Homespun Community Dancing with 
Peter, Paul & George

• Engenders respect for other traditions and cultures

• Brings history, geography and social studies to life

• Develops coordination, rhythm and appreciation of music

• Fosters attentive listening skills

• Inspires cooperation and builds community, which is so important in these days of societal fragmentation

• ...is great fun for all ages!

Exploring the importance of traditional music and community dancing...

We ask students where they hear music. They hear it in cars, restaurants, movie theaters, stores, in every room of their homes, on their walkmans, and even in the doctor's office. Can they imagine living without music surrounding them?

We ask them to think about what entertainment was like for people who lived one or two hundred years ago. They begin to realize that music, dancing, and singing were very different for our ancestors who didn't have radios, CD players, and computers. They had to entertain themselves and others. They sang. They played instruments. They made their own instruments. If they wanted to hear others play music, they traveled to a dance or concert or gathering of musicians. In pre-electric communities it was an exciting occasion to hear musical instruments. Through singing and dancing people learned songs and tunes and shared them with neighbors, passing them on to the next generation.

In what ways does community dancing differ from other social dancing such as ballroom or hip hop... how do people learn to dance... how do melody and rhythm work together in dance tunes... where did instruments and dance figures and steps originate? Ireland, England, Scotland, France, Italy, Greece, and Africa have given us banjos. pennywhistles, mandolins, fiddles, do-si-dos, allemandes, jigs, sashays, promenades, reels, and grapevines. How did the tunes and dances change when they became assimilated in America? We answer these and other questions, providing insight into traditions from many cultures. It's a hands-on, feet-on learning experience for all to enjoy!

Line up for the dance.. strike up the music!