Dancing is the ultimate interactive learning experience. While history museums are filled with things visitors can look at, but not touch, there are no barriers to learning how our forefathers and mothers danced in 1776. Or 1800. Or 1861. Or 1900. The dances change, but the joy that comes from doing historical dances in their historical contexts is a constant.

I am a dance mistress who teaches children and adults a wide variety of dances at festivals for short sessions as well as full ball programs for an evening's gala. I also teach the teachers at workshops that allow docents to go home and teach their own colleagues and visitors era-appropriate dances.

As a sidebar to dancing, manners - how to bow/courtesy - and clothing - what ARE all these garments women were wearing in 1875? Have become an integral part of the educational experiences I provide.