🎩 English Country Dance

About English Country Dance (ECD)

Discover the charm of social folk dancing from England! Set to live music, you will dance with a partner alongside other couples in a welcoming group setting.

A caller will guide you through the dance’s sequence of "figures", the movement of which will naturally flow from simple walking patterns into woven geometry.

What to Expect

• Playford style dances, including a few hornpipes and rants.
• The live music will be playing the specific tune for the dance.
• New dancer and refresher lesson before the dance.
• No partner required - we encourage dancing with new partners throughout the evening.

The English Country Dance Tradition

The Playford style of dances originated from collections of English country dances from the 17th through to the 19th century, beginning with John Playford’s publication ‘The English Dancing Master’ in 1651. They were revived and popularised by Cecil Sharp in the early part of the 20th century and are similar to those seen in the dance sequences in films of Jane Austen’s novels and Bridgerton.

Dances continue to be devised and are danced all over the world!

More information about the various styles of English folk dancing can be found here.

Payment

We accept cash, checks, and PayPal for dance admission and donations.