Class Schedule

FAMILY HERITAGE DANCE CLASS SCHEDULE

Group lessons: 1-hour sessions, private lessons available

Classes include: naming and categorizing steps and techniques, according to country and era. These dances vary, they are aerobic, graceful, fun, lively, elegant, creative and social.

EUROPEAN DANCES: MEDEIVAL, REANAISSANCE, BAROQUE

Class covers: SCOTTISH and IRISH, ENGLISH, FRENCH, SPANISH, ITALIAN, SCANDINAVIAN AND GERMAN: taught by famous dance teachers throughout Europe. They brought these dances into the courts, to the higher-class people. Peasant dances were also popular. Classes cover: stances, posture, poses, techniques, attitude, steps, music, and rhythms.

I have purposely mixed the different countries dances in the classes not only to provide full exercise coverage, but also to represent the different nationalities. And enjoy the variety.

Ongoing sessions, advance at your own pace. Start at any time during the sessions. SPECIAL WORKSHOPS ARE AVAILABLE FOR OTHER SPECIFIC ETHNIC DANCES

I OFFER: CLASSES, WORKSHOPS, LECTURES, DEMONSTRATIONS, AND PERFOMANCES

If you are interested in scheduling something, please contact me (call 509-226-2667)

MEDIEVAL, RENAISSANCE (ELIZABETHAN), BAROQUE DANCES

Some dances still practiced go back before the medieval era. These dances were for historical documentation, holiday celebrations, social gatherings and religious purposes. As time progressed new dances were introduced for social and entertainment purposes. Experts seem to vary on the timelines of eras. The Medieval period was approximately from 400-1450 A.D. Some dances practiced during this time: Hornpipe, Reel, Sword dances, Ducita, Carole, Estampie, Trotto, Saltarello, Moresco, and Morris. The Renaissance period dances, approximately 1450-1600 A.D. and the Elizabethan era 1558-1603: Jig (gigue), Basse, Branle, Galliard, La Volta, Pavane, Allmain, Tourdion, and Canary. The Baroque period dances approximately 1600-1750: Tambourin and French hornpipeCeilidh, Highland fling, Bouree, Chaconne, French Courante, Entrée Grave, Foriana, Gavotte, Loure, Minuet, Mussette, Passacaille, Passepied, Rigaudon;, Sarabande.

Learning ethnic dances associated to your own ethnic heritage helps to encourage a positive preservation of personal identity. Learning multiple countries dances helps break down prejudice towards others and brings understanding and acceptance of other ethnic groups.