High Steppin'

The dance gala for Sarah's musical theatre school was this past Sunday afternoon. The little auditorium was filled with proud families watching their children perform.

Here's Sarah in the turquoise top dancing up a storm in the ensemble number. Most of the performances were contemporary dance or tap, but the ensemble pieces were pure Broadway. We all had a great time.

Mr. Beveridge's Maggot

That is the odd name of the music you hear on both of these videos. Apparently it is an old English word for a fancy or whimsical idea. Mr. Beveridge was a dance master of the early 19th century during the English Regency period. Here's Janine and John dancing to it. (Please pardon the dark video.)

Now you may ask why would a group of 21st century homeschoolers put on an English Country dance set in the Regency? Jane Austen of course. As her novels are filmed and refilmed, one production has stayed on top, the 1995 BBC version of Pride and Prejudice. You may just recognize the actor playing Mr. Darcy. (He doesn't stammer this time around.)

Netherfield Ball 1

Last night was the fourth annual Netherfield Ball. It's an
English Country Dance the homeschooling moms put on each spring. Bobbie is on the planning team.

This year was the first for Janine who looks smashing in her period costume at left. If it looks familiar, Sarah wore it in the past. (Sarah had another commitment and was not able to attend.) She was very self-sufficient doing her own hair and make-up...and she had a wonderful time. She told Bobbie that she made four new friends and enjoyed all of the dancing.

This is a two night event: a practice on Friday and the full costume dance on Saturday. In the past both nights were held in the Fellowship Hall at our church, but this year the Saturday event was at a very nice golf club.

As an aspiring sound tech, John was also very pleased with the sound quality at the practice dance Friday night. You see last summer John and I were part of a team that installed acoustic panels on the ceiling of the Fellowship Hall. The callers, who usually labor in fire halls and church basements, gave the sound quality rave reviews.

John also has a great time. He could tell which dances were new and which from the past we did not dance. He is very good about asking ladies to dance. and did not sit out a single one. He also did a pretty good job as you will see in the next post.