Review: Flight of Fancy Dance Day

Contra dancing gets me grinning. Sometimes it's a satisfyingly smooth swing, an unexpected twirl my partner throws in, or admiring the way the moves of that dance flow into one another. Sometimes it's the camaraderie--from goofy to flirtatious--of the dancers in the line, or the band launching into a particularly fine version of a tune for us to move to. At Saturday's Flight of Fancy, it was all those things and more. By the end of the night, my face was as tired from smiling as the rest of me was from dancing.

The day started with a jitterbug workshop from Ron Buchanan. His enthusiasm and knowledge were clear as he started with the basics and 'barged right ahead' to more challenging moves, making sure that every dancer there had something new to take home. He kept us laughing as we switched partners and tested our new-found skills with everyone there. (My grin started here).

From there, Darlene Underwood led us in some contra dances with no walk-through. She'd tell us the first move, then Dr. Grangelove launched into a tune and Darlene called the rest of the pattern as we went along. A very literal version of thinking on your feet, and a simple way to add extra challenge to contra dancing.


Then Ron was back with some quirky square dances. These were NOT the square dances you did in fourth grade gym class! They were full of unusual moves and fun combinations that left us laughing at our mistakes and feeling real accomplishment when it all gelled!

After so many hours together, switching partners and sharing new things, the sense of community in the room was warm and palpable. That feeling grew during the potluck, as we chatted over delicious food, exchanged recipes and rested for the night ahead.

As the evening dance drew near, our numbers doubled. For the next four hours, Dr. Grangelove pumped out more fantastic rhythms (let me tell you, that is a band that knows how to lift a dancer's feet!). The dancers on the floor were a fairly experienced bunch, which inspired Ron and Darlene to call more challenging dances. I assure you, I was not the only one grinning on the dance floor!

By the end of the night, we were basking in the glow that comes from spending the day doing something we love, with a group of good people we'd grown closer to throughout the day. What a way to warm a winter's day!