Dancing for Fun: Group Dancing for All Ages

By Helena Greathouse and Mark L. Greathouse

Dancing is a universal and primal form of expression, and it is something we can all enjoy. Whats more, its a healthy and fun way to bring more exercise into our lives. Anyone, at any age, can enjoy group dancing, from very young children to senior citizens.

This guide presents a series of original group dances, inspired by both folk and contemporary dances. It focuses on dance as a way for anyone and everyone to engage in movement while having fun and interacting with others. Author Mark L. Greathouse, in collaboration with his wife, Helena, offers original piano compositions and professionally written choreography designed to match the music exactly. To further aid in learning the dances, this teaching tool also provides links to online videos demonstrating each dance and the music to go with it.

Improve your coordination, bring more movement into your life, and have fun with dancing! Dancing for Fun can show you how.

I searched for ideas to help in developing my physical fitness lessons. I was introduced to Dancing for Fun, Book 1. My students and I had a lot of fun. It is a valuable resource. Colleen Thompson, kindergarten teacher, Sherwood School District, Oregon

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Nov 25, 2014
• ISBN: 9781491747513

Helena Greathouse

Mark Greathouse has a master’s degree from Stanford University and has composed more than seventy piano compositions, some of which are used in this book. He and his wife, Helena, a former international judge of rhythmic gymnastics, have created several CDs and perform music regularly in their home city of Portland, Oregon.

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Copyright © 2010, 2014 Mark L. & Helena Greathouse.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

ISBN: 978-1-4917-4750-6 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4917-4751-3 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2014918558

iUniverse rev. date: 11/24/2014

Contents

Preface

Introduction

1. Riverflow

Riverflow Choreography

2. Spring Rain

Spring Rain Choreography

3. Just Gettin’ By

Just Gettin’ By Choreography

4. Soul Song

Soul Song Choreography

5. Rainbow

Rainbow Choreography

6. Fall Calypso

Fall Calypso Choreography

7. Mourek Saunter

Mourek Saunter Choreography

8. Macek Rag

Macek Rag Choreography

9. Awakening

Awakening Choreography

10. Stepping Along

Stepping Along Choreography

11. Waltz in Eb

Waltz in Eb Choreography

12. Scrambling

Scrambling Choreography

Glossary

Conclusion

Links to Dances

We wish to dedicate this book to the following people:

to Mark’s father, Alfred Greathouse, who gave him the gift of music, and

to Marilyn Olson, who inspired us to create this book, edited and recorded the piano score, and gave us invaluable advice throughout.

Preface

We all have the urge to move and dance to music and rhythm. We find ourselves and see others tapping their feet and moving their bodies to rhythms that touch each of us in positive ways. We may not even be aware that our bodies are moving. It’s really magical, when you think about it. This book taps into the universal, primal human desire for expression in the form of dance.

If you want to dance in a group of any size, at any age, you can easily do it using this book. No experience is required. A glossary at the back of the book tells you exactly how to do a particular move.

When we prepared this book, we wanted to make sure that you could learn the dance as easily as possible and have fun at the same time. Now give it a try!

We especially wish to thank:

Angelle Hebert and Phillip Kraft. Angelle created the choreography, and Phillip greatly helped in the creation of both audio and video.

Renee Adams for her professional dancing to each composition for the instructional