Stacy Rose, Dance Instructor
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Thankfully I'm Dancing!

11/28/2014

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The holidays came fast this year. Again. And here we are post-Thanksgiving about to embark on the December holiday whirlwind. 

I'm so very thankful for my dance teacher mentor Loui, who has been a never-ending source of encouragement, and a vast resource of recorded music, ideas, information and trustworthy opinion. If not for Loui, I wouldn't have started teaching my Tuesday night class. How fortunate I was to have found her! 

I'm so thankful for the people in my community who participate in this strange, some might say exotic, hobby. I've always said that the reason I teach is because I want people to dance with. It's not NEARLY as much fun to dance alone. 

I'm very thankful for the regional folk dancing teachers and groups -- Vicki's group dances an hour to the south; Ellen's group is an hour to the north; Sally's group two hours inland. I look forward to more interaction between groups in the coming year. Plans are underway!  

For the next three weeks, I'm offering the Tuesday night class at no charge - my end of the year gift to the community. There is MUCH to be thankful for, and this is one small way I can extend my thanks. 

I'm thinking about fun ways to integrate holiday music into folk dancing. So far, I've learned that Jingle Bells is a polka (in addition to being a good AABB format tune for a contra dance) and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is a schottische. The steps for Tzadik Katamar could easily be done to the music "I Have a Little Dreidel" and the steps for Ma N'avu flow nicely with the Hanukah song Sivivon. We'll see how those go over. 

It's the season of thankfulness. I'm truly thankful to be dancing -- to have a mentor, to know other dance teachers I can collaborate with, and to have people in this community to dance with. Thank you!  
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Dancing in the pub

11/14/2014

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I love dancing at Liberty Pub. There's something about the combination of good food & drink, the fine company of friendly dancers, and dancing to lively music that fills my heart with so much joy.
 
This week, dancers in my class teamed up with two dancers from the Florence international folk dance group and the local band Cultural Ecology to present a demonstration of dances from around the world. We presented the following dances:
Hora Mare Bucovineana - Romania
Tzadik Katamar - Israel
Dashing White Sergeants - Scotland
Godecki Cacek - Bulgaria
Miserlou - Greek American
Chilili - Bolivia

Then we invited people from the audience to join us. I didn't know the dance floor at Liberty Pub could accommodate up to 20 dancers! We had LOTS of audience members come up and learn these beginning level dances:
Savila Se Bela Losa - Serbia
Zemer Atik - Israel
Sasha - Russia
Hora pe Gheata
La Bastringue - French Canadian
Waves - Hong Kong

The audience members were great sports! They were willing to step out of their comfort zone and try a new kind of dancing. The dancers in my class were fabulous - they introduced the demonstration dances, they welcomed the audience members and really took great care of them. 

The evening was a fund raiser for South Coast Folk Week, a week-long celebration of traditional music, song and dance set for October 4-10, 2015 in Coos Bay. I don't think I can move my class to the pub on a regular basis, but I can't wait until the next time we dance in the pub! 
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In tribute

11/8/2014

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Dancers move out of the community, and we miss them. New dancers move to the area, and we eagerly welcome them. This week, our circle was temporarily broken by an unexpected, tragic loss. I'll never forget Estella's focused attention and quick aptitude for learning new dances, her smiles, and the kindness she shared with everyone in our class. We will all miss Estella. My heart goes out to her family and friends at this sad time. 
There are loved ones in the glory
Whose dear forms you often miss.
When you close your earthly story,
Will you join them in their bliss?
Will the circle be unbroken
By and by, by and by?
Is a better home awaiting
In the sky, in the sky?
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    Author

    Dancing give me SO many things to think about...

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