Events Archives – The Historical Dance Society

29Oct 2026 by David Parsons

Day Course: Dance like a Renaissance Courtier

Dance like a Renaissance Courtier. An introduction to dances of the 15th century Italian courts St Pancras Church House, London. Saturday 16th January 2027 10.30 to 4.30 The day will include a selection of 15th century dances suitable for anyone new to 15th century dance or anyone wanting a refresher class. This will be a practical day full of dancing, and you will also learn a little of the background to the dances of the period and how we know what people did. All welcome (over 18s) with or without any dance experience. No need to bring a partner. Teacher: Helen Young is an experienced teacher of historical dance from The Historical Dance Society. Facilities and information Please arrive on-time for registration so the class can start promptly. There will be a lunch…

20Aug 2026 by David Parsons

Day course: 18th century Allemande Academy with Sam Gosk

For dancers, Past events

St Pancras Church House, 1 Lancing Street, London NW1 1NA Saturday 7th November 2026 10.30 to 4.30 Sam Gosk is an IDTA qualified dance teacher with twenty years' experience in teaching and performing. He retired from dance in 2024, but still offers occasional workshops when invited. This workshop will offer an overview of the 18th century Allemande, and will include an introduction to the required steps, selected figures from the couple Allemande, country dances and cotillions. These dances are typically quite energetic, but may be adapted and relaxed creating a more gentle pace. Allemandes are characterised by turn patterns and interlacing the arms in various ways. This workshop is suitable for anybody with previous dance experience of any type. However some knowledge of country dance figures would be a great…

20Aug 2026 by David Parsons

Day Course: Dancing Like a Tudor

Events, For dancers

Experience dances of Queen Elizabeth’s court Saturday 28th November 2026 10.30 – 16.30 St Pancras Church House, 1 Lancing Street, London NW1 1NA Teachers: Ann Hinchliffe and Helen Young Find out about, and try for yourself, dances from the Tudor court. This will be a day full of dance, and you will also learn about the place and practice of dancing within the social scene at court and in the wider country. All dances will be taught from scratch so if you’re new to dance or historical dance or would just like a refresher class, you will find it easy and fun to join in. If you came to last year’s Dance like a Tudor day, you will revise some of those dances as well as learning some new ones.…

18Aug 2026 by David Parsons

Summer School 2027: Dancing in the Time of Shakespeare in England and Italy

Events, For dancers, Summer School

The 57th Historical Dance Society Annual Summer School 2027 Friday 9th to Friday 16th July 2027at Bromsgrove School, West Midlands, B61 7HP Weekend course also available Tutors: Markus Lehner: Italy Anne Daye: England Further details and booking forms will be available in autumn-winter 2026-27.

08Jan 2026 by David Parsons

Summer School 2026: Dancing in the Ballrooms of 18th century England and France

For dancers, Past events, Past summer schools

The 56th Historical Dance Society Annual Summer School 2026 Friday 10th to Friday 17th July 2026at Bromsgrove School, West Midlands, B61 7HP Weekend course also available 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 classes, to develop technique and learn a selection of dances. A varied choice of afternoon workshops led by course tutors…

06Jan 2026 by David Parsons

The Boone Companion Launch Day

Past events

A day of dance led by Ann and Paul Kent, authors of The Boone Companion to launch its publication Presented by The Historical Dance Society jointly with Herts Early Dance Saturday 14th March 2026 10.30 to 16.30 at St Stephen's Church Hall, Watling Street, St Albans, AL1 2PX Ann and Paul will introduce and teach a selection of dances from their book 'The Boone Companion', which consists of dances of mid-seventeenth-century England from the Pattricke, Sloane, Lansdowne manuscripts, all of which are hitherto unpublished sources. This event will therefore be of interest to dancers both in the Historical Dance and English Country Dance circles, as it offers a varied and slightly different repertoire. Whilst the steps, style, and choreographies will be taught, dancers will be required to have a knowledge of…

25Oct 2025 by David Parsons

Weekend course: Dance, music and masquing at the court of Elizabeth I

For dancers, For musicians, Past events

Now open for booking Friday 16 to Sunday 18 January 2026 at Halsway Manor, west Somerset. You are invited to a friendly house-party in beautiful West Somerset. The weekend is based on re-creating the Masque of Diana and Actaeon, performed at the court of Elizabeth I. Tutors are Ann Hinchliffe (beginners and improvers), Anne Daye (experienced dancers), and Sam Brown (musicians). Programme Friday evening: dancing together and a short talk on the masque and its background of court intrigue. Saturday morning classes: a balletto with Anne and Tudor dances with Ann. Afternoon: re-creating the masque with costume, dancing, music, song and spoken word. Evening: revels as in the Queen's Privy Chamber -- dance, song, poetry and music. Sunday morning: dance practice and rehearsing our version of the masque, which will…

12Sep 2025 by David Parsons

Day Course: 18th Century Dances with Sam Gosk

For dancers, Past events

18th century Allemande, Cotillions and Country Dances St Pancras Church House, 1 Lancing Street, London NW1 1NASaturday 22nd November 2025 10.30 – 16.30 Come and enjoy dancing the elegant and iconic 18th century Allemande with its characteristic steps, turns and interlacing holds as used in the cotillions and country dances. Sam Gosk is an IDTA qualified dance teacher with 20 years’ experience in teaching and performing. Suitable for anybody with previous dance experience of any type, although some knowledge of country dance figures will be helpful.

24May 2025 by David Parsons

Day Course: More Dancing Like a Tudor

For dancers, Past events

Experience dances of Queen Elizabeth’s court Saturday 20th September 2025 10.30 – 16.30 St Pancras Church House, 1 Lancing Street, London NW1 1NA Teachers: Ann Hinchliffe and Helen Young Find out about, and try for yourself, dances from the Tudor court. This will be a day full of dance, and you will also learn about the place and practice of dancing within the social scene at court and in the wider country. All dances will be taught from scratch so if you’re new to dance or historical dance or would just like a refresher class, you will find it easy and fun to join in. If you came to last year’s Dance like a Tudor day, you will revise some of those dances as well as learning some new ones.…

06Apr 2025 by David Parsons

Playford’s Dance Steps

For dancers, Past events

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.

27Feb 2025 by David Parsons

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

For dancers, Other, Past events, Past summer schools

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.

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…

Category: Events