6 Apr
2016
6 Apr
'16
7:18 p.m.
On Wed, 6 Apr 2016 12:54:31 -0500, Jonathan Sivier jsivier(a)illinois.edu
[trad-dance-callers] wrote:
For many years I have heard various versions of the
phrase, "In the past communities came together to dance, today
dancers come together to form a community." I understand the meaning, but wonder
where it came from. Does anyone know
the origin of this expression? Is it a quote from someone, or from a book, or is it just
something that has developed
via the folk process?
Jonathan -
Mary Dart in her book �Contra Dance Choreography� says:
Prior to the current revival, social dancing was a leisure time activity within local
communities of people whose relationship
with one another went far beyond the dance. The group of people who danced together also
worked together, worshipped together,
educated their children together, and shared the celebrations and turning points of their
lives with one another.
Although there still exist small community dances of this sort, in many urban areas the
social dance event has been transformed
from a community dance to a dance community, in which the dance provides the major focus
for the participants' relationship with
one another. The dance has become the strong thread in the binding of these people's
lives� For many urban participants, contra
dance is not a supplement to their social life, but rather the hub of it.
I'll be quoting this in my presentation / web page on the differences between English
as danced in the States and in England.
Colin Hume