We promote the study, practice, education, and public engagement in the performance, music, and costume of European and other dances from the 15th to 20th centuries as recorded in the sources of the period.
If you’re looking for information about historical dances, or maybe some music or video footage, please contact us and we’ll be delighted to help you.
Explore our website to learn more about our workshops, study days and annual summer schools, as well as the publications, journal and resources available to members and non-members.
Day course: Dance like a Tudor
An introduction to dances of Queen Elizabeth’s court Saturday 5th October 2024 10.30 – 16.30 St Pancras Church House, 1 Lancing Street, London NW1 1NA Teachers: Ann Hinchliffe and Helen Young What kind of dances did the Tudor court enjoy? Was dance important at the Tudor court? What were the dances mentioned in Shakespeare’s plays?…
The Early Dance Circle Conference 2024
The Early Dance Circle (EDC) Biennial Conference will be held 10-12 May 2024. The Conference brings together international specialists on historical dance topics spanning six centuries of dance history. The theme is Recovering Historical Dance.
Summer School 2024: Strictly Victorian
Bookings are now open for the 54th Historical Dance Society Annual Summer School to be held from Friday 12th to Friday 19th July 2024 at Bromsgrove School, West Midlands, B61 7HP (Weekend course also available)
Tutors: Birte Hoffmann-Cabenda, Sam Gosk and Libby Curzon
New Journal articles: Nathalie Dolmetsch
We have published online in Historical Dance a short piece entitled ‘Music and Movement – Music and Dancing – Dancing, Movement and Music’ by Nathalie Dolmetsch (founder of the Historical Dance Society) that was recently given to HDS by Louise Bailey, her daughter. This is accompanied by a biography of Nathalie Dolmetsch written by Anne Daye.
New book and CDs: Dances of Fashionable Society
Dances of Fashionable Society: Cotillons, Quadrilles, Country Dances, Couple Dances and a Solo 1762 – 1887, a book and two CD set by Ellis and Christine Rogers, is now available in the HDS shop as a physical product or download
Proceedings of the Stepping On conference are now available
The proceedings of Stepping On: A conference on Stepping in Dance held at Cecil Sharp House, London on Saturday 16th and Sunday 17th November 2019, edited by Toby Bennett are now available to download or buy.
Read more… Proceedings of the Stepping On conference are now available