Dates: 10/9 and 10/16, 2005 (Sundays) Time: 7:00pm Venues:
10/9 Fairmeadow Elementary School
500 East Meadow Drive, Palo Alto10/16 Covenant Presbyterian Church
670 East Meadow Drive, Palo AltoCost: Free Contact: kennita@kennita.com Do you remember square dancing from back in school? If you wish you didn't, don't worry -- it's different now. And in case you haven't heard (or don't remember) much about square dancing, here are some introductions:
Come try Square Dancing for the Twenty-First Century -- it's not "square" any more. The Stanford Quads Square Dance Club is starting its fall class, Sundays from 7-9 PM in Palo Alto. This year's remaining (free, no-commitment) introductory sessions are offered on October 9th and October 16th.
Why spend your Sunday evenings with the Quads? Because it's fun, interesting, and easy. And did I say fun?
Interesting and Fun:
Easy and Fun:
- In the class you will learn the Basic, Mainstream, and full Plus program, including APD (All Position Dancing) and DBD (Dancing By Definition), from world-class caller/teacher John Sybalsky. By the end, you'll be one of the best square dancers around -- and being among the best is always fun!
- If you know the math, you'll see the magic of group theory in motion. If not, it's still fun -- just dance.
- There is always something new to learn. Good for the brain, especially when combined with movement and music -- can you say "multi-modality"?
- There are two parts, a "boy" part and a "girl" part, but you're welcome to choose either one, and even learn both and to switch back and forth if you like (FTR, it's easiest to learn one part or the other well, before you switch).
- You get to drive -- if you put your mind on autopilot, you'll be sorry :-) . You'll need both hemispheres of your brain, but you won't need coordination -- feel free to bring both left feet (or were those right feet?).
Just Plain Fun:
- Square dancing is like a game. Think of your group of 8 as a Rubik's cube: you start out neatly arranged, and the caller tells you step by step how to completely scramble it, then solve it again.
- There are never long sequences to learn -- most steps (calls) fit into between 2 and 8 beats. The fun is in mixing them up and having them still fit together.
- Everything is done at a walking pace. And if even walking is somewhat difficult for you, as it is for me, never fear -- the handholds you get every few steps to help define and transition between patterns also help with keeping balance.
- Mistakes are allowed, and there are plenty of experienced dancers around to help.
- Walking the patterns is so engaging that you completely forget that you're getting exercise.
- John uses many different kinds of music, and he's open to anything we can dance to, if you have music of your own.
- It's a noncompetitive, participatory (i.e., non-spectator) team sport.
- You get to meet and interact with lots of friendly, intelligent people, both on and off the dance floor.
There's more, but that will do for starters. Come on out and try it, for free! What have you got to lose? You don't need a partner, special clothes, or previous dance experience.
I hope to see you on Sunday evening at 7 PM -- at Fairmeadow School, 500 East Meadow Drive at Cowper in Palo Alto on October 9th; and at Covenant Presbyterian Church, 670 East Meadow Drive on October 16th. Continue if you like it, otherwise you can at least say you've tried Square Dancing for the 21st Century. After the free introductory lessons, classes will be held every Sunday from 7-9 PM at Fairmeadow. The fee for classes through December 18th is $35 (the class will continue through Spring).
Look for Kennita (picture here, in case you don't know me) and say Hi -- I'll be happy to see you there!
Contact information:
Call Kennita Watson, 408-373-1147.
Visit http://www.stanfordquads.org.
E-mail: kennita at kennita dot com or kwatson at alum dot mit dot edu
