In 1990 my wife persuaded me to go to a Circle Dance Group. I felt very awkward, embarrassed and convinced I would be no good. My experience in life suggested that men didn’t do this kind of thing. I’d always needed “Dutch courage” to get on the dance floor as a young man! The group was run by a man! He taught the dancers. There were only a few people there and so I felt I was very much on display. In short, I didn’t like it, but I think that was as much to do with my state of mind as anything else. My wife loved it and continued to go but I refused point blank to try again.
A while later the group folded through lack of numbers and my wife really missed it. She discovered there was a Circle Dance group about 18 miles from where we lived. She couldn’t drive at that time, so I used to take her each week. The hall was a wellbeing centre and there was a sign over the door which said, “arms are for hugging”. That in itself kept me from entering the place! No way was anyone going to be hugging me! “Hippy nonsense” is what I thought.
Some time later there was a day of dancing in the hall and they had a visiting teacher who taught a whole suite of dance he had choreographed to music he had composed., all based around a story he told. My wife brought a cassette tape of the music home and I loved the music. The same event was going to be staged in a city about 100 miles away and I found myself agreeing to stay the weekend away in our caravan and to attend the dance event.
The event was called “The Mill” and it told a story of a Cathar couple living in a mill in south west France in the 12th Century. We were told a bit of the story, then danced a dance about that part and then moved on. The story revealed how these very religious people were attacked and killed by the established church which established a Crusade. I absolutely loved the story. The dancing I found challenging, both physically and emotionally; but I completed the whole thing and I was transfixed by the story. I had never heard of the Cathars, but I found myself researching everything I could find. I still am amazed that people could have so much faith they were willing to die for it. We were so taken with the story of the Cathars that we spent a three-week caravanning holiday in Cathar country in the Languedoc.
From that dance event onwards, I went to Circle Dancing and still do to this day. To those who don’t know what it is I will quote from a leaflet of the Circle Dance Network –
Dancing in a circle is an ancient tradition common to many cultures for marking special occasions, strengthening community and encouraging togetherness.
Modern circle dance draws on the rich and diverse traditional dances of many countries, including the
Balkans, Greece, Israel, Russia, and France. There is also a growing repertoire of new dances to classical music and contemporary songs.
Circle dances can be energetic and lively or gentle and reflective. The style and mood reflects the group and the interests of the teacher. The aim always is to experience the joy of dancing with others and to create a sense of well-being and community.
Anyone of any age or ability can circle dance. Each dance is taught, there is no audience, and everyone is welcome. So, come on your own or with a friend (you do not need a partner) and join in.
Circle dance groups meet regularly all over the United Kingdom and abroad, and hold special events, dance days, weekends and even circle dance holidays.
For me it is far more than just exercise, and far more than just a social occasion, although it is both of those. I find a sense of spiritual nourishment in dancing. The combination of moving to music is further combined with the sense of community we get from holding hands in a circle. There is something special about a circle that touches the mysterious within in. Although I like many modern choreographies that we dance, I am especially drawn to the traditional dances of the Balkan area, Greece, Macedonia, Romania, Bulgaria. These dances are centuries old. They have been danced traditionally to mark important occasions in the life of a village. In some respects, they are the life of the village. Although the dances come from a culture that is not mine, they also come from a sense of the mysterious divine to which I can relate. In that sense they have become a part of my spiritual culture.
As for arms being for hugging – well, I’m willing to hug and be hugged but I’m still a bit reserved and I don’t go around seeking out hugs but will respond when it feels right to me.
As I’ve quoted from the Circle Dance Network’s leaflet, it seems right that I should give the link to their website – www.circledancegrapevine.co.,uk.
Try it. You might like it!