English country dancing is a tradition of folk-dancing that grew out of Renaissance dance, was patronized by Queen Elizabeth in the mid-1600s, then flourished through several stylistic periods in the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, and gave rise to the American traditions of New England square dancing and contradancing. It has been performed in television adaptations of Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice,” "Sense and Sensibility,” and other PBS productions. For more information on the history of English country dancing, consult Google or Wikipedia.
English country dancing has enjoyed a groundswell of popularity in this country over the past several decades among people who love to dance, and who prefer a smoke-free, alcohol-free environment in which to do it. There are now regular English dance series in Boston, Amherst, New York, Washington, and other cultural centers around the country, as well as annual balls and other special dance events.
There are literally hundreds of English country dances, and each one is a unique composition, like a musical composition, with its own title, and with a specific piece of music to which it is danced. Most are done in “longways sets” – lines of couples up and down the hall – but some are done in other formations, such as circles, squares, or sets of two, three, or four couples. Some dances have a slow and stately tempo, while others are lively and energetic.
During the course of an evening, the English dance caller leads the dancers through about ten or twelve dances. As he or she announces each new dance, people on the dance floor invite each other to dance, then line up in sets up and down the hall. Before the music begins, the caller describes the sequence of movements or "figures" that comprises the dance. Next, the dancers walk through the figures once or twice, until they are familiar with the sequence. Then, as the music begins, the caller prompts the dancers by calling each figure as it is to be danced. When the music ends, partners thank each other and ask someone else to dance the next dance.
English country dancing provides not only a means of enjoying synchronized dance movements, but also a chance to meet people and to participate in a living cultural tradition that stretches back over four centuries.