Stacy Rose, Dance Instructor
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Community Learning Night

5/6/2015

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I recently had the distinct pleasure of participating in the Marshfield Community Learning Night. The theme of the night was The Civil War - there were various stations set up around the gymnasium. My friends Jenn and Don provided wonderful music on fiddle and guitar for our dancing station in the dance room near the gym. The purpose of the evening was to invite students and their families to attend this hands-on learning experience, having them rotate among the various stations throughout the night. We had no idea what to expect in terms of who would show up, what age range, how many people would be willing to dance. 

Our first customers arrived - a middle school-aged boy and his mom.The boy repeatedly protested, "I don't know how to dance." I took that as a challenge. I remarked that I had just seen him walk into the room, and that's all the skills he would need. We circled up three, took turns allemanding and elbow swinging each other, back to circling, two making a bridge for the third to go under... Soon a couple of others joined us, and I lead them in a variation of Cumberland Reel. One dance was enough for this young man, although he did remark that it was fun. 

Another small cluster of students and parents arrived. I lead them in Galopede. They left. More arrived. We did Witch's Reel. The next group learned Tunnel Contra. The music was lively and invigorating. I wondered if some of the people there had ever danced to live music before. The response was overwhelmingly positive. People danced and had fun. In the largest group, we had a family of home schooled kids, a veteran, another family with kids, and a young woman new to contra dancing who stayed around to make sure there were enough partners so everyone could dance. I'd like to see participatory dancing be more integrated into people's lives, rather than something to be exposed to at a special event. Some day, instead of hearing, "that was more fun that I thought it would be", I hope to hear more comments like, "That was so much fun -- just like it always is!"   
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"that was so COOL!"

4/5/2015

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Yesterday, I led dances at the Celtic Fest Revue. The event was co-sponsored by Bayside Terrace Assisted Living and South Coast Folk Society. Over 40 people attended this mid-day celebration of Celtic dance, song and music. The show opened with two musicians performing lively dance tunes and swoony waltzes on fiddle and guitar.   

I asked my sweet wife to waltz with me, and she flatly turned me down. Who wants to be a spectacle, dancing in front of so many people? Who wants their pedestrian dancing to detract from the glorious music being performed? 

Off to the side of the room, behind the audience, there was a young girl -- probably 4 or 5 years old at most -- with her mother. That girl had come to dance! She wore her beautiful Easter dress, tights and shiny shoes. She was dancing freely and openly. I had found a dance partner. I approached her, careful not to intrude in what she was doing, and started dancing, as well. Sweeping arm motions with step-together-steps... turns and spins (girls of all ages love to spin)... and when the music ended, a low bow. Her mother was visibly kvelling - bursting with pride and delight. I don't know what pleased the little girl most, but when the music ended, she looked up and proclaimed with such enthusiasm, "That was so cool!"  

Made my day!  

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Allegany Collaborative Education

5/30/2014

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I had a great time tonight! 
If you go up the Allegany River outside of Coos Bay about 13 miles, there's a community center. This remote community center is a fabulous place! There's a huge gymnasium, a commercial kitchen, cafeteria tables, other rooms... I'm trying to think up activities just to have a reason so I can rent it out...

But tonight, the organized group of home school parents known as Allegany Collaboration Education used the facility to hold their end-of-the-school-year play - Robin Hood. There are 13 homeschoolers, various ages, in this collective; they did a wonderful job singing and acting tonight! The play culminated with Robin Hood receiving Maid Marion's hand in marriage and everyone attending the marriage feast. That's where I came in.

With the help of Jennifer Sordyl and Don Berg (Contra Swings), I lead the 30-40 group of children and adults in some dancing! We started with Peter Amidon's Kings & Queens, segued into the Sicilian circle dance Haste to the Wedding, and opened the circle with Lisa Greenleaf's Stars and Moons Circle. We did a couple of one-night-stand, no-fail contras -- Tunnel Contra and Family Contra. On the last one, I was even able to back out and stop calling (until a new couple joined at the top of the set... ah well). For a fun change of pace, we danced Sasha, a scatter mixer. For the first time in my calling career, there was actually a girl named Sasha among the dancers! We ended the night with a big circle waltz mixer.    

The group was mostly kids, but there was a nice ratio of adults to kids.Hats off to all the adults who joined in for the last dance! I know the dancers are having a good time when the band plays tunes with such inspiration that it makes me want to dance. I wanted to dance tonight. 

The play - great! When kids work so hard learning their lines and learning their songs, and adults work so hard on props, costumes, scenery, etc., the results are great.  
The venue - cool! Gotta rent it for something! 
The dancing - it's magic. 
The band - a treasure to have them in our community. I love working with these guys! 
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