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 |
| COVID-19: | Vaccinations required, masks optional |
| 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 |
BollyFusion Dance
What is BollyFusion Dance?
The Hindi-language film industry based in Mumbai, India is the root of Bollywood dance, which is a blend of all Indian dance styles, in addition to forms of dance from around the world. These various dance styles could be traditional or classical, and they could include more modern forms of dances. BollyFusion is Ranjani’s interpretation and synthesis of dance moves and choreography that is influenced by the plethora of ideas from around the world.
What to Expect
In every BollyFusion dance class, we start and end with a salutation to the vibrations and foundations that merge to create the floor, music and atmosphere in which we move with focused attention. A brief warm-up follows, after which dancers typically start in a formation like diagonal or straight lines to learn and repeat sequences of movements, and then move into choreographed formations. The dances are fast-paced and involve the constant movement of feet and hands, as well as the hips and head. Drills are incorporated to solidify movements and sequences, and class ends with a cool-down. The selection of music is usually a popular modern Bollywood song, an American hit, or a blend of both. By the end of the class, dancers will have mastered a choreographed BollyFusion dance sequence. Performance opportunities are available several times a year, and we prepare dances and costumes for those events throughout the year.
| Event: | Dance Class |
| Type: | Open-Level BollyFusion Dance |
| When: | Wednesdays, 5:45 to 6:45 PM |
| Who: | Adults & Teens |
| Registration: | Register online & sign class waiver |
| Cost: | $10-$15 sliding scale – cash/check/Zelle/PayPal/Venmo |
| COVID-19: | Vaccination + booster required; masks optional |
Brazilian Beats
Old and new, Brazilian Beats takes you on a rhythmic journey through different kinds of Brazilian music genres, dynamic dance moves, and brings you more body awareness and endless fun! Incorporating elements of funk, samba, axé, tecno brega, forró, among other Latin American sounds, Kris developed his own style of dance, focusing on dynamic leg movement and bringing sass and sensuality through hip and bunda movements. The classes balance movement improv and choreography.
| Event: | Dance Class |
| Type: | Brazilian Fitness Dance |
| When: | Class suspended while Kris travels abroad. Back Thursday, March 16, 2023, 5:00-6:00 PM |
| Who: | Anyone above 15. Under 15 must be accompanied by an adult. |
| Registration: | Not required |
| Cost: | $15 drop-in or $50 for a 4-class-deal |
| COVID-19: | Vaccination + booster required |
Kris Barz
Instructor
Quetzalcoatl Aztec Dance Fusion
This local dance group has been performing in Fort Collins for the past 20 years. They perform traditional folklórico dances from Mexico, along with Latin and tropical rhythms. The instructor, Joaquin Rivalcoba-Jimenez, attended the National School of Dance (INBA) in Mexico City and has been performing since he was five years old.
Our world is a mix of many ethnic background and cultures—a world where each and every one of us can immerse ourselves into these offerings as culture and tradition. Quetzalcoatl Aztec Dance Fusion is combination of Mexico’s folkloric music and dance—infused with many aspects of today’s Latino music and dance. We are a local dance group, providing dance instruction, spirit, and performance by Joaquin Jimenez.
| Event: | Dance Classes, multiple levels |
| Type: | Mexican Folklórico Dance |
| When: | Multiple sessions |
| Who: | contact instructor |
| Cost: | contact instructor |
Yoga Classes
Victoria Clarke Yoga
Victoria began practicing yoga with her grandmother as a teenager and she has been passionate about it ever since. Victoria received her 1st yoga certification in 2010, and she has continued to study new approaches. She has studied with Tiffany Cruikshank with her Yoga Medicine Program since 2016. This continues to deepen her knowledge of the healing power of yoga. Victoria has taught at several schools, companies, and studios. Through this experience she developed a yoga program focused on gentle vinyasa and yin practice, mindfulness, deep breathing, and connectedness to the inner self to promote physical and emotional healing. She aims to bring students into a space of transformation where one can rebalance body, mind and spirit while reconnecting with nature in her practice.
| Event: | Yoga Classes |
| Type: | Deep Stretch Yoga |
| When: | Deep Stretch: Saturdays @ 10:00-11:00AM |
| Who: | All ages, all levels |
| Registration: | Required. Contact instructor. |
| Cost: | $15 per class |
Victoria Clarke
Instructor
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 |
