We didn’t know what to expect, except that we came to dance. After watching the grace of two couples swing-dancing at a wedding reception, I suggested dancing classes to my husband. This is an idea we have never once entertained in 32 years together. Curt investigated the “dance class” scene in our small town, got the scoop and surprised me with a date to learn English country dance.
Not exactly a class, it was a cross-generation gathering of folks who simply like to dance on Tuesday evenings. Whole families showed up from little ones on up to Grandmas. Most folks wore casual jeans; some girls wore skirts. No breeches or empire waists. Eyes bright with a patina of good cheer welcomed us.
The first thing our teacher did was split us up –with apologies–and paired us with experienced dancers. We made our hands dance, tapping on our thighs to grasp the rhythm. The feet followed as we learned sides, back to back, circular hey, a few more steps and suddenly we were doing the dances you see in Jane Austen movies. With the music! It wasn’t weird; it was fun.
It turns out Tuesday Evening Folk Dancing rotates Irish Set, International/Balkan, New England Contra and English Country dancing. Thoughts:
• Tempo changes things. We did the same dance to the same music but one CD was very jiggish and the other CD was joggish, if you understand joggish to mean slow and deliberate. I thought the slower one was more intense, with potential for undercurrent. When you are jigging you don’t have time to wink at your beloved in passing.
• Eye contact: Ay-Yi-Yi! Our teacher emphasized how important eye contact was in English country dance. Whew! There is something intimidating about holding eye contact, because, I think, eye contact is intimate. I couldn’t do it. [Remember, I wasn’t dancing with my husband.] It made me realize how very seldom we sustain eye contact in everyday life.
• I never thought of elegant as a masculine adjective. But there were a few young men–and they weren’t wispy by any means–for whom no other word would be adequate. I felt my posture improving around them.
• Being/feeling a fool is good for the soul. Amidst all our striving for excellence it is a relief to be totally incompetent. Laughter is a happy detoxification.
• Ahem. These folk are not overweight. I want to hang out with them, learn from them.
• The Way We Dance
• Eye contact: Ay-Yi-Yi! Our teacher emphasized how important eye contact was in English country dance. Whew! There is something intimidating about holding eye contact, because, I think, eye contact is intimate. I couldn’t do it. [Remember, I wasn’t dancing with my husband.] It made me realize how very seldom we sustain eye contact in everyday life.
• I never thought of elegant as a masculine adjective. But there were a few young men–and they weren’t wispy by any means–for whom no other word would be adequate. I felt my posture improving around them.
• Being/feeling a fool is good for the soul. Amidst all our striving for excellence it is a relief to be totally incompetent. Laughter is a happy detoxification.
• Ahem. These folk are not overweight. I want to hang out with them, learn from them.
• The Way We Dance
A Living Pencil 
I am so happy for you, Carol! I knew *you* would like it! I hope that Curt is of the same mind…
Sounds fun! We love both English and American Country/Contra dancing. I couldn’t maintain eye contact with Ryan doing anything–especially dancing, until we’d been married 2 years. Yes, it is very intimate. We keep talking about taking ballroom dancing when Ryan has a job and we can afford a weekly sitter…
Sounds like heaven ~ surely no one will be shy about singing or dancing. Or think that it is obscene… http://www.leithart.com/archives/002885.php, although much of today’s style does seem that way.And Some.day my hubby will invite me to dance class but only after we’ve been married more than 32 years?
I had to do English Country Dancing as a kid in a British boarding school many years ago. I loved it then. Now I don’t think my arthritic ankle could handle it. So glad you had fun!
I’m so glad that you enjoyed it…I love that sort of dancing and when my older sons were both at home we did it monthly with a group in our larger community.I can’t do the eye-contact thing either…so I just stare at a point on the shoulder. Too bad! We had contra-dancing at my son’s wedding and the wedding party (parents included) danced an English Country dance together to start off the dancing. It was great fun!
I love dancing, most especially with my husband! It is full of laughter.