The Way We Dance (English Country)

We would like to give you a brief introduction to the kinds of dancing we do at the Country Dance * New York, Inc.'s activities. The most important thing is for you and others at the dance to have fun. For many people, knowing more about what they are doing adds to the enjoyment. Please feel free to ask the teachers/callers any questions you have to get more details about the dancing.

We do a number of different kinds of dances, which all can be lumped under the label "country dances." Within this general category, we do dances from England and from various regions of the United States where traditional dancing is still going on. CD*NY, Inc. stresses the differences in style as well as the similarities, since an appreciation of these adds to the enjoyment of dancing.

English Dancing

Although there are several types of dances we do which come from England, they are all done in English style (as differing from American style). The different types includes:

• Historical Dances: Dances, many dating from the 17th and 18th centuries, which have been revived because of the interesting variety of figures they contain and because they often have lovely tunes. John Playford is the name most often associated with the earliest of these dances, since he was the publisher of the first written collection of dances in 1651.

• Traditional Dances: Dances done at some point in the recent past, or currently, in English towns and villages. These are often simpler and livelier dances than the historical, and often use a "rant" or polka step.

• Contemporary or Composed Dances: Dances made up in the recent past, which may resemble either traditional or historical dances.

In dancing the English dances, we think it is important to pay attention to several basic qualities-though of course you won't do it all the first time you dance. The basics include: timing, relating to one's partner, body movement, and getting the steps and figures correct.

• Timing: All our dances are in some way phrased to the music; in other words, certain movements are supposed to be done during certain parts of the music. Especially in English dancing, one of the real joys is to be precise about doing a figure at just the right time-"when the music tells you." You may not count "music" as one of the languages you know, but you will soon. Figures are usually written to coincide with an 8-bar phrase of music, or some subdivision or multiple of eight bars.

• Relating to One's Partner: All our dances are social, done with a partner, and part of the fun of dancing is being in touch with the people you are dancing with, both your partner and others in your set. This means things as simple as making eye contact or smiling when you are passing someone, "giving weight" (leaning away just a little so there is some feeling of tension between you and the other person) when doing "arming" or turns with another, and in general paying attention to the other person(s) as well as yourself.

• Movement: The English dances are most delightful when done with grace and style. The historical dances in particular are rather courtly and require attention to one's posture ("lifting the egg out of the eggcup" is a graphic metaphor for this) and way of moving. Being aware of your center of gravity and using it to help you get where you are going (lean forward to move forward, back when going backward-just a little) is important. Your steps should be light and on the balls of your feet, not saggy or scuffy, nor bouncing and skipping all the time (unless the dance calls for skipping or ranting). Traditional dances can be very energetic, but if one thinks of them as comparable to American contras or squares, one learns to relax and achieve the economy of movement natural to all traditional dancing.

• Steps and Figures: For the most part, the steps and figures are easier to explain live than on paper-so listen to the teacher, and ask questions if he or she skips over something too fast. Someone else will probably be grateful that you were willing to ask the question for them!