Everyone has seen the joyful videos of Matt Harding, dancing.  We first discovered these videos several years ago and have loved them ever since. In case you've not seen them yet, Matt has a site and set of videos, called Where the Hell is Matt?  Taken over the course of several years, Matt has  taped himself dancing in nature, with kids, crabs, running grownups, Cosplayers, whales, an orchestra, and more. Each video is a treasure, a glimpse into happiness, dancing, and humanity. All through it, Matt dances (badly, he says), with a huge smile on his face. The joy in the videos is infectious - you hum the music all day, and go back again and again to see the video.

We were so pleased, therefore, to discover that Matt has a new book about his travels, entitled Where the Hell is Matt? Dancing Badly Around the World.

Matt had traveled around the world and made three dancing videos (and a really funy outtakes one). He was contacted by Stride Gum, who sponsored two of his popular videos (2006, 2008).  This book is a glimpse into an extraordinary phenomenon of dancing, world travel, and the power of the internet. In the book, we learn about HOW Matt made the first video, and his global explorations. When asked, years ago, "Where was home?," he answered, "I don't know...I've got some money saved up. I guess I'll just wander the planet for a while." And he did.

This book is divided into short chapters, each accompanied by beautiful photos and a still from the videos. Each chapter tells the backstory of each place, the people and events that occurred around each dance clip. It is amazing to me the amount of effort that some of the clips took - i.e., when Matt and his girlfriend Melissa were setting up groups (via email) to dance with him in certain places. And, of course, Matt details the amazing things that he learns from journeying into different cultures - behaviors, dances, cultural attitudes, architecture, people (Phantom Stranger, joyful kids, taxi drivers, new friends and old). Matt also shares some intercultural adjustment to both cultures and his newfound fame.  "One of the things I wanted to demonstrate with the third video is the ability for simple human interactions to cross racial, political, and geographic boundaries."

Above all, this book is a humorous glimpse into cross-cultural interaction. Matt has a way of writing that can turn even the most tiresome and foreign situation into something that is a good story, a life experience that becomes important, somehow. From missed connections, language barriers, politics and borders, food, the law (in Athens!), and on planning this enormous itinerary and coordinating it all, to changing with it as it evolved on the spot. "I remembered Rwanda: dancing with the kids, how joyful and spontaneous that moment was. I wanted to use the concept I'd established to say something big that seemed worth saying. An idea took shape that wouldn't just be about places. It would be about people. I would get them to dance with me in every place I visited."

This book is an extraordinary read - you'll never look at the videos the same way again, now that you know the backstory and have learned about the people and cultures Matt explored. Matt's done an excellent job at sharing the essence of travel, and the beauty of learning about (and from) others.

We were lucky enough to sit down and talk with Matt about his book, travel, smiling, and more. Here's what he had to say...

WE: Please tell us about your book, Where the Hell is Matt? Dancing Badly Around the World...

MH: It's a series of short travel stories about "getting the shot." I framed each chapter around a dancing clip from one of my videos and talked about what went into getting there and what I learned along the way.

WE: What was the impetus to write this book?

MH: A mountain of half-finished journal entries from five years of travel. I find a lot of travel writing can be self-indulgent and boring, so for a long time I was reluctant to impose my experiences upon others, but the videos created an interest from both readers and publishers, and that gave me an opportunity to put something together that someone out there might actually READ.

WE:  Many people journal about their travels - you've documented them on video (of course) and now in this book. How did you decide what to share with readers? How did you narrow down all of your experiences?

MH: One big step was weeding out a lot of the truly wonderful, magical places. Of course, they are lovely to visit in real life and great to dance in front of, but it can be nauseating to read about them. I prefer, instead, to read about the miseries and traumas of adventure travel; the sunburns, the illnesses, the corrupt officials and flea bag hotels. Good stories require adversity.

WE:  Intercultural adaptability is critical for getting along well in different places around the world. What do you suggest people try, to thrive in so many different places?

MH: Smile. It works everywhere. It softens every interaction and raises peoples' tolerance for you as an outsider. When traveling, always try to wear a big dopey smile on your face no matter how you feel.

Also, bring plenty of things to distract you on long flights and take you away, briefly, from wherever you happen to be. GameBoys and puzzle books work great for me.

WE: Your chapter on Israel and the West Bank was poignant.  In all your travels, what have you seen as the similarities in people?

MH: I try to avoid making grand assessments, but I think we're all a little overwhelmed by the scale of the world beyond our personal spheres. Our simian pea brains weren't really designed for globalization and we're all trying to cope in our own ways.

WE: People loved dancing with you - and interaction with people is a large part of your book. What did you discover about planning dancing video events and how people wanted to be involved, whether in the video or in helping you while you traveled?

MH: I was sincerely moved to see how many people really understood the video and found meaning in it. When people showed up to dance, it wasn't about making a spectacle of themselves or getting famous on the internet -- it was about becoming a part of something and establishing a connection with other people. It's a very noble desire and I was pleased to learn that many people share it.

WE: Do you have any advice for people to get out and TRAVEL?

MH: The world is cheaper, safer, and friendlier than most people realize. The hardest part is deciding to go.

WE: You've danced, done video production and editing, and now written a book on this global phenomenon you've created for yourself. What's next?

MH: Time travel!

That, and I may start one more video next year. I want to visit more of the places that are considered dangerous or not-so-friendly to Americans. I have a suspicion that many of them aren't.

WE: Thanks so much Matt! I have so enjoyed reading - and re-reading your book. We highly recommend this book - it's one of the best explorations of culture I've read yet.

For more information, please see:
wherethehellismatt.com/

Where the Hell is Matt? Dancing Badly Around the World is published by Skyhorse Publishing, 2009.

And for fun, check the bottom right corner of EACH PAGE!  

All photos courtesy and copyright of Matt Harding.