We have several patrons renting space at the Empire Grange Hall in Fort Collins, Colorado, who host events that are open to the public or open via RSVP or registration. Always check with the organizer or the group’s contact/web/social to confirm the event hasn’t been cancelled for a particular day. Here is a listing of some of the diverse groups who find their home at the Empire Grange Hall.
Dancing You Can Do
Fort Collins Tuesday Night Folk Dancing
Recreational, International Folk Dancing in Fort Collins, Colorado every Tuesday night. No experience or partner necessary. Old and new dances from cultures far and near shared in a relaxed atmosphere with friendly people. There is no set teaching schedule, but we regularly introduce new dances and review/relearn/remember old dances as different members share their knowledge with the group. If you are new to International Folk Dancing, we will tailor the night’s program to your abilities for the first hour to make your journey through your feet to cultural continents of the world as memorable and unintimidating as it should be!
What is folk dancing? Well, the “folk” of folk dancing would be you and the people of your community. Back in the days before Netflix—and, if you can imagine, before the days of electric light and recorded music—people did not go somewhere “to be entertained;” people created their own entertainment. When people gathered socially to celebrate weddings, births, harvests, or just to “party” on a day of rest, some would play music and others moved their bodies and feet to the rhythms and melodies. Patterns developed, and in each village, people would know the steps that went with that particular music. The dances were simple, and everyone could and did join in. These early cultures did not use their native-language equivalent of the term, “folk dance.” They just called it, “dance.” As music developed with sounds and styles distinct to the local geographic region and peoples, dances followed suit and became an important part of the culture. Just as music from different areas and cultures sounds distinct, folk dances have steps, movements, and patterns that are distinct to a culture and geographic area.
Today, International Folk Dancing describes a movement started in earnest in the 20th century where people participate in or perform dances from all cultures of the world, regardless of the ethnicity of the dancers or the geography of the venue. Hobbyists enjoy International Folk Dancing as a recreational activity with the benefits of physical fitness, social interaction, and exposure to the music and culture of other peoples. Artists perfect the dances and perform them for enjoyment and to expose the public to the traditions of cultures they likely have never seen before. In modern times, choreographers create new dances “in the style of” the traditional cultures, and the repertoires of International Folk Dance groups have expanded well beyond the memory capacities of the dancers. Relearning the old dances is just as exciting as learning the latest one.
Come join us every Tuesday night for a world tour from Canada to Kurdistan, the Balkans to Bolivia, Johannesburg to Japan, and Europe to USA!
| Event: | Open Dance |
| Type: | Recreational International Folk Dancing |
| When: | Tuesdays @ 7:30-9:30PM |
| Who: | Everyone. No experience nor registration required |
| Cost: | $3 donation |
Wild Embodiment Dance Community
Welcome to W.E. Dance, our Wild Embodiment Dance Community where we Cultivate, Integrate, and Elevate all aspects of who we are: through a body based, freeform movement and music meditation practice.
What is Conscious Dance?
Imagine coming into a room where there is ‘full permission’. The music progresses through different rhythms and emotional expressions, while your body stretches, skips, stomps, dances, and sits in full presence. All of this with no formal steps to follow– just a safe, welcoming space to become present and express, in whatever ways you feel called in the moment. That’s conscious dance.
What to Expect
- We gather at 10am beginning with our opening circle setting the stage for our unique time together.
- We dance and move for an hour, freely expressing whatever comes forward.
- We gather in closing circle to share our experience and re-center before greeting the rest of the day.
Power of Music
During the one hour of music, we listen to a wide variety of genres and ‘textures’ inspired by Gabrielle Roth’s Five Rhythms: flowing, staccato, chaos, lyrical, and stillness. This conscious dance musical arc allows us to access a wide range of emotions and physical movement. The music has the power to uplift the sprit, inspire wild expression, empower us with new found strength, rejuvenate the heart, mind, body, and soul, and so much more. These different textures of music are the natural rhythms of heart, rhythms of the body, rhythms of life!
| Event: | Open Dance |
| Type: | Conscious Dance |
| When: | Sundays & Wednesday @ 10:00-12:00PM |
| Who: | Everyone. No experience nor registration required |
| COVID-19: | Vaccinations required, masks optional |
| Cost: | $15 at the door or $40 a month for unlimited dance |
Dance Classes
Bellydance With Hannah
I know the joy of expression and connection through the dynamic language of belly dance, and I strive to open this experience to my amazing students.
~ Much Love, Hannah
- Mixed levels, beginners welcome
- Cabaret style belly dance drills and combinations
- Choreography
| Event: | Dance Class |
| Type: | Open-Level Belly Dance |
| When: | Fridays @ 9:00-10:00AM |
| Who: | Adults & Teens |
| Registration: | Not required |
| Cost: | $10 |
太極拳 T’ai Chi Ch’uan Classes
Beginning T’ai Chi Ch’uan with Hugh Castor
- Learn a short, Yang-style t’ai chi ch’uan in a fun, informative atmosphere with a qualified instructor.
- Discover the health benefits of t’ai chi ch’uan:
- Deep relaxation
- Increased flexibility, strength, balance, and coordination
- Improved energy and focus
- Much more!
- Learn the core principles that make this martial art “The Grand Ultimate,” and find out how they can be used to enhance one’s life.
- Although this class will emphasize t’ai chi ch’uan’s health benefits, occasionally, we will also look at martial applications and practices, such as push hands, in order to realize its deeper aspects.
- Seasonal qigong for health maintenance is included in each class!
About the instructor: Hugh has taught T’ai Chi Ch’uan in colleges, martial art schools, and individual lessons across the U.S. As a long-time student and teacher of T’ai Chi Ch’uan, one of Hugh’s greatest joys is helping others benefit from this wonderful art.
| Event: | Tai Chi Class |
| Type: | Beginning T’ai Chi Ch’uan & Qigong Class |
| When: | Thursdays @ 6:00-7:00PM |
| Who: | Classes are ongoing. Feel free to call with any questions. |
| Cost: | $35/month; $10/drop-in class |
Fort Collins Body Rhythm
Event: Dance
| Event: | Dance |
| When: | Mondays & Wednesdays 8:30am – 9:30am |
| Who: | Everyone. Drop-ins welcome |
| Cost: | $10 |
| Contact Info: |
Fort Collins Body Rhythm is a community of fun-loving and openhearted people with all types of bodies who love to dance. We dance barefoot or in comfortable footwear to a wide variey of music. Our intention is to connect deeply to ourselves and one another through paying attention to our holistic bodies and following their lead. The dance is led with easy-to-follow choreography with a personal expression both within the moves and in freeform dance throughout the hour-long class. The only experience necessary to join a class is the desire to move your body and reap the health benefits of dance and authentic expression.
The dance is led by Brenda Black, who has over 20 years of group dance fitness teaching experience and nearly 4 decades of knowledgeof how bodies work through her practice as a physical therapist.