Events Archives – The Historical Dance Society

06Apr 2025 by David Parsons

Playford’s Dance Steps

Saturday 10 May, 10:00 – 17:00 St Wulstan's Church Hall, Newcastle under Lyme, ST5 0EG John Playford’s The Dancing Master books spanned 1651 (as The English Dancing Master) to 1728. In that time, English social dance metamorphosed from earthy Tudor origins to French-influenced elegance – or did it? Spend a lively day learning well-known and less well-known Playford dances, with the steps that people of the time would have danced. Led by friendly tutors from the Historical Dance Society. A great work-out for brains and legs! No partner needed nor previous experience. Please wear loose comfortable clothes and flexible footwear. Booking and enquiries Whole day: £40 per person; £5 reduction for low income or members of HDS. Half day (morning or afternoon): half price. Tea & coffee provided; bring own…

27Feb 2025 by David Parsons

Summer School 2025: Dancing at the Late Renaissance Courts of Italy, England and France

Events, For dancers, Other, Summer School

The 55th Historical Dance Society Annual Summer School 2025 Friday 11th to Friday 18th July 2025at Bromsgrove School, West Midlands, B61 7HP Bal à l'époque de Henri III Oil on wood, d'après Hieronymus Francken, c. 1580 Musée de Tessé, Le Mans. Copyright © Musées du Mans Course Outline The aim of our summer school is to provide people with the time to study a range of dances, to improve dancing ability and confidence, and to have fun in good company. The full course provides an in-depth dance experience while the weekend courses are perfect for those with less time available or those just wanting to try out dancing of this period. You do not need to come with a dance partner. Participants will study with their chosen tutor in daily…

22May 2024 by David Parsons

Day Course: A Regency Dance Day with Richard Powers

For dancers, Past events

Saturday 3rd August 2024 10.30 -17.30 St Pancras Church House, Lancing Street near Euston Station, London NW1 1NA This is a joint Early Dance Circle and Historical Dance Society event Enjoy a whole day of dancing country dances, cotillons and quadrilles for £40 per person (£35 for students and dancers on a low income). No partner is necessary. You should be aware that there will be some photography and filming of this workshop. Tea, coffee and biscuits will be provided. Lunch is not provided, so please bring a packed lunch or try a nearby cafe. Please wear soft soled flexible shoes as these will be best suited to the style of dance. There are no parking facilities at the hall, but parking spaces at the church can be booked via www.justpark.com In…

26Apr 2024 by David Parsons

Day course: Dance like a Tudor

For dancers, Past events

An introduction to dances of Queen Elizabeth’s court Saturday 5th October 2024 10.30 – 16.30 St Pancras Church House, 1 Lancing Street, London NW1 1NA Teachers: Ann Hinchliffe and Helen Young What kind of dances did the Tudor court enjoy? Was dance important at the Tudor court? What were the dances mentioned in Shakespeare’s plays? What was a brawl, a pavan, a galliard or a coranto? Where and what did ordinary people dance? Find the answers at this practical day workshop with two experienced historical dance teachers. All the dances are based on extensive research into dance books and manuscripts of the time. You will experience some "English Measures" from sources associated with the the Inns of Court manuscripts – dances such as the pavan, almain, coranto, and galliard –…

31Jan 2024 by David Parsons

Summer School 2024: Strictly Victorian

For dancers, Past events, Past summer schools

The 54th Historical Dance Society Annual Summer School 2024 Friday 12th to Monday 15th July 2024 or Friday 12th to Friday 19th July 2024at Bromsgrove School, West Midlands, B61 7HP The aim of our summer school is to provide people with the time to study a range of dances, to improve dance ability and confidence in dance, and to have fun in good company. We offer a choice of three weekend courses with experienced teachers at two general levels of difficulty/challenge. The full course provides an in-depth dance experience while the weekend courses are perfect for those with less time available or those just wanting to try out dance of this period. You do not need to come with a dance partner. Participants will study for a weekend with their…

25Oct 2023 by David Parsons

Residential weekend: Dance and performance at the Jacobean court

For dancers, Past events

Now open for booking Friday 26 to Sunday 28 January 2024 at Halsway Manor, west Somerset Dances associated with Ben Jonson's masque Hymenaei will be learnt and animated for an in-house performance of the masque on Sunday. Tutors Anne Daye and Ann Hinchliffe will lead classes, respectively, for more experienced dancers and for improvers. There will be opportunities to sing, play (any portable acoustic instrument) and dress up, in the lively sociable atmosphere of a Tudor country house amid beautiful scenery. For further details, please download the booking form below. Organiser: Ann Hinchliffe, thedancingmaster@outlook.com or 07780 799 613. Bookings: Please download and complete the booking form. Booking form (MS Word) Booking form (PDF)

20Aug 2023 by David Parsons

America’s Dance Revolution: 1876–1900

For dancers, Past events

Weekend course led by Susan de Guardiola Sadler’s Wells, Rosebery Avenue, London EC1R 4TN Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th November 2023 10.00–17.30 Racket, York, Newport, Knickerbocker…after the USA celebrated its centennial in 1876, newly organized and confident American dancing masters began creating distinctly American variations on the standard 19th century dance repertoire. This weekend workshop will cover a mix of notable American couple dances, unusual quadrilles, and lively country dances from the last quarter of the 19th century. Special attention will be given to understanding the commonalities in technique among different dances and developing solid fundamentals.Classes will be accessible to both beginner and experienced dancers. Susan de Guardiola is an internationally recognized expert on nineteenth-century social dance with a quarter-century of experience in historical dance teaching, research, and reconstruction. A…

26May 2023 by David Parsons

Dances of Fashionable Society

For dancers, Past events

Cotillons, quadrilles and country dances from the ballrooms and dance halls of Georgian and Victorian England St Pancras Church Hall, 1 Lancing Street, London, NW1 1NA. (Off Eversholt Street, beside Euston Station. Ring doorbell for entry.) Saturday 23rd September 2023 10.30 – 4.30 (arrival from 10.15) The workshop is led by Libby Curzon of Mrs Bennet’s Ballroom to launch the publication by the Historical Dance Society of Dances of Fashionable Society by Ellis and Christine Rogers. This book and CD is a compilation by Ellis of his favourite dances originally taught at [D]HDS Summer Schools. Ellis Rogers Ellis Rogers Highly regarded teacher and researcher of nineteenth century dancing, founder with his wife Christine of Quadrille Club and author of The Quadrille. For full information on his achievements, see https://quadrilles.uk Libby Curzon As well as running Mrs Bennet’s…

18Jan 2023 by David Parsons

Summer School 2023. Dances of the Italian Renaissance.

For dancers, Past events, Past summer schools

Exploring Fifteenth and Sixteenth Century Dance Friday 14th to Monday 17th July 2023 or Friday 14th to Friday 21st July at Bromsgrove School, West Midlands, B61 7HP. Bromsgrove School We offer a choice of a 15th or 16th Century dance course at two general levels of difficulty/challenge. The weekend course is aimed at those with little or no dance experience of their chosen period. The longer course is aimed at those with previous experience and some knowledge of the step vocabulary, with a few places available for weekend attendance. The weekend courses offer an excellent introduction to historical dance. Participants will study with their chosen tutor in daily classes, to develop technique and learn a selection of dances. A varied choice of afternoon workshops led by course tutors and other…

19Nov 2022 by David Parsons

Weekend course ‘Dancing Well, Dancing Longer’

For dancers, Past events

Led by Kath Waters, the course runs from Friday 3 to Sunday 5 February 2023 at Benslow Music, Benslow Lane, Hitchin, Hertfordshire, SG4 9RB. Participants will explore dances from the Renaissance and Baroque periods with a focus on the development and application of technical skills and safe dance practice. The first evening and each morning will start with a general warm up, using exercises that can be taken away for personal use or use with a group. This will be followed by exploration of technical aspects such as strength, stamina, posture, alignment and co-ordination. These skills will then by applied to sociable Playford country dances on the first evening, Renaissance dances on the Saturday and Baroque dances on the Sunday. The course will be useful to both individual dancers and group leaders. Course Director: Kath Waters.…

27Oct 2022 by David Parsons

Shakespeare’s Dances: a celebration of dance, music and costume

For dancers, For musicians, Past events

Held online on Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 November 2022 The Historical Dance Society is bringing together renowned historians, researchers and practitioners to enjoy a weekend of Shakespeare-themed activities. References to dances and dancing appear throughout Shakespeare's plays. This weekend explores the dances, dance music and costumes that were familiar to Shakespeare and his circle. Learn how to dance a MeasureFind out how dances are interpreted and staged in productions of Shakespeare's playsExplore the hats, headwear and clothing of the timeDiscover the exciting Shakespeare and Dance ProjectFind out about creating music with limited resources in Shakespeare's timeFocus on non-social dancing and dance for performance in Shakespeare's playsDiscover how dance can be made dramatic in the dramas Relax and enjoy A Shakespeare Revel on Saturday evening (GMT) with dancing, music, readings and other delights. You…

12Sep 2022 by David Parsons

WEEKEND COURSE – 1 & 2 October 2022

For dancers, Past events

Dance in the Spanish Golden Age Saturday 1 Oct 2022 10:30–17:00 and Sunday 2 Oct 2022 10:30–17:00 Springs Dance Studio (South Bank Arts Centre), Bedford College, Cauldwell Street, Bedford, MK42 9AH. The course will be led by Ana Yepes, an exceptional dancer and powerhouse of enthusiasm. Ana will bring her expertise gleaned from many years of deciphering Spanish manuscripts that are not available to the general public. Saturday : An introduction to Folía and its variations, which has its own style and step vocabulary, catering also for those with less experience of the period. Sunday: Aiming at more experienced dancers, focus will be on Folies d’Espagne, as performed in the French Court. Dancers will explore ways to accentuate the Spanish quality embedded in the choreography, using Folía arm movements from…

26Sep 2020 by EmilyBowen

Playford Then & Now Festival

For dancers, For musicians, Past events

Following the success of the HDS Webinar Talks and the Online Dance Tutorials – both of which can be found on our YouTube channel – we’re delighted to announce the HDS Playford Weekend Festival – Playford, Then and Now. The enduring popularity of Playford dances and their music from the first edition published in 1651 to the 18th edition in 1728, is a treasure chest for folk dancers, historical dancers, musicians and researchers. Festival sessions will feature talks on a variety of related topics as well as a dance workshop, with renowned speakers from the UK and overseas. Playford – Then and Now – an Online festival via Zoom The ‘Why’ and ‘How’ of his continuing success today through dances, bands, his London, his contemporaries, and choreography Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th…

16Nov 2019 by David Parsons

Stepping On: A Conference on Stepping in Dance across the British Isles and Beyond

Conference publications, For dancers, For musicians, Other, Past events

16 - 17 November 2019 Cecil Sharp House, London, UK The British Isles have a rich history of step dancing in many forms and in many forms and contexts, spanning centuries and linking with traditions across the world. Some of these dances and their histories are relatively well-known, others largely lost. The aim of the conference was to further our knowledge and understanding in these traditions and to stimulate debate. Download the proceedings from the Vaughan Williams Memorial Library Download PDF Buy the printed proceedings from the EFDSS Buy Papers In Search of ‘Street’ Clog Dance. Alexandra Fisher Ontario Old–Time Step Dancing and its Connections to the British Isles. Sherry Johnson How fast should we dance: An investigation using recordings. Sean Goddard Hornpipe stepping at barn dances and ceilidhs in…

Category: Events