Monday 5 May 2025, 3-5.30pm
Celebrate the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen’s birth with an afternoon of elegance. Take to the floor for a lively yet accessible Regency dance class, where you’ll learn a simple country dance popular in Austen’s time—no experience required, just a sense of fun!
Discover the etiquette of the period, how to properly invite a partner to dance and the strict social rules of the ballroom, including why you should not dance more than two dances in the evening with the same partner!
By the end of an hour folk are able to do the simple routines involving skipping or sometimes just walking around together in circles to the count of 8.
Please wear clothing that won’t cause tripping and opt for flat shoes like ballet pumps, jazz, or yoga shoes—no heels. Trainers are allowed but won’t offer much bounce. Bringing a partner is ideal, but ladies often dance together. You'll be grouped in sets of four, dancing with different partners, just as the Georgians did.
Photography by Roy Newport
