Georgettes of Oxford

Full programme for the Georgian Festival in Buxton at the end of September, with the 18th Century/Regency card games run by the dance mistress of Georgettes!

For this week's Member's Monday we are focusing on experienced Regency dancer Mark Craske:
I’d always liked ceilidhs and was introduced to proper historical dancing at beginner level by the Society for Creative Anachronism while I was on a work secondment to America in the late 1980’s. On my return to the UK a friend who did the Kentwell Tudor Recreations suggested that the Wars of the Roses re-enactment group we were in could enhance their displays by adding dancing. I also learnt to play renaissance recorder for the dances.
We had several reenactor friends, one of which was a professional folk dance teacher and caller who did Playfords and also knew some Italian dances of the 15th and 16th centuries, so we started our own renaissance dance group and were taught by her in Basingstoke until she became a full time historical interpreter at Historic Royal Palaces. My friend, who I went with to many dance workshops by other professional teachers including Anne Daye, then led the group and taught us, branching out more fully into the more challenging 16th century Italian court dances in which we specialised. It’s still in existence, but I’m the only founding member left.
Having seen beautiful performances of Georgian and Regency dances at annual Early Dance Circle Festivals I was beginning to think about learning those periods too, so in 2002 when what is now Hampshire Regency Dancers started up in Wi******er I went along to their classes together with a friend who lived in Eastleigh, but it was a long way from home and I was too tired for work the following day so after less than a year I dropped out.
In November 2015 I attended a German 1830’s large formation dances workshop weekend in London tutored by Isabel Suri where I met Libby Curzon who told me that she was running a Regency dance class in Surbiton. I promised that I’d give it a try, attended my first class there in April 2016, found it to be very friendly and relaxed, and was hooked! In 2017 I had my first Regency clothes made for and started attending Balls. I met Helen Davidge at those classes so when she proposed creating Georgettes of Oxford for those interested in the Georgian era, and would be teaching dances of the period with their footwork, I came to the inaugural meeting at The Ashmolean and was smitten.
My favourite Georgettes event so far was our display at Claydon House in Buckinghamshire in August 2023.

Here is our final Sancho dance at Broughton Castle from our display there last month: The Duchess of Devonshire’s Reel, one of our favourite dances, dancing to the recorded music of Charivari Agréable.

Georgettes’ dance mistress will be travelling up to Buxton at the end of September to act as hostess for the Buxton Georgian Festival’s Georgian card game evening on Friday the 27th of September. For only £10 you can join in with recreating an 18th century gambling establishment in the beautiful Buxton Pump Room.

LIVE TALK » Buxton Crescent Heritage Trust Georgian Week: 25th September evening talk by Richard Gaunt, University of Nottingham.

In this video we’re back at Broughton Castle in Regency this time, where we danced last month; performing Charles Ignatius Sancho’s Widow Wadman from 1776 to recorded music by Loki Music

All throughout the summer we are featuring a member across our social media accounts.
Today’s Member’s Monday is Lydia Pratley:
Having read Jane Austen novels at school and University it was the genteel manners that peaked my interest. Once I had heard of the Bath Regency week, I Lydia, dreamt of going to the Ball.
With no visitation by a fairy Godmother to my Northamptonshire village, I had to rely on my own sewing skills and the internet to get to a Ball.
My first foray was to a 'Pride and Prejudice' Ball, Worcester 2022. Dancing in the Georgian era Guildhall I was smitten by the atmosphere, dancing and the kindness of the dancers.
March 2023 it was a great pleasure to be able to join the Georgette's at the inaugural meeting in the Ashmolean Museum. Although living too far to take part in every talk or dance practice, I think that the activities that Helen organises are varied and stimulating. In particular the Ashmolean gathering, the first summer picnic, the textiles display at Whitney and our tour of Bath lead by Annette will remain in my memory.
I do appreciate Helen's energy and Thank her for setting up the Georgettes.

We had a lovely evening last night attending Charivari Agréable's "Oxford Early Music Festival" by Candlelight recital ‘Le Roi Danse’ at Exeter College, Oxford Chapel on the Baroque dance music of the 17th and 18th century. The very beautiful music played skilfully on period instruments sounded very danceable to, and we could certainly see ourselves in a mantua minueting to it in the Palace of Versailles. Hearing such authentic playing certainly brought the glamour of Louis XIV’s court to life.

Looking forward to this anthology of Regency short stories coming out later this year, with one written by Penny Hampson Author, who came to speak to us last year about writing a Regency novel

I'm excited to share with you the cover of A Winter's Romance, an anthology of Regency short stories by six different authors. My story, A Christmas Wish is set in Bath. A Winter's Romance will be up for pre-order on 4th September.

And this week for Member’s Monday we are introducing you tour member Lana Al-Shami:
I initially joined the taster session a year ago, thinking it'll be a one-off class I'd attend just to get a flavour of a new style of dance. It was such a welcoming atmosphere, with people from different backgrounds and dance experience that I ended up coming back regularly. It's a great activity as it not only gets you moving but it's a workout for your brain too as you need to memorise sequences for the dance steps. Joining the Georgettes has led to many exciting opportunities such as dancing at amazing venues like Claydon House and Broughton Castle, being featured in a BBC report and learning to sew a Georgian costume!

For this week's Member's Monday we are featuring one of our newest members, Justine Sober:
I saw the Georgettes of Oxford perform on the BBC In a beautiful old manor house to live classical music. If I'm being honest it appealed to my inner Jane Austen nerd. I was Intrigued. I found their website and read about the dance classes. To my great delight the classes were only half an hour away from my home. After a free trial lesson we were hooked. To quote Jane Austen, "To be fond of dancing was a certain step towards falling in love" (Pride & Prejudice). Regency dancing is such fun we have fallen in love with it!
Many thanks to Helen and the Georgettes for creating this historical dancing group and welcoming us into it!

Go and give London based classical music consort and Regency dance group The Capability Consort - Regency dance band a like!

The Capability Consort - Regency dance band Musician/band

While Georgettes has a break over the summer, once a week, on a Monday we will be featuring a member across our social media accounts.
Today’s Member’s Monday is Sarah Brett:
I’ve been enjoying Regency or historical dancing for about 15 years, since a reenactor friend invited me and my sister to the Bath Minuet Company’s Georgian ball which is held every spring in the beautiful Guildhall in Bath. I enjoy dressmaking and making my own costume is a very enjoyable challenge!
The most memorable events from the past 15 years include the glorious Regency ball I attended at the Brighton Pavilion in 2015. The ballroom there is the most spectacular I’ve seen. Then in 2016 I attended my first European ball, in central Budapest, where we danced in the beautiful Festetics Palace as well as attending a musical soiree the next evening, all in costume.
I was delighted when Georgettes started up in 2023 because there has never been a Georgian dance group in Oxford while I’ve lived here so it’s really lovely to be able to attend regular lessons with a friendly and welcoming group, and finally perfect my footwork!

Thought all historical food was complicated to make? Here’s an example of ‘cheese on toast’ from Martha Lloyd’s Household Book, part of which was written during the time she lived with the Austens. Apparently cheese on toast and mead were favourites of Jane Austen.
The Household Book can be purchased from the Bodleian: https://bodleianshop.co.uk/products/martha-lloyds-household-book

Jane Austen's Favorite 5-Ingredient Snack Is Also Mine—It's So Delicious Martha Lloyd, who spent years living with Austen, documented a recipe in her household book, detailing one of Austen’s favorite meals. It calls for five ingredients, two of which surprised me.

As part of their Summer concert series in Oxford, award winning early music ensemble Charivari Agréable's "Oxford Early Music Festival" by Candlelight has a programme of 17th century baroque dance music, which they will be performing three times in the beautiful chapel at Exeter College, Oxford University, with the first performance today:
24th of July - https://www.facebook.com/share/i6Bfhq1HMsnwJy6e/
6th of August - https://www.facebook.com/share/YEj5SrVp5dd2JCQL/
18th of August - https://www.facebook.com/share/69P11c53VKh4S9iA/
Links for tickets below.
Come and hear the dance music from Louis the XIV's court played on period instruments!

Oxford Early Music by Candlelight Summer Festival Oxford Early Music Festival