One of my favorite dances from last year's Stockton Dance Camp was Pletený a circle dance from the Czech Republic, as presented by Jitka Bonušová. This dance symbolizes the traditional girls’ pastime of weaving wreaths of flowers picked in the meadows in spring. It can be danced by girls or women only or by couples in a big circle. I'm teaching it in my class this session as couples in a big circle. The first part of the dance has a grand right and left done in a moderate tempo waltz step. In the second part of the dance, the music changes and the steps are performed to a mazurka. Like the waltz, a mazurka is done in a triple meter, but it is has a lively tempo.
I have a new dancer in my class this session. It's her first time folk dancing, and I'm so very excited to have her in class! I called her earlier this week to talk about something totally not related to dance - coincidentally, I called her about flowers. She said, "we were just working on our mazurka. I can do it to the right, but then when we turn around and do it to the left..." Well, that presented a difficulty. So she and her partner were working on it. At home. In the middle of any ordinary day.
Admittedly, I put together a CD of all the music we do in class and make copies for everyone who signs up for the session. But imagine my delight to call a dancer at home, and hear that she had just been working on a dance. A highlight of my week.
I have a new dancer in my class this session. It's her first time folk dancing, and I'm so very excited to have her in class! I called her earlier this week to talk about something totally not related to dance - coincidentally, I called her about flowers. She said, "we were just working on our mazurka. I can do it to the right, but then when we turn around and do it to the left..." Well, that presented a difficulty. So she and her partner were working on it. At home. In the middle of any ordinary day.
Admittedly, I put together a CD of all the music we do in class and make copies for everyone who signs up for the session. But imagine my delight to call a dancer at home, and hear that she had just been working on a dance. A highlight of my week.
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