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ARUN U3A |
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Spotlight on.....
Line Dancing
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How many Line Dance Clubs do you know that have
their own dance,
written especially for them? Arun U3A Line Dance
Club's own dance
is called the Woodland Waltz (they meet at the Woodlands Centre)
written by Linda, a member and experienced dancer. The dance has been
published in
The British Western Line Dance Association magazine, and is danced
at the end of most club meetings to the music of West Texas Waltz by
Joni Harms.
Pencil-vania,
one of the club's mascots |
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Marigold Brown runs the club. She and Allan started line
dancing about 12 years ago in Surrey. She says
"we
got hooked with the country music and nice easy dances they did way
back then".
She
started to collect the music and now has a huge collection of
recorded country music and songs.
New dances she find in the monthly
Linedancer magazine.
Mascot Woody
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Marigold on stage with mascot
Woody, ready to start the Line Dance Class. |
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A short history of Line Dancing
Marigold writes:
As
far as I am aware American line dance started way back in the 18th
century. Some say cowboys on the western frontier from 1860s-1890s
started the whole thing off.
Others say early settlers in America must have influenced the
steps that we do in line dancing today:-
the Schottische came from Poland, German settlers bought clogging, while
the French introduced Cajun. Of course folk and barn dancing
also have a place here.
Country & Western music to fit the dances must have a big place in
the history also. Through the 1970s/80s/90s the whole thing took off
big time. These past few years some say it's not so good any more as
the whole thing has gone crazy with the pop scene.
Not so our club ..... |
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It's
Thursday morning.
Curtains are drawn against the dazzling May sunshine outside.
Martin, the club's admin man, stands by the door to take the money and tick off the register as members arrive.
In
spite of the wonderful weather more than 20 members of the club turn
up to get their weekly line dancing fix! |
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The music is the well-loved country & western and everyone joins in.
The club moved to the Woodlands Centre
2 years ago and membership has steadily risen from the initial 7 to
57; about 35 members turn up regularly, some of the 7 founder
members are still coming to class. |
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Members say:
"The
club is great fun and very friendly"
"Marigold demonstrates and calls out the steps, so we don't have to
worry about forgetting!" |
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"Both men and ladies can enjoy line
dancing"
"We get 2 hours of exercise and have a
good time too!" |
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"We can enjoy the dancing and don't need a
partner".
"I don't want to miss it so I come over
from Midhurst every week" |
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Marigold says:
"We enjoy the fun of learning line
dances, usually easy old favourites, with breaks for drinks and
chit-chat - which I think is an important side of the club"
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Linda, seen here (right & below) dancing at Arun U3A Line Dance
Club, ran her own line dance clubs and classes for 20 years.
Now she has retired from that scene but keeps her hand in by filling
in when Marigold is away and occasionally teaching new dances.
She wrote the Woodland Waltz for the group.
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Happy Birthday Line Dancers!
The club will be 3 this month (May 08).
With thanks to all the
line dancers
for a fun hour listening to your music and seeing y'all dance, and especially to Marigold for her
help with this webpage.
Marigold relaxes during a break in
dancing
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All photos taken by Arun U3A
Digital
Photography Club. |
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To find out more visit the group's webpage by
clicking on...
Line Dancing or contact Marigold Brown, see The Beacon for her
contact details. |
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To put YOUR group 'In the Spotlight' email
Webmaster to discuss |
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