July 2024 World Circle Dance Day

Our first class in July was not held in our usual venue of Hucclecote Community Centre due to the unexpected arrival of a General election polling day. Consequently we decided to reconvene on July 7^th in the small but charming Barnwood Reading Room to celebrate World Circle Dance Day alongside many thousands of other dancers marking this occasion around the world.

This text copied from the website https://www.daysoftheyear.com describes the origin of this special day:-

History of World Circle Dance Day

While Circle Dance is an ancient practice that has been part of many cultures, it was in the 1970s that a movement of Circle Dance was catalyzed through a spiritual and ecological community in Scotland. Used as a way of integrating and centering retreat participants who came from various places, the popularity of Circle Dance grew throughout the UK and then into the rest of the world throughout the 1980s.

Always taking place on a Sunday in July, World Circle Dance Day was started in 2016 to honor this unique experience of active engagement and awareness. This international event is an opportunity for groups to gather together to exercise an ancient form of communication and expression that draws from the rich and diverse dance traditions from cultures all over the world. Including different versions of music and a range of traditional or new steps, Circle Dance focuses on transformation, experience, unity and so much more.

Each year, the participation in World Circle Dance Day continues to grow, with over 250 groups joining in from more than 25 countries. It’s an amazing time for people and communities to gather in awareness and gratitude as they experience joy through collective movement!

When I look through the photos and videos of many of the groups participating in this special day of unity I am always heartened to see the huge variation of age groups enjoying the feeling of dancing together. Circle Dance is for anyone who loves a variety of music from lands near and far, traditional and contemporary and feels the joy of moving to that music, whether that be the faster, more complex dances or the very gentle meditative dances.

We have two more classes in August (01.08.24 & 15.08.24) before we have a break in September – why don't you come and join us?

Looking forward to sharing more dances with you.

Anne

March 2024

I can't believe that it has been a year since my last update - huge apologies!

Like many of you, I am really looking forward to longer days and warm sunshine, and over the last few days we have had some lovely bright and sunny March days.

This often prompts the start of spring cleaning and further attempts at decluttering.

During one of my decluttering sessions I came across a greeting card which I had saved because the picture was of a group of children dancing in a circle amongst the daisies.

A Time To Dance

During our most recent class we danced 'Quirquinches De Corazon', a lively dance with music from South America, and we all experienced the childlike joy of skipping (somewhat sedately in our case!) around together in a circle to such happy uplifting music – it was wonderful to see the expression on everyone's faces at the end of the dance!

What I love about Circle Dance is that a class will usually comprise of dances that engender a variety of emotions e.g. joy, peace, wistfulness alongside a feeling of being part of a community.

If you would like to join our friendly group please do not hesitate to get in touch. You don't need a partner and our motto in Circle Dance is that there are no 'wrong steps', only 'variations'!

Anne

March 2023 Update

I must apologise for the long interval between updates – where does the time go?

St Patrick & Gold Cup

We have a tradition in Circle Dance of marking the changing seasons and special days of the year by the programme of dances we choose. So far this year we have celebrated our New Year, Chinese New Year, Burns Night, acknowledged Holocaust Memorial Day, celebrated Valentines Day, St David's Day, St Patrick's Day and even the Cheltenham Gold Cup!

We will be celebrating Easter a little earlier this year in group with an extra class in March as Keith and I will be leading Circle Dance workshops during the Easter weekend for the Folk Dance and Song Group of the Camping and Caravanning Club.

Our group has grown in numbers over the past few months but new members are welcome at any time. No dance experience is necessary and you don't need a partner – just bring comfy, soft soled shoes and a drink for the break.

We dance in the main hall of the Hucclecote Community Centre, 1.30pm – 3pm, normally on the first and third Thursdays of the month, however the only class in April will be on the third Thursday which is the 20th.

As always, I look forward to sharing more dances with you very soon.

Anne x

March 2022 Update

In my January update to this page (where did February go?) I reported on Penny Harper's wonderful wiinning patchwork quilt entry.

As part of the piece which I submitted to 'Grapevine', the quarterly magazine for Circle Dancers, I asked Penny to describe in her own words her thought processes in the creation of her Circle Dance themed patchwork square. I thought that you would also be interested to read what she wrote:-

'I am a member of u3a which is an organisation for retired people who want to ' Live, Learn and Laugh'. 2022 is their 40th Anniversary and a group quilt was planned. A competition, open nationally to all members, was launched to find 40 fabric squares that represented an aspect of the u3a and it's activities. I am a patchworker and lucky enough to be a member of a thriving u3a circle dancing group run by a lovely inspirational teacher. I chose to represent Circle Dancing as my entry. A circle of something would be the predominant design shape around a central point - as it is when we dance. This circle turned out to be made up of several flags reflecting the worldwide scope of the dances. The central point was a flame as we always have candles in our centre piece. Around this circle were footprints (male and female) to represent our dancing feet. I included a silver pair for our dancing teacher. Inside the flag circle I showed our hands, and as this quilt was meant to represent a moment in time, these hands were unjoined. No contact during the pandemic! So that was the circle part done. But still more was needed. The music was represented by black notes in the corners and the ethos of peace and love were represented by a white dove with an olive branch and some red hearts. Now the job was finished. The fabric square was also meant to support the u3a 'strap line' of Live, Learn and Laugh. I find that Circle Dancing fulfills this brief perfectly for me. The 'living' is the exercise and movement aspect. The 'learning' is needed to master the steps and the 'laughter' comes when you get it all wrong. So circle dancing not only gives me all that, it's now given me the creative outlet to make a prize-winning block'

Quite brilliant don't you agree? I am so proud of all of my wonderful Circle Dance group, and never cease to be amazed by their achievements. Congratulations Penny!

IMPORTANT NEWS

Unfortunately, I have had to cancel the classes planned for April 7th, April 21st and May 5th as I have now been given a date for admission to hospital for an operation.

I have arranged a guest teacher for the class on May 19th who most of you met during our last session. I feel confident that you will make her very welcome and that you will enjoy her selection of dances.

Anne x

January 2022 Update

Happy New Year!

Gloucester u3a Circle Dancing got off to a very good start in our new venue of Hucclecote Community Centre (HCA) and it was lovely to see all of our loyal u3a dancers plus dancers who joined us from our evening group, which we have temporarily closed down.

Although we missed the charming environment of the Barnwood Reading Room,(which we would still recommend for any events or meetings you may be planning), we did enjoy the additional space to dance which the HCA offers

Exciting news!

In my October update, I mentioned that one of our dancers, Penny Harper, had submitted an entry into the u3a 40th Anniversary Quilt competition. I am delighted to tell you that her entry has been selected to form part of this special quilt! Huge congratulations Penny! What a wonderful achievement and such an honour for Circle Dance to be represented!

Please use the link below to see the final selection of patchwork squares

https://sites.google.com/view/u3a40thquilt/home

I plan to submit a piece for the Circle Dance quarterly magazine 'Grapevine' about Penny's achievement as I am sure that it's readers would also like to see the result of her hard work and know that awareness of Circle Dance has been promoted in a national competition.

Finally, our next session of dancing together is on Thursday January 20th. New dancers are always welcome, just get in touch before you come along.

Anne x

Modern circle dance draws on the rich and diverse traditional dances of many countries, including the Balkans, Greece, Israel, Russia, and France. There is also a growing repertoire of new dances to classical music and contemporary songs.

Circle dances can be energetic and lively or gentle and reflective. The aim always is to experience the joy of dancing with others.

Almost anyone of any age or ability can circle dance. Each dance is taught, there is no audience and everyone is welcome. So come on your own or with a friend (you do not need a partner) and join in. Circle dance is suitable for both men and women and new group members are welcome at any time.

If you are not sure whether Circle Dance is for you, please have a look at the feedback comments attached to this page.

We are always happy to welcome new dancers to the group. Our aim is to enjoy a wide variety of music and dances from around the world, exercise our bodies and our brains, but most importantly of all, to have fun.

Use the Calendar to find out when this group meets, and any special events they may hold.

( Remember to use the filter box (white box), and the drop-down menu, to focus on the group you are interested in. )

Links

• What Circle Dance Means To Me