What is English Country Dancing?

A country dance is any of a very large number of social dances of a type that originated in the British Isles; it is the repeated execution of a predefined sequence of figures, carefully designed to fit a fixed length of music, performed by a group of people, usually in couples, in one or more sets. 

English country dancing (ECD) is a social dance that involves a variety of formations, such as lines, circles, and squares. ECD is similar to American square or contra dancing, but with more variety in the figures and music.

English Country Dance was designed as a social dance in England and the Colonies, popular from the mid-1500s up through the 1820s, until waltzing took over as the popular dance. ECD was characteristic of the Regency Era – think of Jane Austen, Bridgeton and the movie Pride and Prejudice where you see men and woman dancing together in long way sets.

ECD Dances are elegant to rowdy, stately to silly, simple to complex No matter what dance it is, you always have fun.

Don’t miss this opportunity to have fun, socialize, and improve fitness at the same time.  It is not hard on the knees or back either. Watch the video below to learn more.