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In Photos: English Country Dancing In Gainesville

WUFT | By Daniela Prizont-Cado
Published April 18, 2017 at 4:41 PM EDT
Mark and Kevin Shepherd come from Jacksonville every Monday with their families to take part of Gainesville English Country Dance. (Ybik Gaviria/WUFT News)
Mark and Kevin Shepherd come from Jacksonville every Monday with their families to take part of Gainesville English Country Dance. (Ybik Gaviria/WUFT News)

Randy Thorp and his partner, Annette Merritt, started the Gainesville English Country Dance in 2010.

Now, each session attracts between 20 to 50 dancers.

Every Monday from 7 to 9:30 p.m., the main group meets at the United Church of Gainesville on Northwest Fifth Avenue. Beginner lessons start at 6:45 p.m.

The entry cost is a $5 donation.

The theme for the Monday's gathering (shown below) was Easter and spring celebrations.

Mark and Kevin Shepherd come from Jacksonville every Monday with their families to take part of Gainesville English Country Dance. (Ybik Gaviria/WUFT News)
Older brother Kevin Shepherd holds Annette Merrit's hand while younger brother Mark Shepherd (foreground) follows with his partner, Erin Koch. Kevin and Mark Shepherd come from Jacksonville every Monday with their families to take part in Gainesville English Country Dance.

 

Hoggetowne Fancy, a four-piece group with recorders, bouzouki, guitars and percussion, provides live music each week. (Ybik Gaviria/WUFT News)
John Monkus plays the recorder in the four-piece group the Hoggetowne Fancy, made up of Monkus' recorder, a bouzouki, a guitar and percussion instruments. The group provides live music for the dance each week.

 

Couple who has been with Gainesville English Country Dance for over a year dance to Trip to Provence. (Ybik Gaviria/WUFT News)
Susan Schaffer and George Feamster partner for the dance

 

Carol Shepherd (left) dances to Spring in Sebastopol with her partner. The dance has two hand turns and all the beginning moves have nine counts. (Ybik Gaviria/WUFT News)
Carol Shepherd (left) and Nikki Herbst partner for the dance

 

Randy Thorp dances as he calls out the dances. His one rule at the community is to not take the dancing too seriously. (Ybik Gaviria/WUFT News)
Randy Thorp, who co-founded Gainesville English Country Dance in 2010, calls out the dances. His one rule: to not take the dancing too seriously.

 

Each week the names of the dances are written on a big board. The dancers and musicians put stars, smiley faces, etc. next to their favorite dances. The most popular dances will be repeated in future classes. (Ybik Gaviria/WUFT News)
Each week, the names of the dances are written on a big board. The dancers and musicians put stars, smiley faces and a variety of other marks next to their favorite dances, and the most popular ones are repeated in future classes.
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Daniela Prizont-Cado
Daniela is a WUFT reporter who can be contacted via email at daniprica@ufl.edu or Twitter @Dani_Prica.
See stories by Daniela Prizont-Cado