Alternative therapy with Byron Bay’s Dancing Man

A Q&A with Tommy Franklin about tackling mental health and harmful substance use with one solution … dance

We are turning July into a month-long celebration of dancing here at Hello Sunday Morning and what better way to get the d-floor started than with Tommy Franklin, also known as ‘Byron’s Dancing Man’. Tommy became a Youtube sensation when onlookers filmed him dancing in the rain on Byron’s main street. We managed to catch him for a chat while he unloaded gear from the car after a long day’s work filming for Barcelona’s Beach Festival.

Dancing means something different to everyone. For many it’s about letting your hair down and having fun, but sadly, many people (especially guys) only really shake their booty after drinking enough to loose their inhibitions.

Hello Sunday Morning has teamed up with Tommy to change this.

Dancing not only makes us feel amazing, but did you know it can also be quite healing and seen as an alternative therapy when we dance to shake off our shit?

Tommy got into drinking as an angsty teenager when he was dealing with the overwhelming nature of growing up: puberty; conditioning; self-belief and interactions with others.

“I was judged a lot in high school and ridiculed for being myself. I didn’t really cope too well and I decided to turn to the drink — and I enjoyed that because it was my only escape, but at the same time I didn’t enjoy it, so it was like this massive oxymoron.”

Why dancing?

“Music is my medicine and dance is my therapy.”

“When you sweat, you release certain god-given drugs throughout your brain like serotonin, dopamine, adrenaline; all these chemicals shooting through your body. That’s why so many people are gym junkies, but I don’t necessarily have to pay a monthly fee to dance. You don’t have to wait five days until the weekend, you can do it whenever, wherever you are.

I’m totally hooked.”

How does dancing make you feel?

“I could be in the worst possible mood and when the vibration from the music comes in, it’s like opening up some windows in a stuffy room. It’s like standing in a hot shower after you’ve had a really busy day and you stink. The music can just wash over your mind and emotions and completely change your energy, completely change how you feel about the now.”

Why don’t people dance more?

“People don’t dance because they’re worried about being judged and what people think of them.”

“It comes down to fear.”

“Fear is false evidence appearing real and it affects all of us. We all have our fears, but when you stand up to your fear, you see it for what it really is: a pushover. People need to accept themselves and one of the reasons people don’t dance is because they don’t connect with themselves.

Dancing is simply moving your fingers, wrists, neck, back, knees and ankles. Not in any particular way or code, it’s simply just movement, it’s not about whether you’re a professional dancer, or how cool you are or how cool your clothes are.”

“You shouldn’t have to rely on alcohol or a bag or whatever to give you a bit of happiness. Connect with yourself, connect with others, connect with the now. Don’t let the thought of some idiot on the other side of the room stop you from having the time of your life.”

What’s the easiest way to get into dancing?

Please do try this at home!

If you’re shy:

Put on your favourite up-beat song when you’re home alone and just start moving your body, you might feel silly at first, but no one is there for you to be embarrassed around, so what have you got to loose?

If you’re a routine person:

Set a time to dance every day for 10 minutes. Just play the music and move your body, it is THE best way to wake up and shift your mood, promise.

If you’re more of a social boogier:

Look into going to classes — there are many different dance style classes for people of all ages, from salsa to contemporary, hip hop to swing. Sign up to whatever class makes you feel the best.

If you want to dance freestyle with others, check out movements like No Lights No Lycra and Daybreaker, or drag your sprinkler and moonwalk along to the pub with live music on a weekend evening or a club to show off your new found therapy … Dance.

To learn more about Tommy and his colourful life, check out his Facebook page and Instagram for epic move inspiration.

Hello Sunday Morning is a movement towards a better drinking culture. Our vision is a world where drinking is an individual choice, not a cultural expectation. How do you feel about your relationship with alcohol?

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