Revision [27729]
This is an old revision of OllieDancing made by KateMagner on 2013-02-05 12:01:12.
It's a deliriously hot September afternoon, and even Lizzie can't deny that it's far too hot to stay indoors. She lets the kids go an hour early from afternoon lessons, and everyone agrees that swimming is just the thing to beat the heat. All who are interested head down to the swimming hole, and spend the rest of the afternoon chilling out in the water.
<#kate: During the swim, bruises on Ella's right bicep are evident and look a little like the grip of fingers. Ollie notices and his attention draws Ella to the injury. She shrugs, seeming to play it off as no big thing. "French," she says dismissively and dives under the water.
#>
On the way back, Ollie and Ella get to talking. "So what's out there worth getting beat for?" Ollie asks. Ella gives an enthusiastic recount of her escapades of <#kate: last Saturday #> night, including the details of a new dance which everyone's doing at one of the clubs; an energetic dance with a lot of bouncing and jumping around. <#kate: She demonstrates a few twirls and steps during their damp trek back through the humid early evening.#> Ollie seems intrigued, and he explains that when Ella had talked about music and dancing, he had always pictured "gross stuff" like waltzes and slow dances. "But this kind of dancing sounds fun!" He asks Ella to teach him some, and she agrees.
<#kate: On that Friday night,#> Ella and Ollie sneak out to an alleyway behind a club that she knows about, and Ella takes him through the basic steps of (Kate, insert appropriately wiggly period dance here?). They dance for hours, and then manage to sneak back home without being spotted, exhausted and happy. Chores are a lot slower than usual the next day. <#kate: Ella, however, seems to have the energy by evening and sneaks out again on the same mission, welcoming Ollie to join her,#><#jonah: which he does. #> <#kate: She takes him to a different place this time, with a different type of dancing and genre of music (which Kate doesn't recall atm) to show him the variety out there. They have a similarly fun time in the alley, dancing and then sneaking back in time for a little sleep before Church the next day. #>
<#kate: On Monday night,#> they go up to the bell tower and dance a bit up there, with Cole and Jeanne providing the music. Ella sees Celeste watching with enthusiasm, and pulls her into the dance as well. <#kate: She gets everyone who's there to dance to reels and other swing style dances where everyone is swirling about, changing partners and getting dizzy with the fun. Ella sings to the songs that Cole and Jeanne don't know, but they quickly pick up the tune and are able to add their accompaniment to the dances they aren't dragged into. #> Everyone gets fairly happy and silly, and they all sleep quite soundly that night.
From then on, there are frequent spontaneous dancing events in the bell tower, and elsewhere, as Ella, Ollie, <#jonah: and others #> practice their moves. Ella, being far more devoted to the craft, is always doing the teaching, and Ollie is among the happy and willing pupils. From time to time Ollie will come with her on her night errands.
<#kate: Just an FYI about Ella: She doesn't sneak out every night, but typically on the nights that are going to be the most festive: Fridays, Saturdays and occasionally on Sunday. #>
<#kate: Jonah: I remember this coming up in the chat as a way for them to bond. The date is totally arbitrary. I'm not sure what would precipitate the dance "lesson", maybe a birthday or a party at the hotel? In other words, I just stuck it in here so it can be mucked with as needed. #>
<#bill: I don't know where this takes place (room or tower (if big enough) garden or hotel or out somewhere)but Cole would be happy to provide music for the dancing if asked. If you're dancing in front of him he'd probably just do it without being asked...if you're going out to dance (which I'm thinking no, based on the date) he would love to be in on the sneaking out. #>
<#kate: I could see both. 1. If they snuck out to someplace that has music (something Ella typically does anyway), they could dance in the alleyway as I don't think they'd be allowed inside. 2. I think Jeanne and Cole are the only people with an instrument available in the room/tower, so if either start playing a tune you can dance to, Ella might just start bopping, Ollie style, and that can lead to something more? or maybe someone has an option 3? #>
<#court: To clarify, Jeanne only has an instrument when she can smuggle the laundry washboard places. =) And it's more percussion, so could be danced to, but probably better when played together with other music! Jeanne will sing to it on occasion, and has no problem sneaking it at night, but probably can't during the day. #>
<#kate: and if anyone else has thoughts... #>
<#ann: Celeste is a willing audience and whistles for them, encouraging them. If someone grabs her hand she'll try to join in, though I don't think she's particularly good at dancing. #>
<#kate: Not sure how you all would react to the part above that's more a story version. Does Cole (or anyone else) come sneaking out with Ella that Friday/Saturday/Sunday? Does anyone say no to the dancing (like Valerie? or Minnie-assuming she's even at the Tower) and is it okay to have Celeste and Jeanne joining the dancing bit? #>
NeedsKelly
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