English Country Dance Brings Barnes and Noble Author Event to Life

England during the lifetime of  the author Jane Austen (1775-1817) might seem as distant as a dream, but you can experience a sense of her world this weekend by driving a short distance from Tacoma or elsewhere in Western Washington. Come celebrate the romance of the era through an author event featuring a live dance performance by Nonesuch, a Seattle area English Country Dance ensemble.

On Saturday October 22, at 2 p.m., the Barnes and Noble book store at Alderwood Mall in Lynnwood (link has directions) will sponsor a release and signing of "Jane Austen Made Me Do It" which happens to be written by one of Barnes and Noble's own booksellers named Laurel Ann Nattress. With a self-explanatory subtitle of "Original Stories Inspired by Literature's Most Astute Observer of the Human Heart," it sounds intriguing. If you just can't wait, I offer this link so you can order it right now.

Quoting from the Barnes and Noble website, the biographical information for Ms. Nattress reads as follows: "A life-long acolyte of Jane Austen, Laurel Ann Nattress is the author/editor of Austenprose.com, a blog devoted to the oeuvre of her favorite author and the many books and movies that she has inspired. Nattress is a lifetime member of the Jane Austen Society of North America and a regular contributor to the PBS blog Remotely Connected."  

The dance ensemble's Artistic Director Victoria Bestock said, "We are 14 dancers and three musicians who perform English Country Dance. We willl be in costume and have live music and will do about a 20-25 minute performance of dances Jane Austen would have done." Following that performance, the members of Nonesuch will involve the audience in a 40-45 minute lesson, teaching the basics of their specialty through a dance Bestock says is "very easy."

She also mentioned that many people attending the event are planning to come in costume and added, "It will be a leap back into an era we've all read about." Why not take the leap? You can return home with a new interest and a great new book to read.

For more information on English Country Dance and other folk dance events in the Pacific Northwest, please follow this link: http://seattledance.org/english/   Prepare to be swept away into refinement and romance through literature, music, and motion.