This summer our family discovered English Country Dancing. Our community has a local, family oriented group that meets on a regular basis. We love attending and learning various dances. The setting is laid back and informal, and it is great fun! Dads with babies in front backs, ladies in their seventies, middle aged folk, engaged young couples, singles, teens and elementary aged children...all spending a delightful evening together learning an old art form.
When our family heard that there was a formal event geared towards families with older children, we were thrilled! I whole heartedly support the Christian community reclaiming the art of beautiful, wholesome social dancing. Our entire family was not able to attend this event, but two of our teens were able to travel with good family friends and enjoyed a wonderful new experience.
For the young men it is a wonderful way to learn about being a gentleman, even to their sisters! The focus is group dancing (you are forever switching partners in English Country Dancing), but the gentlemen must ask a lady to dance. They are instructed to make sure all the ladies are being included, especially since there are often more ladies than gentlemen. It is an excellent opportunity for young men to initiate and lead. Even the occasion to dress like a gentleman is a benefit in this day of grunge and shagginess. I notice that our own young men stand a bit straighter and speak with a bit more confidence when they have a sport coat on their backs!
For the ladies, a formal ball is a chance to delight in godly femininity. It is a time to be dignified and graceful. Ladies are instructed to respond graciously to requests to dance, whether they accept or decline. I will do another post on how to dress modestly/modify a typical formal gown for modesty, but it is a wonderful time to consider these issues as mother and daughter ( not to mention learn useful techniques for modifying everyday clothing). Our gown modification was a three generation event in and of itself! And what a fun time of shopping and planning together! Many of the ladies at the ball wore period costume dress, which I think will be on a wish list sometime soon. There are some lovely patterns out there!
One area I especially appreciate about such an event is the atmosphere that emphasizes godly relationships. Modeled before my children are both older couples that love each other very much and couples in the courtship and engagement phase of life. Several college age couples were present (couples who had attend these events as younger teens) and they, along with other couples in our circle of friends, provide a healthy "normal" of how such relationships can be approached. The whole emphasis on "otherness"... considering another's needs above your own...is what impresses me most. My favorite picture of the evening was of a special set of four dancers: my son, a friend's daughter, another friend's son, and this young man's 20-something year old sister. The sister has severe autism and functions as a preschooler. When she heard there was a ball she wanted to be in on the action and came decked out in her own fancy dress. It brought tears to my eyes hear ( and see, thanks to a kind photographer) that our teens were thoughtful enough to see that she was included and had fun.
So....if you are looking for something fun and worthwhile, check out the English Country Dancing opportunities in your community. I hear they are springing up all over. You Tube has come excellent tutorials, as well as video from various ball events. Pleasant Dancing!
