Queen Elizabeth so loved the country dances that she made her courtiers dance them for her pleasure. Some of the dances had been around for centuries and were finally written down, along with their tunes, by John Playford in the 1660s.

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 This workshop offers a choice of two dances—Gathering Peascods, a simple circle dance for as many as will, and a more advanced dance called Goddesses, a longways dance for groups of eight.

 

These dances are suitable for all ages and skill levels. They are nothing more than fast walking in patterns. Each dance is taught by walking through the figures, then dancing them to traditional music. A list of the appropriate dance terms, the figures of the dance, a calling card, and a CD of the music can be made available upon request to schools and communities that wish to continue passing on the dances.

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