Moveable Feet Family and Community Dance Creswell, OR
What is a Family and Community Dance? Why, it's a place for you and your family and friends to come dance traditional and folk dances from around the world in a friendly, low-key setting. "If you can walk, you can dance" is our motto - no fancy footwork! Read on:
Until about 200 years ago, dancing and music-making were very much a part of everyday life. With the advent of recording devices, those activities moved to the performance stage, robbing the general folk of the joy of participating. Moveable Feet offers this "return to a simpler time" one evening a month during the school year, at locations in and around Creswell.
Moveable Feet refers to not only the movement of our feet on the dance floor, but also to the plan for changing venues around Creswell from one month to the next. We have danced at the elementary school, the library, Creswell Community Center, the Grange, Garden Lake Park, Holt Park, and the VFW. We're happy to scope out other suggested venues too.
Traditional and folk dances include international folk dances, circle dances, play-party dances, mixers, and reels. Anyone with normal hearing and walking ability can do these dances. Two left feet? Bring 'em both! All ages are welcome (but 8-80 work out the best). Minors must be accompanied by an adult; they may not be dropped off and picked up later. No experience or partner is necessary. Our dances come from many world traditions. We usually bring a world map and locate the country of origin for each dance. All dances are taught and prompted, and we have a very high tolerance for mistakes, wrong turns, and general goof-ups! Having a good time is much more important than getting the steps right. Building community is at least as important as doing the dances. Quiet toys will be provided for young children, who will stay in the same room with the dancers.
Some of our venues are free, and others charge rent. If the venue is free, the dance is free. If the venue charges rent, we will request (but not require) a small donation, suggesting $3/person or $7/family. When we have live music (about once every 3 months), we will also have a tip jar out for the musicians. Beyond those tips, the musicians offer their services for free.
Most of the dances are on Friday evenings from 7:00 to 9:00, but this is not a hard-and-fast rule! We have had some afternoon dances on occasion too. Our annual Maypole Dance is earlier in the day since it is outdoors and we need the daylight. This website will be kept up-to-date and you can always call or e-mail (or use the "contact us" tab on this website) to ask questions.