.

We have missed the artists throughout his last months, it’s as if the world has lost its soul.

Discovering a double bass that takes its ease in the square gives wings to most Sunday morning passers-by.

The first chords of music stop the most in a hurry.

The slide trombone lets out a few notes and the surrounding world stops dead in its tracks, it’s been so long since the city has vibrated on the musicians’ instruments.

The banjo follows in quick succession and suddenly…

…the assembly, now more and more numerous, starts to dance.

A wave of happiness runs through the crowd moving in all directions.

As one man, the crowd moves in and it’s moving,

It’s so powerful…

…that all generations let themselves be taken in and enter the dance together.

Hands are raised to thank the artists for giving us the opportunity to get together and move to the rhythm of the chords.

The accordion launches in its turn and …

… our feet no longer hold in place …

… and begin to take off from the square’s forecourt in a dynamic and lively choreography brilliantly directed by … and … I don’t remember their names, but they were very enthusiastic.

The bodies regain space and free themselves for a while from the weight of winter.

Under the gaze of the lanterns arranged all around the square for the Chinese New Year…

… the Place de la République takes on an air of spring and the allure of a guinguette.

The walkers go into raptures as they rediscover the instruments…

… as HK begins a song that carries the audience away.

With the same ardour as after the attacks of 2015, when he invited us to return to the ball despite the morose atmosphere, Kadour reminds us that we are inveterate dancers.

Musicians and dancers are now in complete harmony…

… the choreography is well developed …

… life is in full swing…

… and it’s one hell of a time for the lovers of life!

We are the birds of passage as the song says so well.

Our feet remember the great moments spent in this square, from Alternatiba to Nuit Debout. We realize then that HK has often been there at our side to encourage us to never let go.

Let’s not be without resistance as the singer’s voice is now eagerly singing!

Taking advantage of the view of the Haussmann-style buildings….

… we are completely carried away by the words and gestures of the group.

Kadour gives of himself to make the world sing.

His good humour wins over loafers.

The group guides us as always.

Today no sentence…

… just a wind of resistance…

… and a few moments of shared humanity.

The square is filling up…

… the artists have captured their audience …

… our bodies fully vibrate to their chords and forget for a while the bad spell.

Laughter overcame the sadness on the faces.

Artists are at one with their instruments.

In spite of the cold, we join the resistance and we all dance together.

A few notes of music were enough to chase away the gloom and restore hope for a time asleep even in the heart of Paris.

Now the accordionist is having the time of his life.

As for the saxophonist, she has already left planet earth…

… to train us under other skies.

Friend of passage, look to the distance and don’t leave your body asleep for too long. Move, sing, dance and don’t forget that artists are there to re-enchant the world!