We do mostly circle and wandering lines, traditional and choreographed, dances from different countries, and most of these countries are from east Europe, where the circle and wandering line forms are popular.
The program is 1/3 new material taught in the first hour, 1/3 recently taught material, and 1/3 requests and popular favorites. We have a priority on teaching and practicing mildly challenging dances that are still accessible for most bodies, using good sounding dance music that also appeals to the younger generations. Relative, and in contrast with, other IFD programming here in town, ours is the only one that meets in the daytime. We also include new-folk dances, loved choreographies, from nationally known dance teachers, with the older, traditional folk dances, but always using good- sounding, modern recordings.
When you come to try out the program, focus on getting the rhythm and weight changes in your feet, first. Leave out the turns and arm swings, if there are any. Keep your steps small. We often use slowed tracks for any faster paced dances in our teaching. If the dance is not being taught that day, the best strategy is to follow along behind the line, looking at the footwork of someone who seems to know what they are doing.
After coming a few weeks, you will notice that most of these dances are different combinations of a fundamental balkan dance foot language. The ubiquitous grapevine step, with maybe a leg lift or a step behind, or in front, for example, and sometimes we will do a set of one repeated figures and switch to a second repeating or accent figure. If you are not used to rhythmic walking, skipping, or intentionally limping to music beats, it can be challenging. Hang in there! You brain is learning a new spatial language known, studied, and documented to be a brain builder. See our health articles page for some reading about that. We are training your brain while also giving you cardio vascular exercise.
Some folk dance groups include set and couple dances, but as there is already some fine set and couple programming here at the center, we choose to specialize in circles and wandering line dances. We sometimes include solo dances and detached circle dances. We are not always holding hands.
We hope you will try this out for a few sessions before deciding if it is a good fit.