Party at noon [1]
Yvonne Vávra [2]
Translated by xia23
Five kinds of crisp breads and one bright Swede are at the entrance of the Frannz-Club in Berlin. Here it is the same for the noon at 12 p.m., a fun thing: movement instead of heavy food, inspiration instead of midday low. “At the lunch beat people clear their head by dancing, start the rest of day refreshed and motivate for the rest of the say”, says the Swede, Ola by name. It costs 10 Euros on its way to higher creativity and productivity in the office, for one hour party with electronic music, a small meal from crisp breads, butter and cheese as well as organic smoothies.
Standing still and on-looking are forbidden, dance is mandatory. Talking about the job is taboo and alcohol is naturally prohibited. Exactly at 11:59 p.m., Ola announces over the microphone and explains these rules. There around 20 guests already conscientiously stand on the dance floor. Movement improves efficiency: people can concentrate better, remember things more easily and remain healthier.
Steffi tries out the lunch beat today, she has heard it from Twitter and Facebook and spontaneously decides to spend her lunch break at the club. “I don’t believe that I could solve all problems better afterwards, but it will be definitely more fun than usual”, the production engineer says. Even the rest of the small pack from 20 to 50-year-old lunch beaters have fun. Hipsters amuse themselves here just as insurance representatives - people would have difficulty to deny, that the idea of high-noon-party functions. At least for the guests.
Online editor Oliver, also a lunch beater, confirms at the end of his work day, how well the noon break has done on him. He wants to come again and bring his colleagues with him. “I was much relaxed and had fun after that. My criticism: it was very hot here, changing clothes and having a shower are too much for the noon break”.
Ola’s last song is “I’m a Believer” by The Monkees [3]. Then the music is out, the lights is on and in less than 2 minutes the hall is empty. But the tray of crisp breads is still full.
[1]. Party und zwölf Uhr mittags, Yvonne Vávra, “Berliner Zeitung “online on June 25, 2012.
From. p.14. Stationen, Ein Kursbuch für die Mittelstufe. 3rd Edition. Prisca Augustyn & Nikolaus Euba, Cengage Learning, USA, 2015
[2]. Yvonne Vávra:
[3]. I’m a Believer by The Monkees from youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wB9YIsKIEbA
