The Round organises a Playford Ball each year, and invites past and present members of the Round to attend. It is a formal but relaxed chance to pretend you have just stepped out of a Jane Austen novel. All the dances are called, so it isn’t too scary, but some familiarity with the dances is assumed, so if you haven’t done much English country dancing before it would be a good idea to come to some of the regular Thursday meetings during the Easter Term.
The Ball is held on the Saturday following the last day of Cambridge University Easter Full Term, so in 2026 it will be on Saturday 20th June. It will be held at the William Collyn Community Centre, Wellbrook Way, Girton, Cambridge CB3 0GP. There is a small car park next to the Community Centre, and a larger one a short way beyond it.
The band will be The Small Square Band, comprising Jeremy Brookman on keyboard, Amy Brookman on violin, Will Winter on viola and Matthew Vernon on recorder.
Dance-programme cards will be available on the door.
Dress code: black tie or period costume preferred. Comfortable footwear recommended.
Drinks will be served at 7:00 p.m., dancing 7:30–11:45 p.m. with an interval for supper.
Food
This year the whole supper will be bring-and-share, first course as well as puddings. We shall provide wine and non-alcoholic drinks. Please contribute something if you can: cold savoury dishes, salads or puddings, and add an entry to this google spreadsheet to tell us what you plan to bring. Please indicate where dishes are vegetarian, or cater for those on a restricted diet, or contain ingredients that are not obvious. Many thanks.
Tickets
Admission is by ticket only, £15 for students, £20 for others. To buy tickets, go to https://buytickets.at/theround/2220877.
Programme
Brief reminders of the dances are available as an A4 pdf file that can be downloaded from Ball_cribs_2026.pdf.
Never Love Thee More |
| INTERVAL and Kentucky Running Set |
The Indian Queen Extras
Waters of Holland |
Kentucky Running Set has nothing to do with Playford dancing but it is traditional for some to run a set or two during the interval.