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English Country Dance Classes
September 12, 2018 @ 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Want to learn elegant, exuberant English country dancing? Classes offered by the Binghamton English Country Dancers start September 12 at Christ Church in downtown Binghamton. Very reasonable admission. Excellent calling/teaching and live music. No partner needed. Beginners welcome. See attached for more information and do join us! Try the first class free.
The Binghamton English Country Dancers’ next set of classes begins on September 12 and run on Wednesdays, 7:30-9:30 p.m. until the week before Thanksgiving (no class on Sept. 19). Classes are at Christ Church, corner of Water and Henry streets, Binghamton. $25 fee for the series, payable at the first class. Calling by Terry Glasspool, Deb deCourville and Lynn Swain; music by the Playford Gang and Brandywine. No partner needed; beginners welcome. Try the first class free. For information, contact Lee at leeshepherd609@gmail.com.
What is English Country Dancing and Music? If you’ve seen Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility or Emma, you are indeed familiar with it! While this traditional form of dance has been around for several hundred years, and evolved into square and contra dancing, it still thrives today in its own right. English Country Dancing (ECD) is done all over the US, Canada, England and on the Continent.
Some love ECD for the beautiful tunes that make the heart swell. Some come from old ballads and satires, others come from classical music. This gives ECD tremendous variety, sometimes sweet and melodic, sometimes melancholy, sometimes driven with a pulsating beat. At times, dancers are simply swept away as they become one with the music. Others love ECD for the grace and elegance of the movements. Many people love the beautiful patterns that are created as they dance and weave. Popular in villages and courts in the 17th and 18th centuries, ECD is similar in many ways to its descendents contra and square dance, but more graceful, elegant, flirtatious and playful.
Today, ECD is kept alive within dance groups all over the country, at camps and festivals, and the art form continues to evolve as new choreographers and composers add to the repertoire. We’re fortunately in this area to have a long tradition of English country dancing, great callers and live music.
Come try it out — you will be entranced!