English Country Dancing

With the first notes of the piano, she bows courteously to her partner across the aisle.  The intro swells into chorus, and she begins to dance.

Head erect, arms extended, she confidently takes the hands of her partner as they do a double turn.  She makes a modest curtsy and dances into to the second couple, unashamedly flirting with her neighbor's partner.  Her neighbor does the same, and none is jealous of the other.  All four hold hands across the center to form a star, and slowly walk a circle.

A slow spin outward bumps her down the row to a new couple, and the process repeats itself.  A new neighbor, a new flirt, but the same poised postures remains throughout. 

The room is lit by chandeliers equally spaced across the ceiling, all elegantly adorned  with silver and sparkle.  The windows look out into a crisp February night, lit only by the moon and stars.

Eighteen couples form two sets of lines; more than usual. The new comers are happily accepted and quickly paired with the more experienced dancers.

A splash of sunset here, clear ocean blue there, and tea rose behind her; the ladies' wide skirts swish softly in time with the music.  They spent hours on their hair, pulling it gracefully into twists and curls before hand.  Lovely necklaces and matching bracelets sparkle almost as much as the eyes of the men lucky enough to dance with them.  All are delighted to be here.

The last notes of song are finished with a flourish and a curtsy.  A gentle applause begins and the enchantment slowly fades while the pianist enjoys a brief respite.  The billowing skirts are no more, and salt and pepper hair returns to its long pony tail.  The delight remains.

The college girls, responsible for swelling the group's numbers on this particular Friday night, smile hugely.  It is true, they have not yet mastered all the steps, and all of their partners have grandchildren, but they are utterly delighted.  The music starts and the dancers return to the seventeen hundreds, ready to continue their English Country Dance.

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