Circle dance is a community activity for all ages where partners are not required and where individuals feel very quickly part of the circle, making it a very sociable event as well as good exercise and fun. There is also a deeper element of finding ones own centre in the dance, while at the same time being aware of others in the group.
Dances are a combination of traditional international folk dances many from Eastern Europe, and more modern choreographed dances which have been set to some wonderful pieces of international music.
Dances are usually done in a circle linking hands or arms (there are several different ways of doing this) and sometimes hands free. Sometimes we dance in an open circle ie horseshoe shaped, since many traditional dances from
Every dance is taught before it is danced so it is easy to rest if you need to. In an hour and a half session we can include 10 or 11 dances with a variety of speed, style and complexity. Most dances can be broken down into fairly simple basic steps and the program will be chosen depending on the abilities and preferences of the group.
Circle Dance is very inclusive, can be done by all ages and enjoyed by both men and women. It’s not necessary to have any experience of dance although a sense of rhythm is helpful, and as this is a community activity, awareness of others in the group is also important. In fact in general its more important to be aware of your space in the group than to get the steps perfect.
My Regular Groups
TIMPERLEY Village Club, 268 Stockport Road, Timperley WA15 7UT
2nd Friday of every month 8.00pm to 9.30pm
This is a well-established group which would like to welcome new members, both experienced dancers and beginners. Wide range of both simple and more challenging dances. (All dances are taught and beginners often find that it is easier to learn a dance when there are several experienced dancers in the group as there are more people to watch)
Cost £6 per session. Ring
Next sessions January 8th, February 12th 2010 Put it in your diary now!
BRAMHALL The Bramley Centre, Bramhall, Stockport SK7 2DT
Tuesday afternoons 1.30 - 3.00pm
Restarts January 5th 2010
This group has been going for over a year now and we usually have about 14 dancers (but not the same 14 every week). This includes a few who have only started dancing recently and we would like even more people to come along and make our circle bigger. Beginners and experienced dancers all welcome whether you can come every week or only occasionally.
Flexible program, most dances selected with beginners in mind. Learn the basic steps as you dance....every dance is taught....no set course to follow....program includes a mix of repeated dances and new challenges.
Cost £5 per session
Ring
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Other Groups in the Manchester area
CHORLTON Weekly Tuesday evening 7.30 - 9.30pm Contact Wendy Turner
SALE Thursday afternoon group weekly 1.30 - 3.30pm Contact Pauline Baillie
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NEW YEAR 2010 Thank you to everyone who is supporting my dance groups in Timperley and Bramhall, both the long-standing and newer dancers. Bramhall has really become an established group during 2009 and it has beeen lovely to welcome experienced visitors from other groups. Having thought I may have to postpone the Christmas party on the 22nd December due to heavy snow I was delighted that so many of you decided we should go ahead anyway and walked out in the snow to dance. It just shows how much you all enjoy the sessions and what a friendly and welcoming group it has become. Thank you all for your individual contributions and I am looking forward to 2010.
MACCLESFIELD LAST DANCE
Sadly, October 15th 2008 was the last dance session in Macclesfield. It was a lovely evening attended by the half-dozen regular dancers who had given their enthusiastic support over the previous 18 months while others came and went. It's disappointing that other dancers were not encouraged to come back after we changed to the slightly later time as Morton Hall was a lovely hall to dance in, with soft lighting and good accoustics and even with small numbers we always felt we filled it with the energy of the dance. On the last night we danced everyones favourite dances and finished on a high note. Who knows? We may be back.
In the meantime there is always Bramhall every Tuesday afternoon, Timperley on the second Friday evening of the month, or Chorlton every Tuesday evening.
Or You could dance with Ana da Costa at Tytherington Wednesday evenings (adult education class)