If you’ve never seen French dancing, you’re in for a big surprise, says the organizer of a French and French-Canadian community dance, scheduled for Sunday, March 15 at the Pownal Town Hall.
Noveau Chapeau will provide the music and Marie Wendt will give lessons in French dance during a wide-ranging evening of activities, which begins at 4:30. A family dance, accompanied by Noveau Chapeau, runs from then until 6. There’s a break for a potluck supper, and from 7 to 8 Wendt will conduct a French dance workshop.
“All dances will be taught,” Wendt said. “No partners are needed.”
The evening concludes with an evening of dances from around the world.
“I’m going to teach everything step by step,” said Wendt, a Pownal resident. “If people have not seen international French dancing, they are going to see something that will surprise them.”
The suggested donation for the family dance is $3 per person; for the whole evening it’s $8 for adults, $3 for children and $15 for families. It’s free for people attending the Pownal/Portland International Folk Dancers for the first time, though donations are accepted.
Wendt said there is great variety to French dance, and a “subtle energy” is involved. She especially likes the bourrees, which are done in quick double time.
“It’s an entity unto itself,” she said.
French partner dancing is different, Wendt said.
“In many of them you never touch the partner,” she said. “It’s all about eye contact.”
Wendt’s husband, Steve Gruverman, plays clarinet in Nouveau Chapeau, which specializes in French folk music.
Wendt is hoping the French dance event will attract people from Pownal and beyond.
“It’s not a town event, but a community event,” she said. “It will be a great ‘cabin fever reliever.’”
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