Eynsham Parish Council meetings now have some serious competition for interest on Tuesday evenings. A new line dancing class at the Village Hall is proving to be a real draw for residents, young and old!
Eynsham Line Dance was established in the village in January by Michaela and Jess from Ox Country Line Dancers. They were already teaching classes in Headington and Beckley and felt that our village facilities were ideal for a new class.
“The dance floor is excellent,” Jess says of the Village Hall space, “and the community environment is perfect for making our classes packed full of atmosphere.”
The latter is, she insists, the key to what makes line dancing so popular with people of all ages. “The sense of community it brings is wonderful, and hard to put into words. As teachers, we get so much enjoyment out of others enjoying themselves!”
Jess has been teaching line dance since 1996 and has recently started training her daughter (Michaela) to teach, too. The sessions, each Tuesday evening from 7.30pm-8.30pm, are open to everyone. There is no requirement to come with a partner – “most people come on their own” reassures Jess “and the age range is really wide. We’ve had people from 10 to over 80 years old.”
This style of dancing suits all ages as it provides a gentle, low-impact exercise that is easy to follow once the basic steps have been learnt. In addition to the fun and social aspects, line dancing is great for both mental and physical health, boosting well-being and helping people to make new connections.
“We have seen relationships start at our classes,” Jess confides. “Some people have found lifelong partners and even got married! We did line dancing at their wedding, of course.”
If you’re interested in having a go, drop into a Tuesday class or send an email to oxcountryld@hotmail.com. Every few months, Ox Country Line Dancers host social dance evenings; the next is booked for 18 July. Residents will also be able to try out line dancing during Eynsham Carnival on 4 July; keep an eye out for further details.
Visit the website Ox Country Line Dancers for more details on the classes. You can also follow their Facebook page to keep updated on classes and upcoming events. [Facebook].