Common People Dance Eisteddfod 2 | Common People Dance Project

On Saturday night, I watched the second greatest battle of all time... The Common People Dance Eisteddfod 2. The teams of suburban gladiators had a dance off once again to prove which side of Brisbane is the best. The event was held at the South Bank Piazza; south of the bank, west of the city, east of the border and north of the rest of the world.

Even before the epic battle started, I could feel the heavy tension in the air between the cheer squads of the four teams and caught quite a few evil eyes from members of one stand to another. As the videos of the contestants performing in their living rooms, in a range of exercise gear, sequinned leotards and some very stylish pyjamas, goosebumps sprouted across my arms and legs in anticipation of the crowning of the next Eisteddfod level .

This prestigious Brisbane eisteddfod was founded by the legendary Neridah Waters, as a swan song following her rejection to a rock Eisteddfod twenty-six years ago. In this years competition, we had four years to eighty four year olds, all of whom most likely had carpet burn from practicing their jazz slides on their living room carpet.

The rules were that the teams could cheat, bribe the judges and sabotage the other teams. The judges were Dan Evans and Jackie Ryan. Dan was looking for blood, extensions and facial features, Jackie was looking for an exploration of the human condition and co-vid 19.

Image supplied.

The crowd went feral as West Side started the competition with a mash up of Thunderstruck and Don’t Stop Me Now. Their moves were bold and glamorous and as Dan Evans pointed out, they were a team of daydreamers and thugs living up to their names.

With a whopping 46 people in their team, the South Side team came next whose moves and smiles were infectious as they did their jazz slides. Defending champions the East Siders must receive an accolade for continuing to power on despite a prop mal function and for being the team that I think wore the most Spandex. But they rocked it so well and their moves were to die for. Then came the North Side team with their roller skates, strippers and various other acrobatic tricks. What a versatile bunch but boy did they bring it.

But just like every battle, only one team can be victorious. Or sometimes two if you’re an Oscars judge. After each team participated in a vigorous 90s dance battle which had me grooving in my seat and tapping my toes, the judges crowned (drum roll please)... the Northside Side as the Common People Dance Eisteddfod winners for 2020.

I must say that I had the most outrageously fun evening and haven’t smiled that much in such a long while. It was also the first time I’d publicly belted out Whitney since I hit puberty. What a wild time.

Will Northside be able to defend their title in next year’s dance battle ? I guess we will have to wait and see...