Dancing is Romancing - Take 2

Every Wednesday in August, 2011, 7-9:30, Rotary Park, Cranbrook

Submitted by Randy Tapp

Dancing in the Park is an opportunity to wander through beautiful Rotary Park and hear some great summer music under the stars, and to sit and enjoy the sweet sounds under the stars. If you like to dance, you just join in - shake a leg to a song or two or spin all evening. Last summer the Cranbrook Dance Club thought it would be a fun thing to try, and found it to be just perfect dancing outside in the summer. At first it is sunny and hot, then as the sun comes down it cools off in twilight time as the stars come out. Magical!

If you wander by the Seine in Paris on a Sunday, you'll see a similar thing happening: music wafting through the summer evening air, lovers swaying to the music, and dancers whirling around. Why should the French have all the fun? We can be just as sophisticated in little old Cranbrook! Dancing in the Park is not a new idea, nor is it the sole domain of the French. There is a long tradition of dancing outdoors in the summer in this country, and it just seems to make a lot of sense.

This is a nice chance to gather in a nice central location and wander in to meet some of the other locals, or occasionally to welcome tourists to our town. The Community Forest, our great coffee shops and restaurants, and the Farmer's Market can be joined now by Dancing in the Park as places to meet and greet. This is what makes our community a great place to live.

 If you come down to the park to dance, be sure to wear comfortable shoes. Some people prefer to dance on the plaza surface, and some on the grass. Either way, it will destroy your fancy (and expensive) dance shoes. You'll be better off in a regular pair of dress shoes, runners, or sandals. The weather is usually perfect in August, so wear what you were wearing to the park anyway. Of course, if the weather should turn nasty there is the bandstand to dance under, but that hasn't happened yet! Music wise, expect to hear a little rock and roll, waltz, country, Latin, and tango. In other words, just about everything. There is a plan to have the occasional live musician to play for dancing, and that would certainly be fun. If you are a musician or have a band and would like to play, please call!

Suppose you'd love to come and dance, but haven't danced before? Please come anyway! It is so non-competitive and casual, and someone will always be happy to show you enough to get started. Even experienced dancers that may wish to pick up something new or dust of the cobwebs will find someone to help in those areas - but only if you ask! So, if you are free on an August Wednesday evening, drop by Rotary Park between 7 and 9:30, and enjoy the music or dance. There is no charge - just be prepared to have some fun! Brought to you by Cranbrook Dance Club. For more information call Randy or Kim, 250-426-1142, or email tappdance@shaw.ca