December 17, 2011

Hello Everyone,

Attached is the latest issue of Civil War Dance News. Please forward this news to anyone who might be interested. (If you receive our newsletter from a friend and would like to be placed on our distribution list, email CivilWarDance@verizon.net).

The last few weeks have been very hectic but a lot of fun. We had events in Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia and Washington, D.C., including conducting four balls.

Dancing for Preservation

The 18th Annual National Civil War Ball on Remembrance Day in Gettysburg was a great success. This is a very special event for all of us. It is the oldest, biggest and best ball in Gettysburg. It brings together hundreds of friends and it raises money for preservation at Gettysburg National Military Park. The total is now over $68,000! Special thanks to all of you who supported this preservation effort.

We have two additional major fundraising balls coming up in the next few months. On February 25, we will lead the dancing at the 2nd Annual George Washington Ball in Winchester, Va. This ball benefits the Old Court House Museum. On March 24, we will host the 9th Annual Civil War Preservation Ball in the rotunda of the Pennsylvania Capitol Building in Harrisburg, Pa. This ball raises money for the Gettysburg Monument Project Endowment Trust Fund. We hope to see all of you who support preservation at one or both of these balls!

Throughout the year, we present many programs for which we are paid. No one in our group, however, is paid for their services. All of the money goes into the CWDF treasury and each year we present donations to worthy preservation efforts. This year, we donated $4,000. The Civil War Trust, Central Virginia Battlefields Trust, Lincoln Home National Historic Site, and National Museum of Civil War Medicine each received one thousand dollars.

We encourage everyone to support events that make a substantial contribution to preservation.

FREE Civil War Dance Classes will be offered at the National Civil War Museum in Harrisburg, Pa., 2:00-4:00PM, Sundays, January 15, February 19, and March 4, 2012. Email us to register.

Dancers Needed – In the last year, we presented 49 programs (including dance demonstrations, balls, informal dances, artifact displays, clothing try-on, fashion shows, etc.) in six states. Unfortunately, we had to turn down a few program offers because of conflicting dates and lack of dancers. If you would like to become a part of the CWDF and join us in dancing at some of the most prestigious events in the nation, having fun in a friendly group, educating the public and supporting preservation, email us for information.

Dance Manual - We have a free PDF Civil War Dance Manual that we can email to you. We originally developed this manual for the Civil War Trust’s Teacher Institute.

It provides basic instruction in several easy formation dances and has links to online videos and period dance manuals. Email us for a free copy.

Event Sponsors - If you would like to book us for a demonstration or a ball, please contact us as early as possible. With the announcement of the Civil War Trust Award, we have started to receive even more inquiries. We are already booking into 2014 (1864 in Civil War terms). Email us for a “Sponsor Booklet” that explains our programs and services.

EMAIL US AT CivilWarDance@verizon.net.
VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT www.CivilWarDance.org.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!