Iraq, North Korea, Afghanistan - the visa stamps in Matt Harding's passport are of the less usual kind. It is thanks to dancing that the 35-year-old American has made his way around the globe, stopping in exotic and rarely visited places.
"I know that I've passed the figure of 100 countries. Since then, I stopped counting," revealed the globetrotter in an interview with dpa from his home in Seattle in Washington State.
This summer he uploaded his fourth global dancing video to his website www.wherethehellismatt.com. "Dancing 2012" shows Harding in over 40 countries including Saudi Arabia, Rwanda, Russia, Bali and even North Korea. The five-minute video has been clicked on by 5million times by fans already.
Thousands of YouTube fans have raved about Hardings' charms, his simple steps and his catchy dancing idea. "Great video! Maybe it will make the world a better place," wrote one fan. "Thanks! Great! So sorry I missed you in Cologne," another noted.
Harding has danced on Machu Picchu in Peru, in Antarctica, with natives of Papua New Guinea and village kids in Rwanda and underwater on the Australian Great Barrier Reef. This time he visited countries that most tourists don't go to.
"North Korea was easy," Harding says. He booked the trip with a local travel agent. While there he inspired a soldier to smile and dozens of North Koreans to dance. No visa was needed for Iraq and he entered Saudi Arabia with the help of member of that country's royal family. In Afghanistan he turned for help to a group of acrobats and jugglers who teach children. "Dancing is forbidden there, so I juggled with the children," explains Harding.
"These images contradict what we see on the news. So much more is going on in those countries that we usually do not see. But maybe I can inspire others and create curiosity to go on a trip and explore oneself," says the hobby dancer.
Harding became a filmmaker by chance. The former computer game designer quit his job in 2003 and went on a round-the-world trip. A friend encouraged him to dance in front of sights and landmarks. The video made its way from his blog to YouTube and later a chewing gum manufacturer got interested. "Dancing Matt" travelled at the sponsor's expense around the globe for a second time in 2006. He included locals in his dances on his third trip two years later.
There are more than enough fellow dancers. "If I was a good dancer, maybe people would be reluctant to take part," says Harding. “They instantly feel I don't mind ridiculing myself." For his fourth video the American polished his dancing technique and learned local rhythms and traditional steps. During filming Harding goes through the steps and dozens of people join in. Music is added later in the editing process.
In order to choose his destinations completely freely he paid his last journey himself. Some countries are still on his wish list. "I really would like to travel to Iran, but it is complicated. I need a guarantee that it is safe for me and my fellow dancers."
As yet there are no plans for another trip. Harding is looking for a new idea but his partner Melissa and his child keep him home. The closing image of the video is his little son, Max, now 14 months old,on Harding's shoulders in the garden. (DPA)
