A Case for Modern Music at English Country Dance Events

-

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." You can read my post about the dance I made it for here: The Kiss: A New English Country Dance.

Last year I choreographed an English country dance for ABBA’s “Waterloo” to use at my Jane Austen’s 250th Birthday Ball. I ended up cutting it from my dance list, because I would have needed to pay for a BMI event license in addition to an ASCAP event license, so I decided to just use an ASCAP license. I saw on Regencydances.org that there is an Eve of Waterloo Ball scheduled for 2026 in England. I contacted the event organizer and offered my “Waterloo” dance for them to use. This was the reply I got:

"Many thanks for the kind offer to use your dance notation, which sounds really exciting.  However, we are keen to ensure that the music we use for our Ball is period-authentic and so we won’t be in a position to use your dance notation on this occasion, but thank you for getting in touch."

I understand the sentiment but also believe including “Waterloo” in the dance list of a ball called “The Eve of Waterloo” would be quite fun and apropos. I would have made it the closing dance of the evening. 

"The past is to be learned from but not lived in." —Jeffrey R. Holland

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Tythe Pig: A Historical English Country Dance

-
Image
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 ...
Read more

The Kiss: A New English Country Dance

-
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...
Read more

The Wheelwright's Waltz: A New English Country Dance

-
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.
Read more