England Archives – The Historical Dance Society

The Early Dance Circle Lecture 2026

David Parsons — Fri, 20 Feb 2026 17:49:50 +0000

The Greensleeves Project: Clothing in Early Modern Music and Dance.
Speaker: Tamsin Lewis FRHistS
28 February 2026, 3 pm London N1 1BQ
The Greensleeves Project brings history to life. Under Tamsin Lewis’s direction, a team of historians and makers recreated My Lady’s clothing, accessories, and more in a captivating video. Hear directly from Tamsin Lewis about the research and making of the Greensleeves Project.

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The Boone Companion Launch Day

David Parsons — Tue, 06 Jan 2026 12:11:38 +0000

A day of dance led by Ann and Paul Kent, authors of The Boone Companion to launch its publication.
Saturday 14th March 2026 10.30 to 16.30 in St Albans. They 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dances of mid-seventeenth-century England from the Pattricke, Sloane, Lansdowne manuscripts, all of which are hitherto unpublished sources.

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New Book and CDs: Dances for Queen Victoria

Felicity Maxwell — Thu, 18 Dec 2025 00:26:47 +0000

Dances for Queen Victoria presents a collection of dances that were taught to Queen Victoria’s children by Edinburgh dancing master Joseph Lowe, accompanied with new recordings of the music and new essays that shed light on the collection’s historical context and significance.

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International Historical Dance Symposium 2026

David Parsons — Sat, 01 Nov 2025 17:36:18 +0000

Registrations are open for the 6th Historical Dance Symposium. “Transitions” – Dance in times of Change, 1400–1900. 3–7 June 2026, Burg Rothenfels am Main, Germany. The focus will be on the changes and developments that social and stage dance underwent during the turbulent years from 1400 to 1900. The conference will be preceded by a high-quality baroque dance course that can be combined with the symposium: “The Art of Dancing” – Kellom Tomlinson and the Beauty of Port de Bras, with Caroline Copeland, USA

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

David Parsons — Sat, 25 Oct 2025 11:36:31 +0000

Friday 16 to Sunday 18 January 2026 at Halsway Manor, west Somerset.
A friendly house-party 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).

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New book and CD: The Boone Companion

David Parsons — Thu, 24 Jul 2025 16:48:05 +0000

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.

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Day Course: More Dancing Like a Tudor

David Parsons — Sat, 24 May 2025 15:08:56 +0000

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. 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.

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A History of Country Dancing – Beyond England

David Parsons — Tue, 29 Apr 2025 16:08:50 +0000

A History of Country Dancingwith an emphasis on the steps Anne Daye, HDS Director of Education and Research The Spread of the Country Dance beyond England Scotland The English country dance was first introduced to Scotland when James, Duke of York (later James II) was sent by King Charles to hold court at Holyrood. For […]

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A History of Country Dancing – Twentieth Century

David Parsons — Tue, 29 Apr 2025 16:04:13 +0000

A History of Country Dancingwith an emphasis on the steps Anne Daye, HDS Director of Education and Research ‘Traditional’ Country Dances The shifting relationship between dance figures and tunes in the nineteenth century followed fashion and the whim of the dancer. However, a constant association between some dances and a tune became popular in certain […]

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A History of Country Dancing – Georgian to Victorian

David Parsons — Tue, 29 Apr 2025 15:53:44 +0000

A History of Country Dancingwith an emphasis on the steps Anne Daye, HDS Director of Education and Research The Georgian Country Dance The first half of the eighteenth century was the heyday of the longways country dance for as many as will, as good footwork was combined with intricate and challenging figures in a dance […]

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