Oldtime Country Dancers!!!

I discovered English Country Dancing in 2008 when we planned and held our "Scottish Festival". We learned a couple of dances, and enjoyed it immensely! The next year, we did the same dances again at our "Medieval Festival", but it wasn't until 2012 when I worked on a movie project called Beyond the Mask that I really took off on English Country and Scottish Country Dancing. The costuming team would often dance in the evenings after our work was done.

Medieval Festival                                                   Beyond the Mask

After I went home, I wanted to find a group to join that did Scottish Country or English Country Dances, but alas!, there weren't any within an hour's drive. For a whole year, I kept wishing to find something, then I got a bright idea... I had friends, why not see if they were interested in learning the dances and start my own group?!!! :) :D I talked to my friends and they thought it was a neat idea, so we started "Dance Class" in my back yard with just enough people to make a "set" of 4 couples. It slowly grew as more of our friends and acquaintances heard about it and decided to give it a try.
 

Dance Class in the yard

We soon had a new dilemma, winter was coming, and in the wonderful north, that means cold, and snow, LOTS of snow.

See ? ;) Yeah, that's our house...

We started talking about cancelling class for the winter, or finding somewhere indoors to do it. One of the class members suggested that we use a small house on their property that wasn't in use anymore. We held our next class there. It was perfect! We decided it was time to give ourselves a name too, and thus began the Oldtime Country Dancers. :) 6 months after our first dance class we held our first ball. It was a ton of fun!

      Some of the class demonstrating a dance.                              The Duke of Kent's Waltz

                            Calling.                                                                A dance at the ball.                  

The Oldtime Country Dancers New Year's Ball 2014 attendees.

After the ball the number of class members spiked and the space seemed smaller and smaller. The skill levels of the dancers were very different too, so we decided to split the class into a Beginners or Easy Class and Advanced or Hard Class. Each would meet every other week. Some of the more experienced dancers came to both classes, and helped teach the new members to dance. We held our second ball in June of 2014.

Some of the class demonstrating a dance at our "Summer Frolic"

The class has grown a little smaller again as many members have moved on to college, but we're getting new members too. :) Our youngest class member currently is 10 years old, and joined just after our second New Years Ball this January.

The day of the ball dawned grey and threatening. We were worried that we might have to cancel, but decided to carry on.

Most of the class members at the ball (some weren't able to make it)

Dancing

The Oldtime Country Dancers New Year's Ball 2015 attendees. Pretty good turnout considering the weather!

We demonstrated The Elephant's Stampede for the ball, and a friend caught it on camera for us!

I am so glad I decided to start my own dance classes! We have grown closer as friends, and we've been able to encourage one another and have many adventures together. It's absolutely wonderful to have such a supportive group of friends!  I thank the Lord for them all and for the activities and adventures He has lead me on! I hope to continue teaching Dance Class and holding Balls for many more joyous years to come!