To be fully absorbed in the dance is to let go of everything that occupies our mind’s business. Returning to the stillness of our inner self. Our natural state of being. Barbara Driscoll
DANCE HISTORY. For me dancing is an expression of who I am. It is my joy and my passion. I have always danced. I studied Ballet from the age of 3 until 11. Then took up Ballroom and Latin American dancing from 13. I appeared on Come Dancing in 1965 as part of a Ballroom formation team and with Mike (now my husband) we did competitions nationally. Later we learnt Scottish Country Dancing and Salsa and then in January 2002 I found Circle Dancing.
CIRCLE DANCE. Like many people I knew that very first evening that I had found something really special and that Circle Dancing would become a major part of my life. I also knew that this was something I wanted to teach and share with others. I immediately enlisted on Judy King’s teacher training course and the following year I introduced Circle Dancing to a Spiritual/Meditation group in the New Forest. Then in 2004 I took over the Southampton Circle Dance group when Editha retired. In 2007 I started a new local group in Ashurst, New Forest and I also shared a group in Winchester. I am very grateful that Mike shares my passion for dancing and supports my teaching. Together we have dance holidays and I attend workshops with as many different teachers as I can.
CHOREOGRAPHY. As part of Judy’s teacher training we had a session on dance choreography lead by Mandy de Winter. I thought it would be fun to make a new dance to take along. An Irish Tipple was my first choreography, which is now known and loved all over the circle dance world. Developing this new career, I now have a wide variety of my own dances – drawing from my knowledge of Ballet, Ballroom and Latin dance steps and styles, as well as the traditional Greek, Balkan and Russian I have learnt. I am delighted to have been invited to teach my dances in workshops all over the UK and amazingly in Belgium, Italy, Canada, USA, Mexico and Brazil, as well as leading dance holidays in Croatia, Morocco and Italy. I would like to thank Judy King and Mandy de Winter and also Stefan and Bethan Freedman for making my dances known and all their encouragement and promotion of my teaching and workshops here and abroad.
Circle Dance has been an amazing, challenging and enriching journey for me. Bringing such joy and fulfilment into my life and friendships all over the world. My love and gratitude to all who have danced with me.
I am part of the Circle
I am part of the Music
I am part of the Dance
I am part of the Earth
I am part of the Universe
I am wholly Myself
Barbara Driscoll