2018

EVENTS LISTED IN REVERSE CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER WITH MOST RECENT AT TOP (though programs within an umbrella event box may be offered in chronological order)

Apologies that we've not yet uploaded photos for most events. Please enjoy the photos where we have added them and look forward to hundreds more photos being added in coming months.

Sat. 15 December, 4.30pm-9.00pm

Canberra Baptist Church, Currie Street, Kingston

CHRISTMAS CAROL BALL

This ball is one of the highlights of the Earthly Delights' year, and we are very excited about this year's performers and about the wonderful program planned. There will be great live music from the 'Earthly Delights players', guest musician Abigail Miles on the Filippion Banduria, and guest choir the astounding I Progetti

There'll be dances led in many different formations, rhythms and historical styles matching carols from many different periods and places (skip down to read more about this year's program). 

It will be a spectacle you can enjoy as much as you like for from an arm-chair or from the dance floor- so bring family and friends. 

Tea and coffee will be available throughout the afternoon/evening, and we ask all to bring a contribution to the potluck mid-way meal table.

Dress how you like - casual with a Christmas touch or  Victorian or Regency if you like.

There will also be ‘recovery’ picnic/ garden-party free for ball attendees the next day from 10am - see further below for details. 

There are 64 dances that go to popular carols in John’s Christmas Carol Dance Book and many more dances that can have seasonal relevance, but we can only ever manage 20 plus in a ball so chose most of this years dances from among ones we have not danced for 3 years. 2 dances were debuted this year... and, when adding in requested dances people couldn't do without, the total number of dances enjoyed was 28- with a fine dinner break in the middle (thank you to all who contributed to this!) Thank you also to all who helped prepare these dances so we could bring them quickly to life with the on-night participants.

Program of dances danced and tunes played (not in performance order)

From John's Christmas Carol Dance Book:

Angel Gabriel from Heaven Came- without ever letting go of hands in the circle.

Angels from the Realms of Glory – no partner necessary  

Away in the Manger- sing while you dance!

Carol of the Bells- a magical dance to magical tune.

Carol of the Birds- an Australian carol with Brolgas dancing!

Gaudete - a fantastic tune and popularly requested dance

Hark the Herald Angels Sing- an old English style dance.

The Holly and the Ivy- a fun dance for trio of any gender.

In Dulci Jubilo- a 17th century ‘Inns of Court’ style dance.

It came upon a Midnight Clear (2) – to the American version, an American style contra.

Joy to the World -march triumphantly and make stars

Masters in this Hall- chase and be chased!

Merry Christmas- an Australian carol with lots of greeting

Personent Hodie- a Renaissance style dance needing no partners.

Sans Day Carol -a mazurka for those who know how.

Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day- a bourrée-like circle mixer

Where is Santa –a round in two versions, one for all (including the youngest!) in concentric circles, the other a display that will spell-bind in the middle of the circles.

Twelve Days of Christmas. We’ve also been requested to dance again 

Veinticinco de Diciembre (‘The 25th of December’) - sung by g I Progetti.

Written by John but as yet not yet published in any book:

The Christmas quadrille, a 4-hand on the piano suite composed by Farmer in the mid-19th century, to which we set quadrille figures f the time.

Ang Pasko ay sumapit (‘Christmas is here’)—a popular Filippino carol, to whcih we've set a lively swinging polka mixer- can’t wait to debut it.

Wachet Auf (‘Sleepers awake’) to the Bach cantata.

Hanacpachap (processional hymn in Quechua language, published in Lima, 1631)- a processional dance with candles held in both hands- sung by I Progetti..

Verbum caro factum est (one of ten Villancicos de Navidad published in Spanish in 1556)- a circle dance-sung by I Progetti.

Riu riu chiu (another of ten Villancicos de Navidad published in Spanish in 1556 - a cirlce dance with allemandes- sung by I Progetti.

Band also played On Christmas Night and We Wish you a Merry Christmas.

Sunday 16 December,

from 10am the morning after the night before

Jane Austen's Birthday Picnic in the Gardiner-Garden's Yarralumla garden, house and studio. 

 As 16 December is Jane Austen’s birthday, all who will are invited to come in Regency costume. 

Bring a brunch contribution.

Sunday 16 December,

from 10am the morning after the night before

Jane Austen's Birthday Picnic in the Gardiner-Garden's Yarralumla garden, house and studio. 

 As 16 December is Jane Austen’s birthday, all who will are invited to come in Regency costume. 

Bring a brunch contribution.

Share our Facebook Event with your Friends! https://www.facebook.com/events/185484968758645/

Sat. 17 November

                                                             Canberra Baptist Church, Currie Street, Kingston 

RENAISSANCE TO ROCOCO, Cavalier-meets-Cinderella BALL

$22.50 online, $25 at the door.

 A great band and set of callers will take you from the late Renaissance to the early Rococo period.

 We will feature a dozen fantastic ‘country dances’. From a pre-1650 manuscript and with lots of partner switching: ‘Bobbing Jo’ and ‘A Mayden Fayre’; from1650-60 editions of Playford’s book, featuring lots of bows, kisses, partner stealing and fun built in: ‘Cobbler’s Jig’, ‘Dargason’, ‘Maid in the Moon’, ‘Paul’s Steeple’ and ‘The Whirligig’; and from c.1700, some from both English and French books or English books using French notations: ‘Bartlett House’, ‘Emperor of the Moon’, ‘Trip to Jubilee’, ‘Hole in the Wall’, and ‘Mr Young’s Delight’- some of the best-loved dances overseas today. And if we have time, we’ll include the lightning fast ‘We’ll wed and we’ll bed’.

We have also reconstructed from its sole ‘Inns of Court’ manuscript description and plan to lead for all a fun peak-a-boo dance called ‘Argulius’.

Often, because everyone knew them, the most popular dances of the past leave the fewest descriptions so reviving them is a challenge, but we will lead all who will on our reconstructions of ‘the Old Measures’ suite that began courtly balls in England in the late 16th and early 17th century, and of the Courant, purportedly Louis XIV’s favourite dance and one every decent bridal couple in England needed to know in the late 17th century.

 We will punctuate the evening (and hopefully not each other) with a fiery display of the Renaissance sword dance ‘Les Bouffons’, the stylish Baroque ballet ‘Aimable Vainqueur’ (Loving conqueror) and our debut of the lively ‘Minuet d’Alcide’ (a must to see if you thought Baroque minuets had to be slow).

The evening will also feature some new devised dances to match the minuet and bourrée movements of two of Bach’s solo cello suites. This will be a world-first!

There’s always a Lost dance to end with and this month it will be, by special request, ‘The Druid’s Ring’ (Winter 16)- don’t forget to swing yourselves into the ground at the end!

Please do all come ready for dancing at 4:30pm (with a contribution for our 6:30 ‘tea table’) so we can fit in all the planned delights by 9pm.

P.S. We danced all the dances mentioned above except for Bartlet House. Here's a few photos of the occasion courtesy of Ashby.

Sun. 21 October, 11:30am-12:30pm

VICTORIANA-STEAMPUNK Waterworks Museum Goulburn 

[photos and videos still to go up]

Displayed:

The Music Box (LD Court 7)

Gavotte du Pas de Quatre (DTA Vol. X)

Le Polo (DTA Vol. X)

Medley of Past Present and Future (Winter 4) and Northern Stars Southern Sky (Town 16)

Beseda  figures 3&4 (DTA Vol. X)

Participation:

Dashing Dragoon (LD Court 15)

Celtic Spiral (LD Spring 8)


Sat. 20 October, 4:30-9:00pm

VICTORIANA-STEAMPUNK BALL

[photos and videos still to go up]

N.B. Not at usual hall in Kingston, but at the Wesley Hall, in grounds of Wesley Uniting Church 

(not to be confused with Wesley Music Centre in same grounds), National Circuit, Barton

'Dress how you like for a fantastically varied program of dance from the decades of Queen Victoria’s reign … together with some speculative historical dance!  

 

We’ll teach/lead fun partner-stealing country dances, partner-chasing polkas, and latest-craze short couples sequences (the Ganglovienne waltz, the Ostendais, the Rhein Galop, Polka Russe, Zingerilla, Waratah polka-mazurka and First Love redowa). 

 

We’ll teach/lead 4 amazing quadrilles: Beseda (from Bohemia), Le Polo (France), Pickwick Quadrille (England) and Les Sylphides (Denmark). 

 

We’ll also finally get to enjoy the most popular minuet forms of the early 19th century, and two lost dances not done for years,  ‘The Celtic Spiral’ and ‘Northern Stars Southern Skies’. 

 

By popular demand we’ll revisit  ‘Past, Present and Future’, ‘Le Gavotte du Pas de Quatre’, ‘The Music Box Waltz’ and ‘The Dashing Dragoon’. 

 

The ball’s biggest feature may be the (4 yearly!) return of ‘The Chess Dance’- this time with swords, crowns and shields etc!  We need lots of attendees as one set alone needs 32 people. Bring along family and friends even if they’ve not danced before and we can make them pawns!

 

Don’t forget a contribution for our big mid-way dinner break!'

Program danced- not necessarily in this order:

From Volume VIII (1825-1850)

Minuet (3)

Triumph (4) Lady’s Triumph

Mixer to fig. 1 tune of Polka Quad. / London Polka Quad.

 

Dances from 1830s not yet in my DTA volumes.

Les Sylphides

The Pickwick Quadrille

 

From Volume IX (1850-1875)

Beseda  figures 3&4

Redowa (3) / Vals de Patineurs

Ganglovienne / Ostendaise Valsée  & Hands off Waltz no Village 10

Zulma l’Orientale

 

From Volume X (1875-1900)

Ostendaise

Gavotte du Pas de Quatre

Polka Mazurka (3) / The Waratah

Le Polo

 

From Lost Dances

Celtic Spiral (Spring 8)

Past Present and Future (Winter 4)

Northern Stars Southern Sky (Town 16)

The Music Box (Court 7)

The Chess Dance (Winter 16)

Dashing Dragoon (Court 15)

  

Sat. 15 September, 4:30-9:00pm 

                                                             Canberra Baptist Church, Currie Street, Kingston 

TIME-TRAVEL BALL

with potluck dinner/supper and dances from 15th-century France, 16th-century Italy, and 17th-century England, from 18th-century courts and 19th-century ballrooms. By request we'll reprise the Edwardian 'Gavotte du Pas de Quatre' that was so much fun last ball and enjoy quite a few more timeless 'Lost dances'.  We may also debut for our scene two dances (the 'Picnic Polka' and 'The Rose Bay Quadrille') published in the Australian Album 1857, the rare first book of dance music published in Australia- a beautiful copy of which John has just acquired and will have to show interested folk.

The evening will again feature an array of guest callers and a mid-way pot-luck supper.

Any and all costumes welcome!

                                                                  

Program in rough order (with thanks to *Katerina, **Ceri and ***Katherine for guest calling) :

Basse danse communes / Joissance vous donneray  (I)

Alta Mendoza (DTA III)

Medley of Branle l’Officiel & Branle des Chevaux   (II)*

Kettle Drum (DTA IV)***

Long canon Minuet (new dance by John) 

Le Carillon de Dunkerque (DTA VII)

Cloverleaf Waltz  (LD Summer 10)***

The Rose Bay Quadrille  (Quadrille Français from DTA VII but Stanley suite from 1857)

De’il among the Tailors – (DTA VII)

DINNER BREAK

Hands-off Waltz (LD Village 10) 

Medley of Alexandrina Waltz, Hands-off Waltz, Even-handed Ländler (all from LD) and I Wonder as I Wander (CCDB) Polka (1) to ‘Polka Nationale’ (DTA VIII)  

Music Box Waltz – Court 7**

Medley of Harmony Hambo, Handfasting Hambo and Honeymoon Hambo (all in LD) to LD Country 10

Le Polo (DTA X, but new Trebutien suite from 1879)

Cinque partie du monde - just figures 4&5 (DTA X)

Full moon Quadrille (LD Autumn 9)**

The Dashing Dragon – Court 15

Reprise of medley of Branle l’Officiel & Branle des Chevaux   (II)*

Here's a quick scan of one printed photo from the ball... hope to directly load up lots of photos soon.

Sat. 18 August, 4:30-9:00pm

                                                    Canberra Baptist Church, Currie Street, Kingston 

                                                              HOT SPICED APPLE JUICE BALL

with potluck dinner/supper, 

with lots of guest callers,

with a mixture of timeless late-17th-century English country dances, wonderful late-19th century French and American inventions, and fun nearly-lost Bordonian dances (see program below).

(postscript) A very warm heart-felt thanks to everyone who came and turned the evening into a surprise 60th birthday for me (John). Your kindness bowled me over! Having just returned the day before from a month overseas with Aylwen I truly thought I had successfully avoided the milestone (that had passed a week earlier). 

A special thanks to Sally, Ian, Sarah, Sabrina, Alan and Paola for the great music, to Melissa, Ceri, Katherine, David, Jonathon and Alcuin for their guest calling (see full program further below), to those who surprised me with their presence, to all who brought dinner contributions, to all who slipped me cards and gifts, to Aylwen for organising the Hot Spiced Apple Juice and the surprise birthday dimension, and to Sandy Walters for making the beautiful cake (see last photos below).

A big thank you to Ashby Gardiner-Garden for the photos that here follow:

Big thanks to Judy Hutchinson for these photos of the beautiful cake that Sandie Walter's made.

The program included the following (not in order and not complete as there were some dances my jetlagged brain failed to remember): 

 

From Dancing through the Ages 

Lansdowne no.4 (in Volume III)

Christchurch Bell (2) (Volume IV)

Nonesuch (Volume IV)

Sage Leaf (Volume IV)

Five Step Waltz (1) (Volume VIII)

Les Cinq Parties du Monde (five parts) (Volume X)

Gavotte du Pas de Quatre (Volume X)

The Newport and The Russia (Volume X)

La Parisienne (Volume X)

 

From The Lost Dances of Earthly Delights 

Dancing in the Meadow (Spring 13)

Indoor Games (Summer 16)

Running the Gauntlet (Autumn 4)

Potluck Welcome (Village 7)

Regal Romp (Village 9)

Two Steps to Hell (Court 4)

 

From the Odd Delights

Five Steps to Heaven

Sat. 16 June, 4:30-9:00pm 

WINTER FEAST AND RENAISSANCE BALL

Canberra Baptist Church, Currie Street, Kingston 

Promotional text:

Let's celebrate the end of an incredibly full 6 months and an upcoming break in some activities, by going back to the dawn of dance (and throwing in a few Bordonian requests as well!).

To arrive while there's still light and to have time for a mid-way sit-down feast, we plan an extended show, with participatory dancing starting at 4:30pm. Start dressing early in the afternoon so you can start with us!

2 hours of dance & music,  1/2 hour feast, then another 2 hours of dance & music

Program will include eight great dances from early Renaissance Italy that we rarely do but are all fun and betray themes and stories in their names: Colonesse (the ‘column’), Francho cuore gentile (‘Honest, gentle heart’), Gioliva (a lady's name), Malgatiosa (‘The ungracious one'- a hoot), Mercantia (‘The merchant’ with her love- lots of flirting), Partita crudele (‘The cruel parting’), Sobria (‘The faithful one’), Venus (a dance written by none other than the famous prince Lorenzo de Medici.

We'll also include some great dances from the late Renaissance, Gracca Amorosa (a lively cascarda, everyone's favourite Renaissance dance form), Ballo del Fiore for three (a dance that caused a lot of scandal), and La Volta (a couple's dance that caused even more scandal). To get everyone kicking we might do 'Galliard dating', and to give most people a chance to catch their breath, some of us might show the beautiful ballet Celest Giglio ('Heavenly Lily').

For lovers of English country dance, we'll bring all in on a pre-Playford form of Cuckolds all arow (Charles I's favourite dance).

Bordonian enthusiast can look forward to 2 classics from the Lost Dance's Winter Collection,  the canon 'Past Present and Future' and the palindrome 'Turning the Tables', together with the zanny Savvy Wench and Ridicule and Repartee Zweifachers from the Lost Dances for four settings.

As a celebration of Winter we hope also to include some seasonally relevant and fun dances from the Christmas Carol Dance Book- Drive the Cold Winter Away, In the Bleak mid-winter, and The Old Year Away is Fled.

Program danced (not in exact order danced- italics = uncalled challenges):

(From Volume I:)

Gioliva

Francho gentile

Colonesse

Malgatiosa

Mercantia for 4

Partita crudele

Sobria for 6

Venus for 3

(From Volume II:)

Ballo del Fiore (2)

Gracca Amoroso

Galliard dating and La Volta

(From Volume III:)

Celeste Giglio

Cuckolds all arow (2)

(From Lost Dances:)

Past Present and Future (Winter 4)

Turning the Tables (Winter 5)

Ridicule and Repartee (Court 8)

The Savvy Wench (Town 6)

(From the Christmas Carol Dance book:)

Drive the Cold Winter Away

In the Bleak mid-winter

The Old Year Away is Fled

Sun. 13 May, 2:00-5:30pm 

A Special Baroque dance event at Wesley Hall (in grounds of Wesley Uniting Church- not to be confused with Wesley Music Centre in those same grounds), National Circuit, Barton

with the Earthly Delights Historic Dance Academy dancers, visiting U.K. baroque dancer Philippa Waite (pictured below dancing recently in Germany) and a specially brought-together ensemble of local and interstate baroque musicians

Musicians will include Ariana Odermatt (spinet), Jennifer Brian (baroque flute), Aimee Brown (recorder), Richard Milner (recorder and viol), Owen Bingham (bass viol) and John Gardiner-Garden (baroque hurdy-gurdy), and they will be playing music from Praetorius to Purcell, Lully to the later Paris Opera.  

Dancing will alternate between displays and lots of participation. The displays will include Versailles courantes, bourrées, sarabands, passepieds and minuets and the ‘Masque of the Seasons’, newly reconstructed from a 1650 manuscript. Participation will be invited on French branles and cotillons, English country dances and lots of other fun Baroque-period dances. 

Display dancers will be in beautiful period costumes, but participants are welcome to come in any dress they like (casual is fine). 

It's an ideal Mother’s day outing—so bring family and friends.

Jane Austen Festival Australia 2018 - 3 days and evenings of dance

Albert Hall, Canberra

Georgian Era Dancing: Friday 13 April

featuring dances for the 18th century into which Austen was born

Georgian Dance School

9.00-10.30: The English country dance tradition—longways dances for the evening Pleasures (‘Hamstead Heath’, ‘Lord Nelson’s Waltz’, ‘Miss Bland’s Allemande’, ‘Peterson’s no.5’, ‘The Toast’).

11.00-12.30: The French ball tradition—styles influencing English ballroom (‘Blonde & Brune’, ‘Le Cordon Bleu’, ‘Nouvelle Pistolet’, ‘La Réverbère’, ‘Le Tourbillon’, ‘Passepied à quatre’, ‘Subligny’s minuet’).

1.30-3.00: The Celtic tradition—folk dances from Wales and Scotland known in England. (‘Aly Grogan & the Round O’, ‘Row Well ye Mariners all’, ‘Country Bumpkin for 9’).

3.30-5.00: The French folk tradition— back to roots with Mireille Haquet from France offering bourrées and rounds and others the long lived ‘Tricotet’ branle and ‘Congo minuet’.

Georgian Pleasures Evening 

Gather from 6:30pm for an evening of special guests, dances from the day’s workshops and supper. Dress Georgian, Regency or semi-formal.

7:00-8:10 Dancing with EDHDA players

CALLED FOR ALL: Row well ye Mariners (IV); Lord Nelson’s Waltz (VI)

DANCED by Workshop attendees: Aly Grogan & Round O (VI)

CALLED FOR ALL: Miss Bland’s Allemande (VI); Petersen’s nr.5 (VI)

8:00-8:20 Refreshment break with choir:

8:20-9:30 Dancing with Baroque ensemble

DISPLAY: Gigue à deux (V) and La Bachante (V)

CALLED FOR ALL: Sissone / Tricotet (V) and Le Cordon Bleu(V)

DISPLAY: Bourrée d’Achille (V) and DANCED by Workshop attendees: Passepied à quatre (V)

CALLED FOR ALL: Subligny’s minuet (V) and Nouveau Pistolet(V)

DISPLAY: medley of Le Cotillon & Cotillon des Surennes (V)

CALLED FOR ALL: La Blonde et la Brune (V) and St Martin’s Lane(V)

9:30-10:10 SUPPER BREAK into dances with French guest

10:10-11:00 Dancing with EDHDA players

DISPLAY: Bourrée medley (LD to Country 13)

CALLED FOR ALL: La Tourbillon (VI); La Réverbère (VI);

The Congo Minuet (VI)

Regency Era Dancing: Saturday 14 April

featuring dancing from the period of Jane Austen’s novels

Regency Dance School

9:00-10:30: The Austen-era country dance—dances for the evening ball (‘The Comet’, ‘The Russian Ambassador’s Waltz’, ‘Ah ça ira’, ‘Country Bumpkin for 9’)

11:00-12:30: Dancing in rounds and squares—Napoleonic era dances for-as-many-was-will in circles (‘La Batteuse’, ‘La Trompeuse’, ‘Français en rond’, ‘The Hussars Quadrille’)

1:30-3:00: Reels and Hornpipes—Anchors away! Lively dances and tunes that live on today (‘College Hornpipe’,  ‘Drops of Brandy’, ‘Hull’s Victory’, ‘Portsmouth’

3:30-5:00: Finishing dances—Waltz games and double-time dances to end an evening (‘La Boulangère’, ‘Grossvater’, ‘Rond de Rochat’, ‘Russian style waltz’ and ‘Keraus’ (‘clear out!)

The Grand Napoleonic Ball

Gather from 6:30pm for all the dances from the daytime workshops

led for all and a supper with song. Regency/Napoleonic or formal dress encouraged.

7:00-8:00 Dancing for all with EDHDA players

Grand March; Hussars Quadrille (VIII);

The Comet (VII)

La Batteuse (VII); College Hornpipe (VII)

8:10-8:30 Refreshment break with Grand Mazurka display

8:30-9:35 Dancing for all with EDHDA players

Français en rond (VII); Russian Ambassador’s Waltz (VII); Hull’s Victory (VIII); Ah Ca ira (VII);

Drops of Brandy (VII); Country Bumpkin (VI)

9:40-10:10 SUPPER BREAK with Jane Austen song

10:10-11:30 Playful dancing for all with EDHDA

La Trompeuse (VII); Grossvater tanz (VII);

Ronde du Rochat (VII);  Waltz in the Russian style (VIII); Keraus (VII).

Romantic Era Dancing: Sunday 15 April

featuring dances from the decades immediately following Austen’s death

Romantic-era dance school

9:00-10:30: Quadrilles—some of the most popular square dances of 1820s-30s (including ‘The Lancers’ and ‘Galopade Quadrille’)—

1:30-3:00: New cotillion dance games—fun to waltzes, mazurkas, polkas and galops from the 1820s to 50s. Games with hankies, fans, hats and chairs culminating in the ‘Charge of the Light Brigade’.

3:30-5:00: More quadrilles—squares and columns with fabulous figures and music (‘The Empire Quadrille’, ‘Quadrilles des Dames’ and ‘The ‘Can-can’ Quadrille’).

The Victorian Masquerade

Gather from 6:00pm in any era historical dress, with optional mask, for dances and games from the daytime workshops, displays of the latest crazes, supper & lots of farewell fun!

6:30-7:40 Dancing for all with EDHDA players

Cotillon dance games to ‘Queen of the Ball’ (X);

Pirates’ of Penzance Lancers (X);

1820s cotillion dance games to Collinet waltzes (VII); Galopade Quadrille (VIII).

7:40-8:00 Refreshment break with Grand Polka display

8:00-9:10 Dancing for all with EDHDA players

Empire Quadrille (VIII);

1830s cotillon games to Mazurkas (VIII);

Quadrille Orpheus (IX)

9:10-9:30 SUPPER BREAK and giving of thanks to all

9:30-10:30 Dancing for all with EDHDA players with Masquerade costume prizes

1840s cotillon dance games to waltzes (VIII)

Quadrille des Dames (IX);

Chair dance games to Polkas (VIII).

EASTER - NATIONAL FOLK FESTIVAL 

at Exhibition Park in Canberra 

  EDHDA will present 4 fully-participatory shows each with a different program, so come to all!

Thurs 29 Mar.  8:00-11:00pm OPENING NIGHT 'DANCING THROUGH THE AGES' - launching John's new books with 500 years of dance.

Fri. 30 Mar 10:50am-12:00 'DANCE GAMES' - reviving the fun of the past.  

Sat. 31 Mar 3:50-5:50pm 'MAD HATTER'S TEA DANCE' - Victorian era madness

Mon 2 April 2:10-3:10pm 'FAMOUS QUADRILLES' -  beautiful and exciting figures to amazing music.

Here are the proposed programs:

Thursday 29 March, 8-11pm, OPENING NIGHT ‘DANCING THROUGH THE AGES’

 

20 dances from across the 1400-to-1900 period covered by John’s new 33-book series Dancing through the Ages (on hand for viewing). The series contains instructions & music for, background on, and images pertaining to hundreds of dances - so choosing just 20 for this opening night sampler was a challenge!

 

After a display of a dozen Varsovienna variants set to what I believe is the first Varsovienna suite ever published (from the 1850s), we launch into our time-line:

 

From the 15th century two pan-European hits, ‘Rostiboli’ and ‘Eglamowr’, and from the 16th cent. two lively dances from northern Italy, ‘Spagnoletta’ (tune also known in England) and a jousting dance for trios ‘Squilina’.

 

From the early 17th century ‘Bourrée à six’ (with some figures and a tune that later became associated in England with ‘Parson’s Farewell’) and ‘Caccia d’Amore’ (‘The Love Chase’, you still find versions in America 300 years later).

 

From the late 17th century and early 18th century the cheeky English dance ‘New Bo peepe’, an early Parisienne masquerade dance where you mime shooting love at each other, ‘Nouveau Pistolet’, the first two dances in a suite of branles that used to open Versailles balls, ‘Sissone’ and ‘Tricotet’, and ‘Daniel Cowper’, a dance and tune from England that continue to be popular in 19th century Russia.

 

BREAK — grand medley of couples mazurka variants set to the first Mazurka suite recorded in England (by Hart, late 1820s, brought forward in the time -ine).

 

From the late 18th century, a mischievous English country dance by a German master, ‘Blessmanns nr. 1’, and a German form of a dance that was known in England as The Black Dance and France as The Galopade, ‘Petersen’s nr.5’.

 

From the 1st quarter of the 19th century the German finishing dance ‘Keraus’—loosely means, ‘Clear out!’ and a teasing dance from Paris (similar to others from Spain and England) called ‘La Trompeuse’ (‘The Deceiver’).

 From the latter half of the 19th century the big galoping dance-game ‘Charge of the Light Brigade’, the ‘Pirates of Penzance’ Lancers (sing along while you dance!)  and as a free finale, the amazing waltz/mazurka/schottische/ galop/polka medley ‘La Parisienne’.

Friday 30 March, 10:50am-12:00noon, DANCE GAMES

 

We might start with ‘Ballo del Fiore’ (‘the flower dance’—also done with candles) from 16th century Italy (popular also in France) and ‘The Cushion dance’ from 17th century England (versions all the way across Europe to the 20th century- sometimes called the kissing dance). We then jump to the 19th century for lots of fabulous waltz, mazurka and polka cotillon dance games set to music from the 1820s to 1870s, involving all manner of surprises and chance and all manner of props (from scarves to flowers, rings to chairs).

 

Saturday 31 March, 3:50-5:50pm, MAD HATTER’S AFTERNOON TEA DANCE

(Victorian era dress welcome- or at least a hat!)

 

We’ll feature the full ‘Varietés Parisienne’ quadrille (with tunes in every rhythm) and ‘Galopade Quadrille’ (set to the Offenbach’s tunes that went on to be associated with the Cancan), along with lots of fun dances with a twist, from a nine-pin reel (with dethroning the king!) that was first recorded under ‘Country Bumpkin’ and was later described as danced in mid-19th cent. NSW and a wild Caribbean off-shoot of the minuet that you do to reels, ‘the Congo Minuet’ (in period sources from US, France and NZ). We’ll offer lots more different dance games from the 1820s through to the 1870s set to waltzes, mazurkas and polkas (some involving cards and some hats) … and also a free varsovienna and polka challenge commemorating a famous Victorian era one (not to be missed… even if just watching).

 

Monday 1 April, 2:10-3:10pm, FAMOUS QUADRILLES

 

We’ll feature half of the figures of the thrilling Czech national quadrille ‘Beseda’ from 1863, the full 5-figures of the amazing ‘Quadrille des Dames’ from 1860 (one of my very favourite Quadrilles) and a reprise of the Cancan-music ‘Galopade quadrille’ from Saturday night.

 17 March—WELCOME-ALL BALL 

 7-11pm, at Canberra Baptist Church Hall, Currie St., Kingston.  

Our first since all our different classes have got underway- so come an make new friends!

Dancing through the Ages 

in the ANU Sports Centre, Sport’s Lifestyle program (www.anu-sport.com.au) $120-$160. 

Saturdays 3:00-5:30pm. 10 week course starts Sat. 24 February. Enrolments open early February.

In order to be part of this big fun class you need to book and pay in person and in advance at the ANU Sports Centre reception desk. For more information check out the Sport Union Dancing Through the Ages web page and the poster below.

*NEW*  GENERAL DANCE CLASS now running every WEDNESDAY 5:30pm (or whenever you can arrive) to 7:30pm 

at our home studio in Yarralumla.

Can be taken in conjunction with or separate from the ANU Saturday afternoon class (see above).

Cost is $120 for 10 week subscription and you can start your 10 week period whenever you like.

Phone 62811098 to let us know you'd like to join and we will give you the address. 

Subscription needs to be paid in advance, either by box below or coming a few minutes early to pay in person on your first evening.

Friday 23 FebruaryTwilight Fair

with lots of activities and yummy food stalls from 5:30pm

and some EDHA musicians and dancers from the EDHA contributing a free participatory dance session finale 7:00-7:30pm 

in the hall of the Canberra Baptist Church,Currie St., Kingston. 

Do join us! 

Saturday 17 FebruaryPirate Ball, 7-11pm

Drop anchor at the Canberra Baptist Church Hall, Currie St., Kingston. 

 

The ball will be prefaced at 6:30-7:00pm with the launch of Felicity Banks' new Pirate novel. 

We’ll have a dance or two in that ½ hour launch as well, and then it's on with the ball through to 11pm. 

Joining the band will be the wonderful cellist Gillian Pereira and her cello student ensemble, and together we’ll offer 20 fun dances from all eras (including some rollicking hornpipes, some dueling dances, 'the Pirates of Penzance Lancers' and dance games. 

Program danced: Not in exact order.

Farandole

New Bopeep

Row well ye Mariners

Caccia d’Amore (1)

Singing Quadrille

Petersen’s Englische 5 

Squilina

Money musk

Brando detta Alta Regina.

Les Contrefaiseur

Nouveau Pistolet

Bourree medley Country 13

Daniel Cowper (1)

Pirates’ of Penzance Lancers   

Hamstead Heath

Portsmouth

Polka medley- to Country 7

College Hornpipe.

Triumph

Collinet cotillion games

La Tourbillon

La Parisienne

Sat. 10 Feb. 9am-12:30pm 

HALF-DAY OF DANCE! 

  at our home studio in Yarralumla (phone 62811098 if you need address)

Start the year with great company and a dozen great dances in all styles (something for everyone!) 

- including some doozies we can go on to enjoy at upcoming balls (including at Pirate Ball the following Saturday- see below)

Followed by a picnic LUNCH under trees on shore of Yarralumla bay, 

.... and, to get us further in the mood for Pirate Ball the next week, some canoeing  (we will supply boats and lifejackets). 

Cost  $25 at the door—minus $5 if have already got your Pirate Ball ticket (or buying at same time), 

and minus further $5 if you have already paid for ANU course.

Earthly Delights Historic Dance Summer School

8-12 January 2018

9.00am - 12.30pm

All ages, all levels, no special dress or experience required. 

Teacher: John Gardiner-Garden    Inquiries: (02) 62811098

A wonderful horizon-expanding dance experience for any young person! 

Dances from the Medieval, Renaissance, Cavalier, Baroque, Napoleonic,Victorian and modern eras

500 years in 5 mornings!

 Here’s the list of dance’s enjoyed. All dances were danced by all participants - except for a couple of more challenging dances (marked with *) when the most novice dancer was invited to rest. In refreshment breaks original sources for all dances were shown and discussed, and some inspiring videos viewed. A lot of fun was had!

 

20 historical dances from the late 15th century to the late 19th century:

 

Gelosia, 4 cpls longways, Italy, late 15th century

La Danse de Cleves, bassedanse, France, late 15th century,

Dolci Amoroso Foco, 4 cpls longways, Italy (Caroso 1581)

Squilina, trio, Italian (Caroso 1581)

Brando detta Alta Regina, 4 cpls, Italy (Negri, 1600)

Glory of the West- 2 cpls, England (Playford, 1651)

The Spring, longways duple minor, England (Bray, 1699)

*Bourrée d’Achille, couple ballet, France (Pécour, 1700)

Hamstead Heath, 4 cpls longways, England (Young, 1718-)

Nouveau Pistolet, 2 cpl cotillon, France (Durlach ms, c.1720)

Le Tourbillon, longways triple minor, Belgium (Willsim, 1755)

Daniel Cowper, longways, England, 2 versions from late 18th through and early-19th century

Triumph, longways triple minor, England, 3 versions from late 18th t to mid-19th century

Money Musk, longways triple minor, England & America, 3 versions from late 18th to mid-19th century

La Parisenne, cpls (medley of waltz, polka-mazurka, schottische, polka and *galop), France, c.1900.

 

A polka medley made up of dance from John’s Lost dances of Earthly Delights to tune set of Autumn 10:

 

Fast Forward (Country 7) x 2

Peek-a-boo Polka (Town 15) x 2

The Courtship Polka (Autumn 13) x2

Wrong foot Polka (Autumn 10) x 2

 

A bourrée medley made up of dance from John’s Lost dances Earthly Delights bourrée medley to tune set of Country 13:

 

Quarter Short Square (Winter 3) x 4

Burley Griffin Bourrée (Country 13) x2

 

This bourrée medley was caught on video- see attachment.