Out & About: Dancing the (Twelfth) Night away at Fort Ligonier

English country dancing is a main attraction of the annual Twelfth Night Celebration at Fort Ligonier. It’s also become a regular activity at the fort, in the form of dance classes.

“The lessons grew out of our first Twelfth Night (in 2018),” said Julie Donovan, director of marketing and public relations, at the third annual event Jan. 4. “The dancing was so popular and people had so much fun that they told us we should have lessons.”

The first lesson of 2020 is planned for 5:30-7:30 p.m. Jan. 14. No reservation is required and the requested donation is $5; for information, call 724-238-9701 or visit fortligonier.org.

Lessons are offered once or twice monthly, Donovan said, depending on the schedule of instructor Brett Walker, a shoemaker and historian with expertise in colonial-era footwear, including the fort’s collection. Walker is a former member of the Colonial Williamsburg Dance Ensemble.

For the gala, country-dance callers Tom and Lesley Mack traveled from Luray, Va., to teach revelers the twirls and turns and promenades of the various forms. Providing period music were the Wayward Companions, a Pittsburgh-based ensemble of classically trained musicians.

And what is a Twelfth Night celebration without the crowning of a king and queen? The royal pair are the lucky lady and gentleman who each find a bean in their slice of Twelfth Night cake baked by Erica Nuckles, the fort’s director of history and collections, from Martha Washington’s time-tested recipe.

Bill Koker and Lauren Buches were on hand to relinquish the crowns they won in 2019 to the new king and queen, Dave Bybee of Harrisburg and Eirene Hobbs of Jeannette.

Lending a hand behind the bar were Fort Ligonier interim executive director Henry Scully and board member Charles Jacobina.

Seen at this last hurrah of the holiday season: Ron and Theresa Gay Rohall, Rich Lopretto and Phyllis Bertok, Bruce and Rita Haldeman, Jim and Jo Rossi, Duane and Mary Ellen Miller, Bruce Shirey, Carolyn Holland, Jerry Schulteis and Janet Riordan, Steve and Sally Nuckles, Kristen Rylander and Michael Kijowski, Matt Gault, Father Stephen West and Ron and Elizabeth Hobbs.