About this event
Interested in 18th-century country dances?
Join Georgia Delve, Matthew Coatsworth and the Warleggan Village Band for a free day celebrating the launch of The Scaramouch, a new book and recording inspired by country dances from the Bodleian Libraries’ archives.
Following their popular 2024 Playford Ball and events at the Bodleian Libraries, the day features three dance workshops, a concert of music from the book, and a talk exploring Thompson’s Compleat Collection of 200 Favourite Country Dances (1757) and the project’s creation.
Tickets are free, but booking is essential if you would like to take part in any of the workshops or attend the talk.
All are welcome (no experience needed). Each workshop will feature different dances:
| 11.30 – 12.10 |
Dance Workshop 1 |
Blackwell Hall |
| 12.30 – 13.15 |
Talk and performance |
Sir Victor Blank Lecture Theatre |
| 14.00 – 14.40 |
Dance Workshop 2 |
Blackwell Hall |
| 14.50 – 15.30 |
Dance Workshop 3 |
Blackwell Hall |
The Scaramouch is a collection sheet music, dance interpretations, notes and source images. The accompanying recordings and the book, are available to purchase online, or you can purchase them and other books and recordings from the Warleggan Village Band at this event.
Speakers
Georgia Delve is a professionally trained dancer, ballet teacher and historical dance caller specialising in the social country dances of the Regency and wider Georgian periods. She has performed in historical productions for television and film, choreographed for stage productions in the UK and abroad, and is passionate about keeping historical dance alive. Her teaching is informative, encouraging and carefully tailored to the experience and confidence of everyone in the room. Together with Matthew Coatsworth, she has researched and interpreted dances featured in two books, The Warleggan Assembly and The Scaramouch, both accompanied by recordings by the Warleggan Village Band.
The Warleggan Village Band (Richard Heacock, Matthew Coatsworth and Chris Green) first came together in 2014 to perform the dance music for the BBC's Poldark. Since then, they have become firm favourites across the UK and beyond, as well as appearing in Netflix's Bridgerton. Renowned for their imaginative, spirited performances of English country dance music from the Playford period through to the Regency era, they bring warmth, energy and joy to every dance floor.
Event information
