Ballroom Newsletter, Siskiyou County & Northern California – December 3rd 2024
Dear All,
A new month, a new dance (two new dances, to be precise). According to school tradition (our school), Viennese Waltz is always taught in December since there tends to be more holiday balls in December (thanks to Christmas and New Year’s Eve {I do not mean to exclude any of the others, but they don’t seem to embrace anachronistic practices [as far as we know] the same way that Christmas and New Year’s do}). And we use “anachronistic” in the sense of traditions both revered and beloved, not in the sense of traditions outdated and tiresome.
The Viennese Waltz is, perhaps, the most anachronistic of all the ballroom dances in that it is, simply, the oldest. Johann Straus made quite the name for himself in the 19th century (as the “Waltz King”) by catering to his culture’s love of this dance and composing for it (and them). It’s been around (as well as goes around). It fits into the Christmas theme beautifully and has long been associated with Christmas and Yuletide balls.
And the Scottish love of New Year’s has produced the same results for the New Year’s holidays (often wedged in between all the reels, strathspeys and contra dances. So, (to make a short story long) do come to classes this December and join in the time-honored tradition of being able to dance the Viennese Waltz at the holiday balls by learning (what else?) the Viennese Waltz: Wednesday nights, 6:45 -7:45 pm.
And to balance out the time line, we will be teaching the Nightclub Two Step on Thursday nights (again at 6:45 – 7:45 pm) which is one of the newest of the Ballroom Dances. So, as the old poem goes, “something old, something new, something borrowed” (the hour that you spend in class {which you will get back at the next party you attend when the Viennese Waltz and/or Nightclub Two Step area/is played}), “something blue” (us, when we don’t get to see you in class). Traditional practices everywhere this month. We exhort you all to participate.
Don’t miss a day because, since Wednesday falls on a Christmas . . . forgive my dyslexia, I mean since Christmas falls on a Wednesday . . . we won’t be able to hold the last Viennese Waltz class that night, making the 18th of December that last day for the Viennese Waltz. Again, exhortations abound as we once again encourage you to come to class early and often.
Gleefully looking to see you there.
Cheers,
Rick and Peggy Nixon
530) 853-4147 / 415)215-2652 (cell)
(Weekly Class schedule listed below.)
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THIS WEEK’S SCHEDULE
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The Mountain Fitness Center (South):
1630 South Mt. Shasta Blvd, Mt. Shasta, CA 96067 (back parking lot is best, as the dance studio is a mere two steps from the back door)
Wed. December 4th VIENNESE WALTZ 6:45 – 7:45pm
Thur. December 5th NIGHTCUB TWO-STEP 6:45 – 7:45pm
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CURRENT RATES Group Class Rates $10 Single Class ($10.00/class) $25 Four class Card ($6.25/class) $50 Eight Class Card ($6.25/class) $60 Ten Class Card ($6.00/class)
Private Lesson(s) Rates
$30 Half-hour Private Lesson ($25 at four per month or more) $60 One Hour Private Lesson (one per month or fewer) $50 One Hour Private Lesson (two per month or more) Hour Lessons may be divided into two ½ hour sessions at half the hourly rate each.
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