Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Monday, July 18, 2011
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
"ULTIMATE IN SQUARE DANCING"
(Excerpts from an article by Carl Mumford)
Square Dancing is Fun and Friendship Set to Music
The most widely accepted Square Dance Motto is: Square Dancing is Friendship Set to Music. Notice, I have added “FUN”, because, that is why most all of us square dance. We have been willing to take square dance lessons for weeks, because it is FUN to meet the challenge of learning something new, and mastering this activity. However, almost no one masters square dancing, therefore, the fun exists to keep trying. If you do master one level of square dancing, there is the next level of square dancing to conquer, and have fun doing it. The same holds true of round dancing.
While a person is taking lessons, and afterwards when they join a club, they will become friends with other local square dancers. I can assure you, this is true, because, I was a very quiet, withdrawn individual, and it happened to me.
This is where the “Friendship” part of the motto comes into play.
The question I have been contemplating is, what is:
“The Ultimate in Square Dancing”
In studying this question, maybe: “The Ultimate in Square Dancing is not Square Dancing”
Robin B offered this comment: “The Ultimate in Square Dancing is the Fellowship with the People, not only in your square but all those attending the dance. It's amazing how a set of four couples, complete strangers sometimes, can become one unit so quickly and have so much fun. It's a few hours in your life that you don't have to worry about the outside world and have a great time.”
She is right on. I now believe:
The Ultimate in Square Dancing is the friendships that you build within the Square Dancing Community.
Two more noteworthy responses I received. 1) From a caller: The Ultimate in Square Dancing: It is seeing dancers smiling, having fun, and enjoying themselves.
2) From a retired Occupational Therapist, I consider the Ultimate in Square and Round Dancing for me as sound and practical physical and mental health. Truly, this is the first positive result we get from square and round dancing, keeping our bodies moving, and our minds active. A typical square dance is equivalent to a four to five mile walk, only you take smaller steps, and turn in many directions. Sometimes, you have to hurry; bringing your heartbeat up, this is good. No doubt, square dancing is a very excellent exercise.
Sunday, July 3, 2011
SQUARE DANCING IS:
WHAT IS SQUARE DANCING TO YOU? HERE ARE SOME SUGGESTIONS:
SQUARE DANCING IS….
LIKE PLAYING A GAME WITH EIGHT PLAYERS, EACH TRYING TO MAKE PRECISION MOVES, TO ACCOMPLISH A “PERFECT” DANCE TOGETHER.
LIKE PUTTING TOGETHER A MUSICAL PUZZLE WITH SEVEN OTHER FRIENDS.
CREATING PATTERNS OF MOVEMENT WHILE FOLLOWING A LEADER’S DIRECTIONS.
EXPERIENCING MUSIC WITH CREATIVE MOVEMENT AND AT LEAST SEVEN OTHER FRIENDS.
MUSICAL ENJOYMENT WITH FRIENDS AT A VERY PERSONAL LEVEL.
ENJOYING MUSIC IN A CREATIVE, FRIENDLY WAY.
FOLLOWING DIRECTIONS WITH YOUR MIND AND BODY.
MUSICAL EXPRESSION IN CREATIVE PATTERNS OF MOVEMENT.
MOVING TO MUSIC IN ORGANIZED PATTERNS.
FOUR COUPLES EXPRESSING FRIENDSHIP IN MUSICAL WAYS.
FOUR COUPLE FOLLOWING MUSICAL CALLS TO FORM MANY DIFFERENT PATTERNS OF INVOLVEMENT.
EIGHT PEOPLE RELATING TO ONE ANOTHER BY FOLLOWING MUSICAL CUES.
EIGHT PEOPLE ENJOYING MUSIC AND EACH OTHER IN RHYTHMIC PATTERNS OF CHOREOGRAPHY.
A SOCIAL ACTIVITY WITH MUSIC WHERE STRANGERS CAN BECOME FRIENDS.
CHOREOGRAPHED FRIENDSHIP.
A SOCIAL MIXER WITH INTERESTING AND SOMETIMES SURPRISING INVOLVEMENTS.
EIGHT PEOPLE EXECUTING FIGURES TOGETHER BY FOLLOWING MUSICAL DIRECTIONS.
FRIENDS ENJOYING EACH OTHER’S COMPANY WHILE MOVING TO MUSIC.
A SOCIAL MIXER WHERE FRIENDS TAKE STEPS, SWING AND SWIRL TO UPBEAT MUSIC.
MUSIC, MOVEMENT, FRIENDSHIP, EXERCISE DIRECTED BY A CALLER.
A SET OF FOUR COUPLES THAT BECOME ONE UNIT MOVING TO MUSICAL OR RHYTHMIC CALLS.
A CLOSE CONTACT SPORT.
A SET OF FOUR COUPLES THAT BECOME ONE UNIT MOVING TO MUSICAL OR RHYTHMIC CALLS.
A CLOSE CONTACT SPORT.
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