Our performances
We have a range of dances in our repertoire, and tailor our programme according to the venue and the event. Some of our dances are from original 18th century choreography, others are choreographed especially for us by our dancing mistress, the professional baroque dance expert Sarah Cremer. These are danced to the music of the great baroque composers, such as Bach, Handel, Lully, Mozart, Purcell and Rameau.
As well as these 'formal' minuets, sarabandes and bourrees, we know a range of informal country dances, and like to include audience participation in these whenever possible. These country dances, or contradanses, are relaxed, simple and lively, and can be taught in a few minutes. Some of them can even be played as a kind of 18th century party game, a little like a dancing version of musical chairs!
As well as dancing, we sometimes perform short humorous readings or dramatic pieces as part of our programme. For example, we have pieces on fan language, ballroom etiquette, and at a recent 18th century masked ball we even portrayed George III and his court for the evening!
We perform wearing splendid recreations of ballroom wear of about 1760. Many of these were made by Suzi Clarke.
Previous performances
We have performed at a wide range of venues and events. The most recent of these include:
We have also performed at:
- The Banqueting House, Whitehall
- Osterley Park
- West Wycombe Park
- Strawberry Hill
- Shugborough Hall
- The Wallace Collection
- The Tate Britain gallery
- St. John's, Smith Square
- Stanmer Park (with the Hanover Band)
- The Heritage Education Trust
- Scope
- The Royal Academy
- The various charities of the Knights of Malta in Austria and Germany.
- The Hurlingham Club
- Somerset House
- Chiswick House
- The Pump Room and Assembly Rooms, Bath
We have also held workshops for young people - at schools and universities or for youth organizations - and performed in church halls, at a wedding reception, in school gymnasia, and in a restaurant!
Foreign tours have included visits to Morocco and Belgium, two tours of Poland, three tours of the USA, three visits to Germany and two visits to Austria, dancing at Schloss Wimsbach, Schloss Tilisburg and Schloss Kammer.
We have occasionally performed for television or film productions, such as the drama documentary 'Marie Antoinette'.
Book us!
We are always looking for opportunities to dance, so if you are interested in having us perform for you, please do contact us. We are amateurs and have no fixed fee but usually negotiate a contribution towards our expenses. For events far outside London, our hosts usually help us in some way with accommodation. For events abroad we usually require some help with transport costs. We dance to the music of the great baroque composers, such as Bach, Handel, Lully, Mozart, Purcell and Rameau, and will bring this on cd, however we sometimes dance to live musicians, and can provide professional musicians at their daily rate.
