Dance

Gillian Beck, President of Dancing Waters, has been a dance leader, teacher, educator, instructor, or 'caller,' since October 2007. She teaches dances of the Anglo-Celtic tradition, from the Middle Ages through to the end of the 19th century.

Ms. Beck has been fortunate to call dances for a variety of groups, and in a variety of places, from weekly dance classes to special events such as the opening of an exhibit at the Edison Institute in Fort Myers, Fl, and the Jane Austen Society of North America festival in Mount Dora, Fl.

Gillian runs local community dance events that are intergenerational and family friendly. We generally dance to recorded music, but occassionally have the pleasure of dancing to live music.

Gillian teaches English Folk and Country dances, English Regency era dances, Scottish ceilidhs, Irish set and ceili dances, American contra dances, American Civil war era dances, barn dances and hoedowns.

Gillian frequently donates her time and services as a caller for fundraising efforts by civic and professional organizations.

Please contact us if you are interested in hosting a dance event for your family, organization, or community. 

Credits:

2021-2026

I called the annual Lincoln's Birthday Ball in Sarasota in 2023 and 2024, but mainly regrouped from Covid era and concentrated on my engineering career. 

2014 - 2021

I planned the program and lead the dances for weekly dance classes in Venice, Nokomis, and Punta Gorda Fl. I also held occasional Irish céilís at The Beat Goes On, in Englewood,  

I was the caller for the Ball at the Jane Austen Festival held in Mount Dora, Florida, February 2020 and 2021.

In September 2019, I held a Regency dance workshop for the West Coast Florida chapter of the Jane Austen Society of North America, in Clearwater.

2007-2013

As the dance leader for the free weekly Tuesday night dance class at Wa-Ke Hatchee recreation center, I had sole responsibility for programing, marketing, leading and teaching.

I planned and organized three dance weekends under the title of Shell We Dance? in Ft. Myers, Fl. In 2008 we were fortunate to have Nicolas and Nell Broadbridge lead, and play, for us. In 2009 our caller was Dr. Orly Krasner, the celebrated caller, composer, choreographer, musicologist and author. In 2013 our stage was graced with the presence of Brian Johnson and Glen & Judi Morningstar, recipients of the Country Dance and Song Society Lifetime Contribution Award.

In September 2009, I planned and organized a community contra dance for the opening day of the “Music, Movies & Dance with Edison & Ford,” exhibit at the Edison & Ford Winter Estates, Fort Myers, Fl. Organization and programming included choosing appropriate dances for, and then teaching the dances to, students of the local ballet school, Bochette, for a set-piece demonstration, and being interviewed live by Amy Tardiff of WGCU, the local NPR station.

In January 2009, I planned and organized a community contra dance for the F.I.S.H. fundraiser, at the Sanibel Community Church, Sanibel Island, Fl.

I have taught and led dance classes for groups as diverse as the Classical Academy of Naples and the Ruth Cooper Center, Ft. Myers; groups varying in size from 6 people to 200, at the Red Barn series, and ECHO; given presentations to the Southwest Florida Music Teachers Association, called at private parties, medieval faires and bluegrass events, and passed the federal background check which enabled me to teach at the Collier County Juvenile Detention Center.