This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/may/31/lunch-beat-office-workers-boogie
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Lunch Beat entices office workers to mid-day 60-minute boogie | Lunch Beat entices office workers to mid-day 60-minute boogie |
| (8 days later) | |
| Amy Lynch usually spends her lunch hour in front of her computer, munching on a baguette, surfing the internet. But on Thursday lunchtime, she wasn't browsing – she was boogieing. | Amy Lynch usually spends her lunch hour in front of her computer, munching on a baguette, surfing the internet. But on Thursday lunchtime, she wasn't browsing – she was boogieing. |
| The 26-year-old recruitment worker was at Lunch Beat Manchester, held at the Black Dog Ballroom bar, the first British incarnation of a phenomenon which began in Stockholm two years and has now gone global. | The 26-year-old recruitment worker was at Lunch Beat Manchester, held at the Black Dog Ballroom bar, the first British incarnation of a phenomenon which began in Stockholm two years and has now gone global. |
| Simultaneous Lunch Beat events were held in 18 cities, adapting the usual nightclub experience but reducing it to one hour of dancing. | Simultaneous Lunch Beat events were held in 18 cities, adapting the usual nightclub experience but reducing it to one hour of dancing. |
| Lynch had come prepared, shaking the blue tambourine she carries whenever out raving. A laptop was placed on the DJ desk beaming images from the Manchester event around the world. Outside the venue, shoppers were being drenched by afternoon rain; inside, the clubbers were drenched in sweat from dancing. | Lynch had come prepared, shaking the blue tambourine she carries whenever out raving. A laptop was placed on the DJ desk beaming images from the Manchester event around the world. Outside the venue, shoppers were being drenched by afternoon rain; inside, the clubbers were drenched in sweat from dancing. |
| "I'm a surveyor and usually I'd be at my desk eating a sandwich," said James Devany, 27, while throwing improbable shapes on the dance floor and breaking one of the laws of the Lunch Beat Manifesto, inspired by the film Fight Club: you don't talk about work. | "I'm a surveyor and usually I'd be at my desk eating a sandwich," said James Devany, 27, while throwing improbable shapes on the dance floor and breaking one of the laws of the Lunch Beat Manifesto, inspired by the film Fight Club: you don't talk about work. |
| For Molly Range, 28, the creator of Lunch Beat, dancing is like meditation "when you can allow yourself to be absorbed completely by the present and not worry about work or your next meeting". | For Molly Range, 28, the creator of Lunch Beat, dancing is like meditation "when you can allow yourself to be absorbed completely by the present and not worry about work or your next meeting". |
| Chris Lloyd, a music producer, who, with DJ Marvin Speakman, brought the event to Manchester, said: "When you dance you're not thinking about work. This is a chance to stop staring at a screen for an hour and properly switch your brain off." | Chris Lloyd, a music producer, who, with DJ Marvin Speakman, brought the event to Manchester, said: "When you dance you're not thinking about work. This is a chance to stop staring at a screen for an hour and properly switch your brain off." |
| Last week Lloyd, who attended last week's party celebrating the 30th anniversary of Manchester's Hacienda nightclub, said: "The Hacienda may now be a car park but Manchester and clubbing has moved on." | Last week Lloyd, who attended last week's party celebrating the 30th anniversary of Manchester's Hacienda nightclub, said: "The Hacienda may now be a car park but Manchester and clubbing has moved on." |
| The one-hour duration of the event means, according to Speakman, "it starts full on and then goes from there". | The one-hour duration of the event means, according to Speakman, "it starts full on and then goes from there". |
| Anna McNulty, 24, said: "I like how there's no messing around, you have to make the most of every minute you're here." | Anna McNulty, 24, said: "I like how there's no messing around, you have to make the most of every minute you're here." |
| "I've had a really shit day today so, for me, coming here has been really liberating," said Fiona Kirwan. "It feels really good to come from an accountancy meeting and be able to dance like this." | "I've had a really shit day today so, for me, coming here has been really liberating," said Fiona Kirwan. "It feels really good to come from an accountancy meeting and be able to dance like this." |
| Lunch Beat discos are alcohol free; clubbers are offered water and a healthy wrap on arrival. It is part of an ethos that suggests there are tangible benefits to lunchtime dancing. | Lunch Beat discos are alcohol free; clubbers are offered water and a healthy wrap on arrival. It is part of an ethos that suggests there are tangible benefits to lunchtime dancing. |
| Among those on the dancefloor wereMiles, dressed in suit and tie, straight from work, and Tanya, a Russian psychotherapist who had come from Rochdale. | Among those on the dancefloor wereMiles, dressed in suit and tie, straight from work, and Tanya, a Russian psychotherapist who had come from Rochdale. |
| Some brought spray and perfume to ensure they could return to work without repulsing their colleagues; others brought towels. For the final minutes of the hour, Speakman replaced house music with Donna Summer and Sister Sledge before New Order bought the show to an end. | Some brought spray and perfume to ensure they could return to work without repulsing their colleagues; others brought towels. For the final minutes of the hour, Speakman replaced house music with Donna Summer and Sister Sledge before New Order bought the show to an end. |
| A second Lunch Beat afternoon is planned for June when the concept will start rolling out across the US. | A second Lunch Beat afternoon is planned for June when the concept will start rolling out across the US. |
| "It's been surreal," said Andrew, who had come from Staffordshire to check it out. "I'm dancing but, at the back of my mind I know it's daytime and I know that I have to go back to work." | "It's been surreal," said Andrew, who had come from Staffordshire to check it out. "I'm dancing but, at the back of my mind I know it's daytime and I know that I have to go back to work." |
| Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. | Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. |
| Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. Enter your email address to subscribe. | Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. Enter your email address to subscribe. |
| Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. |