About this event

What type of dancing would Jane Austen have done? Are the dances in the film adaptations of Austen’s works something her characters could have danced? What is the only dance mentioned by name in an Austen novel?

Join Dr Helen Davidge as she explains the social dancing which Jane Austen would have been familiar with. Helen will set 18th-century contra dance and Regency dancing in historical context and discuss the in-text references to dancing in Austen’s novels.

Speakers

Helen Davidge is a classically trained, experienced historical dance teacher, having taught contra dance and Baroque dance in both Europe, East and South East Asia. Collaborating with Wicked Music People, Helen was the first person to perform and teach Baroque dance in Malaysia in modern times. She has performed Baroque dance with the UK early music groups Academy of Ancient Music and Follia; and was the dance mistress for the first professional theatrical production of Death Comes to Pemberley. She now runs the Georgettes of Oxford, an 18th century and Regency society.

Event information

• This talk is available to attend both in-person and online.
• Please note that the talk will not be recorded.

Attend in person

• You can attend this event in person. It takes place in the Sir Victor Blank Lecture Theatre at the Weston Library.
• The Weston Library is wheelchair accessible. Find out more about accessibility at our site.
• Please note: only bottled water is permitted in the lecture theatre. No food or other drinks are allowed.

Attend online

• You can also register to attend this event online via Zoom. You will receive joining instructions for the Zoom webinar in your order confirmation email.