October dancing

We danced this morning to a most eclectic and varied set list, honoring many themes and people today: A gorgeous tune from Puerto Rico, a slower Bollywood than normal, Tom Petty (The Waiting is the Hardest Part), mambo, salsa, Joni Mitchell, and the film score today (we always include something from film or broadway or a musical, or even TV) was from UP called Carl Goes Up. This was played in memory of Carl who danced with us many times in the first few years, but who got sick and died of cancer last Saturday.

Another gorgeous song played today for the first time was from the band MaMuse, “Glorious”. What a day, what a song. What a beautiful way to bring on the dance.

We’re also delighting that many gray haired beings enter our dance space, along with children under five. A huge range and a place to truly honor your ability and nature. We respect elders and their movements.

We love dancing in the autumn and so delighted to have so many new faces and beings with us today. Dance Dance!

Much love, Facilitators Grace and Jon

May 2017 Seattle Dancing !

Hello fabulous dancers one and all,

We’re into our fifth year of dancing at Northgate and loving every single Saturday morning with all the amazing folks who come to dance.

If you’ve found us here, we tend to generate a lot of activity and Q & A over on facebook–so you can also check there for our facebook page FreeFormDanceDance.

Any questions? Just ask! Bring your friends of all ages and skill in dance (including zero skill). This is about moving YOUR way. Resting, moving, being as you are.

We look forward to dancing with you!

Grace & Jon (dancing facilitators)

January Dances–every Saturday morning! Woo!

Glorious to be dancing in the morning on these fine frosty VERY cold Seattle days. See you all on the dance floor! Woot!  We have such a fun set list for tomorrow, January 14th….and already building up with some fabulous ideas for January 28th (Grace’s birthday dance, so of course it’ll be good)! Come enjoy the 70s, 80s, 90s, 2000s, new, world from all continents and countries, and Bhangra will be played tomorrow for sure.

 

Dance In the New Year on Saturday Morning December 31st

Dancers one and all!

We are so excited to say, we’re open for the morning–same time, same place–on December 31st. What a fabulous way to kick off the last day of the year 2016 .

If you haven’t been to Free Form Dance Dance before, perhaps today is the perfect day to start. We always cobble together an amazing set list of music from all over the world, and you’ll be sure to hear old favorites from many eras (1940s through present) all interspersed with lively world music, melodic, gorgeous, creative.

Plus, we have toys like jump ropes, balls, shakers and drums. Yoga mats, yoga blocks and chairs are all available for anyone needing rest and pause during the music. There is no requirement to move, no choreography, no instruction during the actual dance. Only to be yourself.

Join us afterwards if you like at Masala Indian food restaurant for the lunch buffet. It’s one block away to the north–walk over with us. Yummy food and fun friends. Everyone is welcome!

See you on the dance floor–can’t wait for this amazing set list of fun songs with amazing artists from all over the world, some honoring important musicians we loved. We’ll have a Bollywood song, as always (to inspire our pallets for Indian food later) and music from Mexico, South Africa and Turkey…plus much more. 80 minutes of music.

Every Body welcome.

Thank you!!!

Today we played awesome music including I Give Thanks by Katheryn Mostow and Grateful by Nimo.  We are so grateful for you… all the folks who’ve found us and love to dance.  As we complete our 4th year in these next 7 weeks we begin to look forward to all the fun times ahead in our 5th year.  We couldn’t do this without you.

Jon & Grace

November 2016 Dancing Seattle Saturday mornings have arrived

Today was a brilliant dance. Rain pouring outside, and such joy and immense positivity inside as we danced in the dark natural light of a fall Seattle morning.

We include “November” in the set list by Tom Waits…very dark humored (everyone burst out laughing at the end) and Sade’s Paradise for a complete opposite affect, and everything in between from Senegal drummers to classic Bollywood to Brazil to a Zydeco tune called Gumbo. Thanks to all the smiling and happiness, and honor to it all, including ancestors who have gone before us (Phillip Phillips helped with this one through Gone, Gone, Gone).

Happy Birthday to R who loves to dance with us and celebrated by being on the dance floor today (we played a special request for her).

Finally, thanks to facilitator Grace’s mom Betsy for coming. She’s still got it on the dance floor, turning 80 this year. Lucky, lucky us.

October 22nd – fabulous dance (for my dad)

My dad would have been 87 years old today.

I sure would have loved him to live this long. He was kind, gentle, loving, a professor at the University of Washington….and I think of him with great appreciation every October 22nd.

How sweet to have his birthday fall on the day of dance!

Long ago, my father returned from a trip to his homeland (the Texas panhandle, surprisingly). He said in his rental car, the radio played the most delightful song. “Don’t worry, be happy!”

Of course, we included Bobby McFerron’s happy song today on the dance floor. My father died 25 years ago. But I was lucky to have such an open-minded, learned and welcoming father.

Thanks dad, and thanks to all the fabulous dancers who came to dance with us today.

We always end every dance with a circle-up for about 10 minutes only, and everyone gets to express an appreciation for anything they want.

I had so much I felt appreciative for….but dad, today you were with me.

Much love, Grace

Summer Weather Means….DANCING!

So excited for today’s awesome setlist with such variety–the F2D2 way!

We’ve got something for everyone, and something from several different decades and amazing places all over the world.

A few anchoring favorites, a few brand new, and everything in between.

See you soon at Northgate Community Center!

Check out this beautiful artist we just became aware of. He’s in the set list this morning: