For dancers Archives – The Historical Dance Society

12Sep 2025 by David Parsons

Day Course: 18th Century Dances with Sam Gosk

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. Booking and enquiries HDS members £44, non-members £49. Numbers are strictly limited so book early to secure your place. Further details provided on booking. On-line booking: WebCollect Enquiries: Anne Daye

24Jul 2025 by David Parsons

New book and CD: The Boone Companion

For dancers, News

The Boone Companion: Dances of mid-seventeenth-century England from the Pattricke, Sloane, Lansdowne manuscripts & Playford by Paul and Ann Kent. The book contains instructions for 18 dances from the three manuscripts and reworking of two Playford dances. It includes diplomatic transcriptions of the manuscript texts and the dances have been clearly described with the help of diagrams and represent realisations that aim to suit dancers from both folk and historical dance backgrounds. There is a separate CD/digital recording to accompany this book with music for all the dances. The music has been selected from contemporary sources and arranged and directed by David Gordon. It is played by a small instrumental ensemble and provides effective music for the dances as well as for enjoyable listening. For full details and to buy…

11Jul 2025 by David Parsons

New book and CD: Dances of the French Courts

For dancers, News, Other

Dances of the French Courts: 16th century Dance, Music and Songs from France, is a collection of dances and their music from the reign of François I (1515-1547) to that of the young Louis XIII in 1614 researched by Anne Daye with music recorded by Passomezzo directed by Tamsin Lewis. Instructions are given for each dance, along with music notation, and there are notes on the relevant steps. Several short essays provide insight into the practice of dancing in France across this period. For full details and to buy hard copies or downloads see HDS Shop

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. 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

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…

30Jan 2025 by David Parsons

The Early Dance Circle Lecture 2025

For dancers, For musicians

Reconstructing Seventeenth-Century Maypole Dance: Dance, Experience, Culture Main Speaker: Bryony May Kummer-Seddon (Associate Lecturer, University of Lincoln) with comments about modern Maypole dancing by Mike Ruff. 28 February 2025, 7:30 pm, on Zoom. Bryony’s lecture will explore the reconstruction of historic maypole dancing, and its associated traditions, with a focus on seventeenth century England. The event is free with donations (optional) but requires registration. See the EDC events page for more information and a link to registrations. The lecture will be recorded and distributed after the event if you cannot attend. EDC Events Page

30Jan 2025 by David Parsons

International Historical Dance Symposium 2026

For dancers, News

The HDS is a partner in the International Historical Dance Symposium. Here is the call for contributions. Preparations for our next International Historical Dance Symposium have been underway for some time. We are pleased to hereby send out our call for contributions. The 6th symposium will take place from 3-7 June 2026 at Burg Rothenfels in Germany with the theme "Transitions" Dance in Times of Change 1400 - 1900 We are looking for contributions in the form of lectures, posters, workshops, short performances and dance evenings. More information about the different categories can be found on our homepage. While our association Dance & History e.V. is responsible for the practical organization of the conference, Burg Rothenfels is the host of the event. Please send your proposals to Markus Lehner, info@historical-dance-symposium.org.…

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…

08Jul 2023 by David Parsons

New book and CDs: Dances of Fashionable Society

For dancers, Other

Dances of Fashionable Society: Cotillons, Quadrilles, Country Dances, Couple Dances and a Solo 1762 – 1887, a book and two CD set by Ellis and Christine Rogers, is now available in the HDS shop as a physical product or download. For this new book they have re-visited the dances they previously researched for HDS summer schools and selected Ellis’s favourites. The hope is that they will enthuse dancers to follow in his footsteps and pass them on to others. HDS Shop

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…

12May 2023 by David Parsons

Proceedings of the Stepping On conference are now available

Conference publications, For dancers, Other

The proceedings of Stepping On: A conference on Stepping in Dance held at Cecil Sharp House, London on Saturday 16th and Sunday 17th November 2019, edited by Toby Bennett are now available to download or buy. Stepping On: A conference on Stepping in Dance was organised jointly by the Historical Dance Society, English Folk Dance and Song Society, Instep Research Team and the Dance Department of the University of Roehampton. More information

Category: For dancers