Jane Austen evenings

From time to time the Round holds an evening of dances from Jane Austen’s time. Her novels often feature dances and balls, but with one exception don’t mention the names of any of the dances. These evenings give an opportunity to do some dances from the late eighteenth century — dances that she and the characters in her novels are likely to have danced.

The evening usually begins with Formal Hall dinner in Emmanuel College Hall at 7.30 p.m., followed by an evening of dancing from about 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. in Emmanuel Old Library. (We have held Jane Austen dances in Downing Place URC when the Old Library wasn't available.) See the diary page for details. The dances will be explained by our callers, and walked through, so no previous experience of them is needed. There will be many people present who are familiar with the dances and can help you through them, and we generally change partners after each dance, so there is no need to bring a partner.

Some people who come to these events like to wear period costume, or other formal dress, but that is not obligatory.

If you enjoy the Jane Austen evening you might like to come to the Round’s regular Thursday evening meetings, where we do a wide range of dances in the English style dating from the mid-seventeenth century through to the present day.