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This Jane Austen blog brings Jane Austen, her novels, and the Regency Period alive through food, dress, social customs, and other 19th C. historical details related to this topic.

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Regency Ball at the JASNA AGM in Brooklyn

November 4, 2012 by Vic

The two first dances, however, brought a return of distress; they were dances of mortification. Mr. Collins, awkward and solemn, apologizing instead of attending, and often moving wrong without being aware of it, gave her all the shame and misery which a disagreeable partner for a couple of dances can give. The moment of her release from him was ecstasy. – Elizabeth Bennet dancing with Mr. Collins at the Netherfield Ball

Mr. Collins could have used the services of the excellent caller at the Regency Ball at the JASNA AGM in Brooklyn. Had he been able to follow her direction (or had he learned his dance steps as a child, as did most well-bred Regency children), then he would not have made Elizabeth feel such shame about her partner. When I attended my first Regency ball, I felt as delighted as a child in a candy store at Christmas. The costumes and music lent authenticity to the event. Even those in modern dress (like myself) felt welcome.

As you can see from the clip, individuals with a wide range of dancing talent were present. The caller, or calling master, taught the steps, people practiced, and then they danced to the lovely music provided by the trio.

Caller at the Regency Ball

An important social element was the calling of the dance by the leading lady (a position of honor), who would determine the figures, steps, and music to be danced. The rest of the set would listen to the calling dancing master or pick up the dance by observing the leading couple. Austen mentions in her letters instances in which she and her partner called the dance. – Regency Dance, Wikipedia

I love the next clip, in which the caller sensed a lack of concentration on behalf of her audience. Listen to her final words!

With so many people in one room, and (in those days) the heat from the candles, ballrooms tended to become hot. Flimsy gowns provided little advantage for over-heated bodies restrained by corsets; time and again fans came to the rescue, as in this short scene. The poor men simply had to grin and bear it and sweat the night away, for, believe me, an evening of dance with two sets per dance partner, could be quite strenuous.

After learning the various moves, the group danced the set. The musicians (a trio in this instance) then struck up the music and the dancers progressed through the set, the movements beautiful to behold. My humble flip camera did not do much justice to the proceedings, and could capture only a few of the moments. If you have never attended a Regency ball and are a Jane Austen fan, I suggest that you find a group in your area.

This experience makes Austen’s ballroom scenes come alive as I reread the passages. One also experiences the social aspects of the dance – the dancers themselves, the people arranged on the sidelines watching, the musicians, and the outer rooms, where others assembled and talked  or sought refreshment. In former days, game rooms would be set up for those who opted not to dance.

More images below. If anyone knows the names of the people I captured, please send them on! Thank you.

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Posted in 19th Century England, jane austen, Jane Austen's World, Regency Life, Regency Period | Tagged 19th century dance, JASNA AGM 2012, Regency Ball | 10 Comments

10 Responses

  1. on November 4, 2012 at 10:50 Nancy

    Thank you so much. It looks like fun.One woman is wearing a red gown with white sleeves. I would love to know where she found that pattern. I like that pattern.


  2. on November 4, 2012 at 11:12 Patty

    Vic, looks like fun and good exercise. Costumes are great but someone should have asked the musicians to dress up a little. Would have been better if the violinist in the polo shirt just put on a jacket, which is standard for all local musicians.


    • on November 4, 2012 at 22:01 Karen Field

      I was thinking the exact same thing. An untucked polo shirt? Please! Otherwise I thought it fun to watch all the scenes. I missed out on this year’s fun because my son got married the weekend after this and that scotched it for me. Bummer. But I was thinking of everybody there and having fun. Perhaps next year?


  3. on November 4, 2012 at 21:51 Adriana ZardiniA

    oh dear! lovely post as always! I wish I could be there some day!


  4. on November 4, 2012 at 22:04 Elisama Rodrigues Lucena

    I wish I could be there too. It takes us to another time and place.


  5. on November 4, 2012 at 22:13 Chris Squire

    I remember dancing like this at hops I attended as a teenager at the Officers’ Club of Catterick camp, Yorkshire UK 50 years ago. Including Strip the Willow and the Foursome Reel. I can’t remember what I thought about it at the time – pity.


  6. on November 4, 2012 at 22:33 Evangeline Holland

    So much fun!


  7. on November 5, 2012 at 04:06 Tony Grant

    Chris mentions attending dances like this 50 years ago at Catterick in Yorkshire.
    Many junior schools in Britain still do what is called, “country dancing”
    At local village fetes you will still see maypole dancing and country dancing going on.

    What I have just seen in these video clips, Vic is, “Country Dancing..”


  8. on November 5, 2012 at 16:45 Beth

    Thanks for sharing these vids, Vic. I am going to forward this blog entry to friends and family…they are always curious about the dancing and the ball and these clips will be a good way to show them what it all looked like.


  9. on November 9, 2012 at 07:57 Anna

    These events look so much fun Vic! How lovely that you could attend this ball since you were not able to go to the Festival in Bath. I hope to be able to participate in a Regency Ball one day…



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