The Historical Dance Society

Cookies

This site uses temporary 'session' cookies to keep track of your shopping basket for buying books and CDs, and to help protect your data. If you choose to block cookies, you will still be able to use all aspects of the site, except for the shopping basket. For more information, see the policies page.

The Dolmetsch Historical Dance Society was founded in 1970 in memory of Mabel Dolmetsch to promote knowledge of historical dance. The name was changed to The Historical Dance Society in 2015.

We promote education in the performance, costume and music of European and other dances from 12th to 19th century as well as their appreciation.

We run regular workshops, study days and an annual summer school. Details of these can be found on our site.

We produce dance instruction booklets and accompanying recorded music, based on our own dance research. These can be purchased through our site.

We publish Historical Dance, the leading journal for research in the subject. Most articles from previous issues are available for downloading and book reviews appear on the web site prior to publication in the journal.

We work with several other organisations involved in early dance in the UK and around the world. There are links on our site to several sites providing information and resources about early dance and music.

You can follow our latest news through the updates on our Facebook page.

It would be great if you could attend any of our events.

News

Committee vacancies

Would you like to contribute to the work of the HDS by joining the committee? We currently have vacancies for two committee members/trustees. If you are interested, please contact Peter Barnard chairman@historicaldance.org.uk to discuss what is involved.

Become an associate

Have you thought of helping to extend the work of the HDS by becoming an associate? More information

Events

Essex, 12 May 2018, Renaissance dance and its music

firstSteps workshop with Helen Young and Lizzie Gutteridge More...

London, 24 June 2018, Early-seventeenth-century dances

firstSteps workshop with Anne Daye More...

Dance & Music Summer School 2018

Masque Dance and Music at the Jacobean Court More...

Worcestershire, 22 September 2018, Renaissance dance and its music

firstSteps workshop with Ann Hinchliffe, Andy Casserley and Ian Pittaway More...

Coventry, 6 October 2018, Working with the sources: Steps into Playford

Study day with Anne Daye More...

Bedford, 14 October 2018, Working with the sources: Caroso, Negri and Their Circle