Librarian shares passion for
English country dancing
By Rina Szwarc

Ellen Riley, the Poway children's librarian, has a not-so-secret passion for English folk dancing.

Just ask the students in the class she teaches every Sunday at the Academy of Dance in Poway.

"If you get into her realm, it's kind of like being sucked into a black hole," said Sue Davis, who works with Riley on library events.

Riley admitted to her penchant for reeling people into learning English country dance, which is a type of elaborate line dance originally started in 16th-century England. So far, she has succeeded in attracting people as far north as Carlsbad and as far south as Chula Vista.

"I proselytize everywhere I go," she said at a break in the class.

Then she whirled away and started teaching the group of about 25 people eagerly waiting to learn how to leap across the line, to gambol in place and to swing with merry abandon.

Riley demonstrated a few steps, swinging hips and arms.

"That is the English in English country dance," she said. "We're not as rigid as the Irish, in that respect."

The dance steps originally started in the English countryside, but were brought to the royal court in the 1600s where lords and ladies stepped to its measured paces. The tradition continued up until the 18th century, where it was a staple at upper-middle class parties.

Take a look at any movie based on work by William Shakespeare or Jane Austen. Chances are a few actors will demonstrate the dance on screen, said Riley.

Her passion is shared by a growing group of people around California. They host two annual balls, one emphasizing costumes from the English Renaissance and one featuring the costumes of Edwardian England.

The dance form which is the granddaddy of American square dancing and Appalachian contra dancing appeals to a broad range of people and on many different 1evels. Riley loves it for the music, which has violins, piano, recorder and flute with a classical theme.

"The music is elegant and flowing," she said. Davis loves it for the costumes, but her husband Mike likes it because it appeals to his engineer's sense of order.

"One person describes this as dancing for engineers because it is very logical," he said. "I found out I was good at it, and this is the most wonderful group of people I've ever met"

The dance also appeals to the young and old, with dancers ranging in age from 11 to 70.

"You see it's worth all of the effort because after it's done, you get the classical feeling," said Bob Fox, 70, of Rancho Bernardo.

Riley class runs from 6 to 9pm on Sundays at the academy, 12227 Poway Road, just east of Sabre Springs.

Call (858) 486-9160 for more information.