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[Professor Penvellyn]

One again, Eleanor had placed all of the tables along the walls of the Great Hall and set up her little self-sufficient instrumentation for the dance club. The best thing about magical instruments was that they tuned themselves. She oversaw that they were ready, and then opened the doors to the Hall for the students to amble in. Many had been waiting outside and swiftly came in and began moving to the usual places in the circle.

“Not today, I’m afraid. Will all the ladies will please line up on my left and all the gentlemen do the same on my right, facing one another please.” With any luck they would realize they were partnering off. She didn’t want to say as much though, simply for not wanting anyone to feel left out.

The numbers of participants had dwindled a bit toward the end of the term. Eleanor hoped that some time with parents that encouraged such upright behavior as learning to dance would be influential in student’s decision to return to lessons. She did, after all, have an announcement for the end of the club lesson. But, she reminded herself, it had to wait until the end.

“Now, I’m sure you all practiced very hard over the holiday so a review isn’t at all necessary.” They had all, well, most of them at any rate, had mastered the basics of walking in time and maintaining the correct posture. She had decided to hold off on the waltz, one of the more complicated dances because you were with your partner at all times, and opted to continue the basics until the break.

“Today you shall be learning the basic movements of Contredanse. Your objective is to come together with, dance, and come apart from the person across from you, and occasionally the person to their left or right, in time.” She gave them all a moment to wave and introduce themselves to the person they would be partnered with.

[James Mallory]

Orion walked into the great hall, rather feeling that he was part of a herd of cattle who had come in thinking it was time for milking only to be diverted to the slaughter house. He was actually quite good at dancing, he could remember most of the steps and rarely trod on his partner's toes. Yet there was something about Hogwarts dance lessons that made them rather terrifying and their results deeply depressing. The Slytherin was inclined to blame the presence of so many uncouth blundering incompetents.

Orion wasn't in Slytherin for nothing, and his strong sense of self-preservation indicated that he should be careful about where he stood in the line of boys. He carefully shuffled past some of his fellows, and allowed others to move past him until he found himself opposite a number of girls who were around his own age, of a sensible height and not known for wildness or flattening their dance partners.

[Meghan Morris]

Dancing, it was torture in Meghan's eyes. If it were not for her mother's insistence she would not be here. Instead she could be lazing around the Gryffindor Common Room,  but no Mother pulled the guilt trip. Meghan could hear her now, 'When I was young I would have loved the chance to dance, but alas Grandfather could not afford it. I'm sure he'd be happy to see you have the opportunity.' Meghan grumbled to herself as she entered the Great Hall.  

Meghan greeted some colleagues, and listened as the Professor gave out instructions. Following them, Meghan went to the Professor's left as well as the other girls. All of a sudden, as if lightning had struck, Meghan came to a sudden realization. The Professor meant to partner them! The horror!

Meghan could deal with embarrassing herself in public, but when it was two on two she found herself lacking that "Gryffindor courage." Taking in a deep breath she crossed the room and waved hello to the boy that would be her partner.

"Hello I am Meghan, I will apologize in advance for any sore toes." Meghan softly smiled so as not to look so terribly nervous.

[Alistair Bauldaugh]

Alistair had accidentally showed up outside the Great Hall fifteen minutes early. As a result, he introduced himself to a few of the younger girls that seemed outwardly as eager as he did on the inside. He didn’t have the nerve to talk to any of the older students, even though there were only a few around him. Instead he listened to the stories the girls told about their parents helping them and one unpleasant Slytherin complained that Penvellyn wasn’t teaching them anything worthwhile yet.

As soon as Alistair opened his mouth to defend his Head of House, the doors to the Hall opened and everyone started streaming in. He decided silently that the girl was actually probably having other problems with dancing, or that she was being forced to attend against her will by relatives. There could have been other things, but Alistair was focusing on lining up. He tried to get across from a girl that was shorter than him, but then she was pushed down and he was across from a seventh year. To save himself, he stepped out of line and down until he found that girl again.

“Hello, I’m Alistair.” He smiled broadly at the girl. She introduced herself as Katherine and smiled politely in return. They both glanced up at Penvellyn, not sure what else to say. From what had been let on, most of the discussion was meant to be done while dancing, not before. That was why it was called a social dance, right?

{Katherine is an NPC}

[Alexander Sowerby]

Alexander traipsed into the hall, he felt that he had been forced into the Dance Club by his sister and cousin who were adamant about him meeting more of his fellow students, not trying to shut himself up in the library and to make some lasting friendships. He knew that they had a fair point. Alexander had met a few individuals throughout the first year and upper years, but apart from Laura and Meghan (although that was often perchance) he didn't often involve himself with anyone else.

He saw a group of Slytherin girls he absolutely detested from the third year who were seemingly trying to get his attention to come over to him. They were the annoying types, often brushing his hair when he didn't want it to be brushed and fawning over him. Alexander saw Alistair talking to a girl he didn't recognise, Meghan was talking to some boy that had his back to him.

Passing by Alistair he muttered "Hello" not meaning to take him away from a conversation he was having.

[Professor Penvellyn]

“Excellent, eyes toward me, please.” Some students had enthusiastically greeted their partners and friends while others shied away and made no outward sign that they intended to speak to another person, let alone dance with them. “Your first responsibility is to either offer or respond to an offer to dance. Of course, it is very rude to decline a dance once you’ve made it to the dance floor, this is mainly tradition.” Oh the intricacies of dance and social grace. “Gentlemen, please bow to the lady across from you. This is your way of acknowledging her as your partner. Girls, you shall curtsy in response. ”

Eleanor delicately bit the inside the corners of her mouth to keep from smiling. When they had gone over these particular customs in great detail some weeks ago, only after more than a handful appeared to have been brought up by monkeys that didn’t deem the gender-based actions of being necessary to a child’s education, it had been a jolly lesson full of fun mishaps. Now though, she critiqued the boys that looked down the line and smirked at one another. “Keep your eyes forward, and don’t bend too low!” she admonished. There were also several girls that dipped their knee and then bowed their head. “Ladies, it is a fluid movement, you’re a graceful swan about to move expertly about the floor.” She expected sheer laziness was behind the actions rather than an inability to perform the acts well.

“At the beginning of a Contredanse, a caller shall be identified. That is myself. I will instruct you throughout the dance, generally based upon the music or level of difficulty, as to which moves you are expected to perform next. Some such moves will cause you to rotate, spin, or swap partners.” She paused for just a moment to allow the daydreams to flitter through the minds of the students lined up before her. “A set of eight counts in the music is called a figure. We shall begin by learning three figures. I’ll explain them, and then we shall put them to music and see how well you do.” Thankfully, it was nearly impossible to get the footing wrong in this type of dance.

“Now then, your first eight counts is getting to your partner. There is no specified step length, but you must move on the beat and not get there too early. Take a moment to gauge the distance between you and half way between you and your partner, as that is where you will meet. Next, you shall place your right hands together and walk clockwise facing one another. It should take eight steps to make it back to your starting position. Finally, you shall take eight steps to back away to where you are standing now.” Right, no possible chance they could do it wrong. Eleanor raised her wand and the instruments started a nice, slow melody. “Find the beat, and begin when you’re ready. Ladies, follow the gentlemen, they must lead you into every move.”

[Alexander Sowerby]

Listening as Professor Penvellyn set them instruction, Alexander quickly glanced at a gaggle of girls that were standing near him, catching the eye of a particularly short pretty ginger second year girl from Hufflepuff he had seen at the Quidditch practice. Alexander bowed to her who curtsied rather embarrassed in return. She seemed shy and turned a dull pink when he introduced himself.

"Alexander," he said. The Hufflepuff second year smiled and blushed just as much as before replying "I'm Caitlyn".

They separated and stood on opposite sides of another and as Professor Penvellyn waved her wand, a melody seemed to come from nowhere and they set off at slowly trying to do as the Professor had instructed. It was a bit awkward since the Professor should have ensured they knew by showing them the moves.

Alexander none the less struggled through it and apart from bumping into a Slytherin boy from his year, as there was a lot of bumping and accidental hitting as they made their way to join each their partners in the middle he felt rather confident. Of course, it wasn't just the bumping, Alexander and Caitlyn tried hard to walk to the tune of the music but on a few occasions the girl did step on his toes with a lack of grace, biting his teeth and trying to not show any discomfort Alexander smiled and kept going through the paces, hoping above all that the Professor would put an end to this or at least ensure that they were doing it right for it seemed that everyone had their own idea of how they should dance.

Edited by Alexander Sowerby, 26 December 2011 - 04:34 PM.

[Daniella Cruz]

Daniella didn't particularly need dancing lessons, she had been taught, but she was going to the club anyway. For one thing, it was a good way to weed out those who obviously had no training, no manners, and who were probably poor. For another, it was a way to get in Penvellyn's good books, she might be Head of Hufflepuff, eugh, but she was a professor. Also, even if she wouldn't admit it, Dani rather enjoyed dancing. It was too girly for her normal tastes, too proper, but really, it was fun.

Her usual partner was a Slytherin boy a year older than her, Jonathan. He and Dani had known each other growing up, his mother was friends with hers and they got along fairly well, which was to say, Dani didn't loathe him. Really dancing would be better if you could do it without a partner, but as that was impossible she would take the next best thing. At least she knew she wasn't holding hands with a Mudblood.

They found each other and Dani curtsied as he bowed, hiding a smirk as she watched some of her more inept classmates attempt it. Certainly they had improved some, but that wasn't really saying very much.

The two came together, took the steps, retreated, moving mostly in time to the beat. Once or twice they slipped up, but quick footwork brought them back together. Of course Jonathan was supposed to lead but they were rather engaged in a battle of the wills as Dani silently tried to take it from him and he tried to keep it.

[Professor Penvellyn]

The dance didn’t completely escape most of the students, however it was almost immediately apparent that Eleanor had used too many words and not enough show to get her meaning across. They’re indefinitely better than those French girls she reminded herself before she became testy. It was a truth though; those girls did nothing but titter to one another or demand to be taught only figures that set them close to their partner. Repressing a shudder, Eleanor waited for everyone to finish and return to their starting positions before making any remarks.

With a nearly imperceptible flick of her wrist, the music had dimmed and fallen silent. “A valiant first attempt. I daresay if I had you go again, several things would improve right away. However, I do believe an example would serve everyone best.” It was times like these when Eleanor desperately wished she had someone else with some semblance of experience to assist her in these lessons. She would have to talk to Professor Hart.

“Mr. Valdez, Miss Hainsworth, would you please come forward.” The sixth year Gryffindors had performed the steps with such a flawless manner that she could find nothing say to improve their technique. "Would you mind demonstrating?” It was not so much a question as a suggestion, which the two took in stride. The boy bowed and the lady curtsies, and in 24 measured steps, even despite the lack of music, the couple had come together, walked a perfect circle, and returned. “Excellent. Five points to the both of you,” she encouraged as they returned to their placed.

“Now that you have all seen an example, I would like each of the ladies to take a step to the left and each of the gentlemen to take a step to the right.” There was quick shuffling, and the boy and girl on the end everyone was stepping to had to scamper to the other end. “You will now attempt again.” She started up the music again. “Gentlemen, bow…”

[Veris Roseblood]

Throughout the year, Veris's dancing skills had improved...atleast a little. She could now manage to sway back and forth without stepping on toes of her partner. That was an improvement, correct? The Slytherin ran a hand through her hair. Right. It was an improvement. It had to be...atleast, that was what Veris kept telling herself. The Slytherin stood alone on the girl's side of the hall, her hands held firmly behind her back. Her gaze faced upward, toward the rafters. Why couldn't they just stay in their circles? Circles were far more accepting then facing the male that stood across from her...whoever he was. Veris's gaze flickered down from the ceiling as Penvellyn began speaking. The danced didn't seem that bad. Eight counts this way, eight counts that way. She could manage.

The music started, and Veris stepped across the floor toward her partner. The boy was a blonde Gryffindor. A first year by the looks of it. He bowed. She curtsied. However, when they faced each other upright once more, Veris blinked "Thor?" she asked quietly.

"'Ello, Verity."the boy responded slowly in a whisper. A smile tugged at his lips. Veris scowled. of course, she had to get stuck with her good for nothing cousin to dance with. And not even the good cousin. No, it was the one that couldn't even remember her name. They came together and took the steps. It was then Veris became thankful for Thor's prescence. He had some knowledge in the dance in seemed. And while she stumbled her way through it, he was graceful. They retreated from each other in time, and the music dimmed. Veris watched as the Professor called upon an elder duo to helper her demonstrate. Veris frowned. There was no possible way she could ever be that good. And if that was what Professor Penvellyn expected, well, her head was full of malarky.

Veris took a quick step to the left when she was instructed to. The music started up once more, and she found herself preforming another curtsy. Veris smiled as she danced. It wasn't that horrid, the Contredanse. All she needed was some more practice.

[Alistair Bauldaugh]

As usual, Alistair was a little slow, and was a step behind by the time the realization that music was playing hit him. He took an extra-large step to put him in line with his fellow boys and began walking around in the small circle. He didn’t know how much pressure to but on Katherine’s hand, but she was at ease with the situation.

“You seem to know what you’re doing,” he commented as the stepped back from one another. Katherine opened her mouth to respond, but the professor had called on a few older students to perform a demonstration.  Somehow their feet were quicker and more confident than his own had been. Alistair tried to note everything about the Gryffindor boy, and was delighted that Penvellyn instructed them to try again.

Prepared for the next attempt, Alistair bowed politely and took the first figure in stride, though he overshot the first six steps and was forced to take two small ones to make sure he didn’t invade Katherine’s half of the move. “Thank you, for the compliment,” she said as they walked around. “I’ve had some instruction when away from school.” She said no more as they backed into their spots.

[Daniella Cruz]

Dani and Jonathan exchanged a glance when Penvellyn stopped them. She was always doing it and while Dani had no doubt most of her classmates needed the extra help, she did not. At least that was what she told herself.

She snorted softly. An example. She didn't need an example. She was doing just fine. She could listen to instructions and follow them, thank you very much! It wasn't her fault that apparently the rest of the students couldn't manage that! No wonder everyone had such horrid grades in this school! And if that was coming from Daniella you knew it was bad.

As the Gryffindor duo went up, they exchanged another glance. When they even got house points for the stupid demonstration, Dani gritted her teeth. She loved the point system, she was absolutely determined to help Slytherin win and it chafed her hide to see stupid Gryffindors get points for something she was already doing.

"We'll outdo them," she muttered to Jonathan. He nodded and bowed. Dani curtsied again and with determination written all over her face, they began again.