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Dancing Queen: A New English Country Dance

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I started choregraphing this for Jane Austen's 250th Birthday Ball but cut it, because I couldn't afford to pay for a BMI event license as well as an ASCAP event license. I finished preparing it for the 18th birthday ball I am throwing for my friend this month. If you want to use my choreography, contact me beforehand to tell me about it and then give me credit. :)  Dancing Queen Longways proper Three couple Chass é  step   Introduction and honors     16 beats: Honor your partner. Gentleman bow and Ladies curtsy. Verse 16 beats: The top couple cast off, the second and third couples follow. 16 beats: Swing round your partner . First couple take right hands and turn clockwise to places, then take left hands and turn counterclockwise to places. Verse 16 beats: The first Lady sets to the second Gentleman and turns the third , while the first Gentleman sets to the second Lady and turns the third. 16 beats: Top foot in the center. First and second couples. 8 beats: Fi...
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The Kiss: A New English Country Dance

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Choreographed by me for my event Jane Austen's 250th Birthday Ball, which I held on December 16, 2025. If you want to use my introduction and/or choreography, contact me beforehand to tell me about it and then give me credit. :)  Tune: "The Gael" by Dougie Maclean Song: "The Kiss" from the 1992 film The Last of the Mohicans   Sheet Music:  https://www.sheetmusicdirect.com/se/ID_No/1205848/Product.aspx Note: Instruct the string quartet to play an introduction for honors, because there isn't one in the sheet music. What I wrote to introduce this dance at my ball but forgot to say This is our dance for Sense and Sensibility because of Marianne’s passion. I grew up watching the 1995 film and identified more with Marianne than Elinore. This movie is celebrating its 30th anniversary with a return to movie theaters this week. I’m seeing it tomorrow night. Anyone else? Introduction if you're using my Jane Austen dance list This is our dance for  Sense and Sensib...
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The Wheelwright's Waltz: A New English Country Dance

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Music by Andrew Wheelright     C ommissioned by me  for his daughter's 18th birthday ball I am organizing. Choreography by me Contact me to inquire about the sheet music and audio. The Wheelright's Waltz Longways proper Duple minor Waltz traveling and setting steps Introduction 12 beats:  Honor your partner. Gentlemen bow and Ladies curtsy. Dance 24 beats:  Hands across quite round. First Gentleman and second Lady take right hands, while the second Gentleman and first Lady do the same. They turn completely round to places, moving clockwise, then take left hands and turn completely round to places, moving counterclockwise. The first Lady and second Gentlema n should always have their hands uppermost. 18 beats: Cast off one couple, meet, and turn. First couple cast off (second couple move up), join both hands, and turn completely round to places (moving clockwise). 6 beats: Set. Repeat whole dance from progressed position.
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Once Upon a December: A New English Country Dance

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Choreographed by me for the event Jane Austen's 250th Birthday Ball, which I held on December 16, 2025. If you want to use my introduction and/or choreography, contact me beforehand to tell me about it and then give me credit. :)  Song:   "Once Upon a December" from the 1997 film Anastasia   Sheet Music:   https://musescore.com/user/57674080/scores/10070743 Note: For the final progression of the dance, instruct the string quartet to play the key change section before the ritardando final section, skip the ritardando final section, and end. How I introduced this dance at my ball This dance is not for one of Jane Austen's works but for Jane herself, because she was born in December. Once Upon a December Longways proper Duple minor Waltz traveling and setting steps Introduction 24 beats:  Honor your partner. Gentlemen bow and Ladies curtsy. Dance 24 beats: Right and left  (p. 55–58). 12 beats: Three-quarter  chain figure of four. The first Lady and first ...
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A Case for Modern Music at English Country Dance Events

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While researching for my event Jane Austen's 250th Birthday Ball, which I held on December 16, 2025, I learned that Playford dances were old-fashioned by Jane's time, ergo their popularity at modern Regency events is anachronistic. Read this blog post to learn more: " What Did Jane Austen Dance? - Capering & Kickery ." New English country dances were regularly published in Miss Jane's day. When I make new English country dances set to modern music, I am doing what people in Jane's time did. Ergo, I will not be passive and placate purists by having only historical dances at my balls. I am assertive and consider their desires as well as my own, so my usual dance list is half historical and half modern. For the modern set I pick songs from the 20th century on and choregraph dances to them. For this undertaking I use figures from the historical record and make my own that fit the dance style. I have made one figure so far: "Lead round one couple." Yo...
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Physical Snob: A Historical English Country Dance

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Physical Snob was part of my dance list for my event Jane Austen's 250th Birthday Ball, which I held on December 16, 2025.  If you want to use my introduction and/or my version found below, contact me beforehand to tell me about it and then give me credit. :)  Animation:  The Physical Snob Recorded Demonstration:  Physical Snob – Old Dominion Dance RegencyDances.org does not have Physical Snob in their list of dances, I think because the provenance is unknown. Song:  The Physical Snob | Bare Necessities Note: I got permission from Bare Necessities to use their recording at my ball for free. Introduction I used at my ball This is our dance for Emma , because one of Emma’s shortcomings is snobbery toward Mr. Martin, a farmer and the suitor of her friend Harriet Smith. Physical Snob Longways proper                                            ...
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Tythe Pig: A Historical English Country Dance

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Tythe Pig – Playford’s Dancing Master: The Compleat Dance Guide Audio w/ Adjustable Tempo & Repeat Option:  The Tythe Pig (jig) on The Session Song: Marianelli: Meryton Townhall (From "Pride & Prejudice" Soundtrack) Sheet Music:  Play Official version of Meryton Townhall Sheet Music by Dario Marianelli | MuseScore.com Tythe Pig was part of my dance list for my event Jane Austen's 250th Birthday Ball, which I held on December 16, 2025. I used the Playford version, because I hadn't yet thought to update it for Regency style. If you want to use my introduction and/or my Regency version found below, contact me beforehand to tell me about it and then give me credit. :)  Introduction I used at my ball Tonight we have a dance for each of Jane Austen’s six major works, plus Lady Susan , because it’s also a completed work. Although Tythe Pig was over a hundred years old by Jane’s time  [not quite] , this is our dance for Pride and Prejudice , because in the 2005 film ...
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