Orange Dust-storm Skies

We just woke to the brightest orange light through the gap in our curtains. I thought I was imagining the colour. It just didn't seem possible. The view out the back and front of our house was unprecedented. The TV news tells us that it's a dust-storm that is very widespread, but it is thickest over Sydney. It has come from central New South Wales.

Medical advisors say don't work outside, don't exercise, and if you can stay at home, do. If you have a mask, you might want to wear it, they say. And there is a special warning for asthma sufferers to be cautious.

Wow, it's quite an experience! Some of the pictures on TV are of even redder skies than we can see. Predictions are that this dust-storm will sweep around the world. We watched a wonderful Richard Attenborough program on The Planet last night, where we saw views from space of dust-storms moving across the earth. And now we're right in it.

This is an extraordinary, orange morning.

Sydney - the Serotonin City: Spring Dance Festival

The Spring Dance Festival - no performances over $25

Sydney - the Serotonin City at the Opera House

Friday, Saturday and Sunday this week on the Steps of the Opera House

Sydney - the Serotonin City

Iconic Sydney Ferries at Circular Quay, passing the Sydney Opera House

The other day a cousin visited from London. When his holiday came to an end he admitted feeling quite down, and I heard myself say: "That's understandable - you're leaving the Serotonin City".

And Sydney is just that. It gives one a dose of "up".

So many people comment on the quality of the light - there is something special in the way the light falls in this city - and there's a lot on offer. Spring is pretty electric, just as it is in Cape Town and Buenos Aires. I would say that my inspiration to start this blog, 34 Degrees South (based on my life in Cape Town, Sydney and Buenos Aires) was Springs and Autumns in those three cities. I used to say that Cape Town was showing her true colours on gorgeous days like today in Sydney, and one can't resist the infectious good feeling.

The Serotonin City likes to play. This weekend on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights the Spring Dance Festival at the Sydney Opera House is offering free films at 6.30pm on the Opera House forecourt. Preceded by entertainment at 5.30pm each evening (ooh, at sunset), including free teaching of some of the dance moves from the movies, the films are:
- Swing Time (1936): Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers on Friday the 11th September
- West Side Story (1961): Natalie Wood, Richard Beymer and Rita Moreno on Saturday the 12th September and
- Fame (1980): Irene Cara and Debbie Allen on Sunday the 13th September.

See details here and click on "Play Video" - an upbeat introduction to the free screenings.

What fun! There are plenty of other dance offerings at the Spring Dance festival. But we'll try for the Friday night event - it seems one must get there early and with a cushion. We're keen to George Washingmachine again, and he plays before Swing Time on Friday followed by some nifty teaching of tap moves. See you there.