The Uffatus Dance

Gonyaul was bored. The chores were all done, their business deal secured, Voah was currently busy in the tent, and the Atsigani were in entertainment mode. He had been advised not to wander about and people watching, while a favorite pastime, was no longer holding his attention as it did earlier.

He was also practically naked. No one would mistake him for a girl now he jested to himself. Voah had the entire set of the Arisha Ikeburer and he was left with just a short curtain-like loin cloth that light color popped in contrast to his skin tone. Fortunately, like the outerwear, it had a wrapping feature that made it look a little like a small towel was about his hips from a distance. His tattoos were on full display; however, he felt no reason to conceal them from the likes of these people.

Gonyaul was indeed bored. It didn’t bother him though, this sensation that near resembled hunger pains. He knew that out of boredom came some of the most interesting creative ideas; attempts to do something to end the cycle of nothing. The irritating sensation was inevitability going to give birth to something exciting.

With the Atsigani music playing in the background, Gonyaul’s attention noticed the gold studded staff just outside their tent entrance. He had left it there to meditate, but never quite got around to doing it because of the distracting novelty. He smiled as the idea on how to pass the time finally came to him. Standing, he grabbed the staff in hand and decided to perform a Uffatus dance; a staff dance.

The Uffatus, the staff, was yet another Vauxian tool for training movement and kinesthetic artistry. Gonyaul’s favorite device was the Urukas, the circle wheel, but that would have to be fabricated. The Uffatus was usually one of the first rhythmic apparatus that was taught once a young Vaux graduated into more advanced practices; the beginning one’s being ribbon, ball, clubs and small hoop. He enjoyed the variety of all those apparatuses of his youth and his memory could recall the countless hours devoted to mastering them.

With staff in hand, Gonyaul began a dance. The staff began to flow about his body, orbiting his lean athletic form as if it had a mind of its own. The object rarely broken contact with him. As it twirled, it’s balancing point kissed his movements and appeared to dance on its own accord. It resembled a partner dance. His movements were fluid, soft and calm, a counterpoint to the stiff, hard and swiftly moving staff in contact with his body. Throughout the dance, the staff traveled all over his person.

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Example of what an Uffatus Dance looks like:

Gonyaul’s Uffatus Dance.
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Upon finishing there was a light shine of sweat glistening all over his toned body. The staff finally was guided, never forcefully held throughout the entire exercise, down to the ground. Gonyaul laid it to rest, like a lover would their beloved. The staff, which had not stopped moving about his dancing body, finally was at rest.

Gonyaul took a deep breath and radiated gratitude.