[Ravensfort] Beginning European Dance Class

[Jacinth de Warwick]

Greetings,

Last weekend, I was approached by someone who was interested to know if I would be willing to start teaching European dance again.  Good question!

Supporting this, I'd like to know how many others would like to join us.  
Ideally, it would be best to have 4-6 regulars (but more is better), so that we could at least form a set do English Country Dances (although, I would not limit scope to only this).  There are other dances that can be done with only two, but in my experience ECDs are easy to learn and most commonly performed in the SCA.

I have dance space in The Woodlands area.  It was suggested that Sunday afternoons might be good, but I have not ruled out a weeknight if that works better.

To start, I propose meeting twice a month, at least until muscle memory has set in a bit.  That may be a bit aggressive, so if it turns out we can't manage that then we'll meet once per month.  I've found that any less than that, and everyone forgets left from right. ;)  Dance is largely a matter of practice; you get out of it what you put in. :)  I don't mind if you can only come occasionally (we all have a life to live outside the SCA, believe me I know that), however don't let that be a limiting factor to your participation (better some than nothing)!

Let me emphasize that all levels of experience will be welcome!  I'm somewhat out of practice, but I make the effort because dance is fun and more people = more fun.  Don't feel you bad if you feel awkward or clumsy, because I'll be right there with you.  I'm just the lady who happens to have all the books and music (and maybe I know a thing or two). :)

If you are interested, let me know what days work for you and I will put you on my contact list and provide directions when things are set up (this will not be posted to the list, so the only way you will know is if I know you want it).  As I've said, Sunday afternoon has been tossed out there, and I can do a weeknight if that's how it has to be.  If we have enough, we could start late April or early May.

If you are uncertain and need some convincing, please consider a few of many compelling reasons:

1. Dance is good exercise at all experience levels.
2. Dance is a fun social activity to share with your friends.
3. Dance is great for demos, as it makes a large commotion and effectively draws the attention of potential new members who can be taught on the spot so they can immediately participate, too.
4. Many Baronies have active dance communities and often schedule dances at their high-persona events (like Investitures, Yule, etc.), so you join them without feeling too self-conscious.  They dance at Wars, too.
5. It is a great way to "be seen".
6. It's an awesome way for fighters to work on footwork.
7. Believe it or not, dancing increases your attractiveness!!  (This works for both lords and ladies!!)

Join the fun, be a dancer!

Regards,
-Jacinth-

"There is a bit of insanity in dancing that does everybody a great deal of good."  ~Edwin Denby

"Nobody cares if you can't dance well.  Just get up and dance."  ~Dave Barry

"We're fools whether we dance or not, so we might as well dance."  ~Japanese Proverb