Stinky Kids Doing the "Take On Me" Falsetto

By Nitesh Srivastava

Stinky kids doing the "Take On Me" falsetto - as Dave Barry would say, that would make a great name for a punk rock band.

Dancers, now wearing more practical outfits such as shorts, t-shirts and headbands, sang along to the A-ha classic. While some energetic souls still danced along, the majority of people just stepped in place, their arms swinging back and forth lifelessly. They looked like extras in a party scene in a movie, trying to create the appearance of dancing without actually putting effort into it.

A sickly sweet musk permeated the Louis Room, while smoke drifted above the crowd. The day outside had turned bright and sunny, but the curtains were now closed, giving the room back its club-like atmosphere.

A lone dancer lay slumped against a corner of the far wall, fast asleep. Nearby, several dancers sat cross-legged on the floor with plates of food in their hands.

But there were still signs of vibrant energy. A girl wearing gaudy sequined pants stood out in the crowd. A single balloon from the sunrise celebration bounced up and down over the dancers' heads, occasionally disappearing for a moment before popping up again a few feet away.

Around 5 p.m., the smell of food took mixed with the funk of the room, as coordinators set up tables of pasta and salad outside the Louis Room.

The music stopped, and dancers watched a taped news segment on the giant screen about suffering African children. Rather than take the opportunity to leave, dancers actually filed back into the room to watch, and after it was over, they applauded. TnA treated the crowd to a demonstration of a shrill cry that served as a greeting in African tribes, and they described a noble social class known in some tribes as "warriors."

"A warrior can dance for 30 hours, right?" they concluded. "Don't stop, live your dream."