Flash Dance in Tower Grove Park
Thursday May 26, 2005 7:00 pm
Ever hear of "flash mobs"? -- They're seemingly spontaneous gatherings that bring people together for a brief period of time. Well, this summer a few musicians and dancers are instigating "flash dances" -- opportunities to waltz in public or semi-public places to live tunes or recorded music. If you like beauty, history, and nature, you'll love the setting for our first Flash Dance of 2005.
Place:
Plan A (see below) is to dance at the Main Bandstand or somewhere near the Main Fountain & Ruins, Lily Pad Ponds, or Piper Palm House (in the red square area below). Other groups may have already reserved some of these spaces in the park and we want to respect their privacy if they're still there. If these locations are unavailable, we'll go to Plan B (also see below) and move our caravan to another location -- in true dance gypsy form. If you don't find us somewhere in the central area look for us in the park's southeast corner (the red circle below). If you can't find us, call 618.444.4975
What makes this place special?
Ever waltz in a beautiful Victorian Park under a bright moon? Tower Grove Park’s (TGP) central gem is a gorgeous bandstand that was designed in 1872 and features an octagonal wooden dance floor. The bandstand is ringed by the busts of six of Henry Shaw’s favorite composers. Near the bandstand are Tower Grove Park’s other main attractions: a large pond with a fountain and ancient ruins, several pools of lily pads with ornamental grasses, and a wonderful patio outside the Piper Palm House.
Established by Henry Shaw in 1868, Tower Grove Park is an elegant 19th century Victorian walking park - the largest in the world outside of England. The 290 acre park features 10 whimsical pavilions, lily ponds, statuary, fountains, and mock classical "ruins." The park has the greatest variety of trees and shrubs than any other urban park in the country. Tower Grove Park is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and has been designated a National Historic Landmark, one of only four municipal parks in the country to achieve that status. It began as a treeless prairie called Prairie des Noyer, but through Henry Shaw's vision and hard work, more than 10,000 trees from across the globe were planted during the park's early years.
Where to park / How to find us:
Tower Grove Park is bordered by Kingshighway, Grand, Arsenal, & Magnolia.
Directions to Tower Grove Park: http://stlouis.missouri.org/parks/tower-grove/Welcome/directions.htm
You can park near the bandstand or the pond. We’ll be in the vicinity of the Bandstand, the main fountain, the lily pad ponds, and the Piper Palm House. All of these are in the center of the park, just east of Tower Grove Ave (which bisects the park) and just south of Magnolia. We’ll dance even if it rains. Since this is a “spontaneous” gathering, we don’t have reservations. We’ll simply yield to any groups that have already reserved these spaces and be on our way.
Detail of map above.
Plan A: Look for us near #1, 15, 16, & 17.
Plan B: Look for us near #18, 5 or 7
Confirm our location that night by calling 618.444.4975.
Alternate locations:
If for some reason our original space is unavailable, our backup locations are:
1. Turkish Pavilion: the large red & white striped pavilion in the center of the Park #18 on Detail Map
2. Stupp Center: An outdoor hexagonal plaza near a beautiful fountain. #5 circled in red on map above. Extreme SE corner of the park. (uncovered, concrete or grass surface)
3. "Sons of Rest" Shelter: #7 circled in red on map above. This very spacious pavilion is near the Stupp Center in the SE corner of the park. (If you're on the park's main road and heading E toward Grand, you'll see a small road on your right just before Grand.)
Recommended Color: Feeling festive? Wear some GREEN to honor Henry Shaw's love of plants.
The original maps are available here: http://stlouis.missouri.org/parks/tower-grove/Welcome/map.htm
Other details:
Feel free to invite other dancers, musicians, or spectators. No partner or experience necessary. If you've never tried waltzing, but always wanted to learn, experienced dancers will gladly offer a quick lesson. If you're a musician and want to play, bring your instrument. Otherwise we'll enjoy CDs with beautiful tunes. We mayinclude some contras, so if you're a caller, bring your cards. If you have a camera, please bring it.
Know dancers in other cties?
Send them this link so they can host their own Flash Dances: http://www.childgrove.org/flashdances/flashdance_howto.htm
Happy Dancing!