For the last few years I have traveled to Omaha, NE to attend a Fezziwig Ball sponsored by the Old Dominion Dance group based in Omaha, NE. While it occurs outside of the “spatial” boundaries of Siouxland it is a fun event to watch and even more so for those participating in the dancing that occurred during the Charles Dicken’s story “A Christmas Carol” as Ebenezer Scrooge’s life is viewed by various ghostly visitors helping him find a change of heart during the Christmas season.
Most people attending dress in period outfits and it’s a family friendly dance that with a few instructions are easy to learn, although it never appears that way. It’s tough when one has trouble knowing left from right and clockwise and counterclockwise. And from the attendance it is a very popular event that keeps growing year to year.
This year I only photographed and didn’t film any video. Sometimes it is difficult to do both and be successful. Previously because of work or weather conditions I haven’t always been able to attend. But it’s nice to hang out with folk that just enjoy the holiday and the lesson of Dicken’s story and setting aside anything else for a couple of hours. Life then as now, is never simple, sometimes it just seems so in retrospect. But taking a time out is not a bad thing.
It’s always fun to encounter something new and this Christmas season I came upon a group that celebrates Christmas through bringing to life Charles Dickens’ novel, “A Christmas Carol”. The Old Dominion Dance group enjoys the holidays be reliving the past. The group’s founder, Emily Mayes, said the group;s Fezziwig Ball held at Lauritzen Gardens is a chance for people who enjoy dance and a family night out to come participate and dance and participate in a Dickens’ Christmas party.
The dance group focuses mainly on English country dances and takes some time to teach the simple dance steps (it’s very much like attending an American square dance get-together) and then participate. The group later performs short skits based on Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol”. The ball itself is based on Ebenezer Scrooge’s visit from the Ghost of Christmas’ past. It was fun watching people socialize and participate in an event that celebrates kindness, friendship and the spirit of Christmas. Something one might think is in short supply these days.
I live in the Siouxland area that encompasses a wide swatch of land in northwest Iowa, northeastern Nebraska and southeastern South Dakota. The people that inhabit this area are generous folk and your basic honest, Midwestern people you like to have as neighbors. I explore the area and share observations, mostly photographic, sometimes through video, and and short text. All images and video are copyrighted material of the author.
Jerry Mennenga, Sioux City, Iowa
jerrylmennenga@yahoo.com
lostinsiouxland 