Over the next couple of weeks I'll be doing dance at various events in the Steampunk style, that being a deliberate "punking" of Victorian costume, fashion, and pastimes. For me, this means tweaking Victorian dances -- altering their format, doing them to modern music, changing the moves, etc. -- while still keeping a generally Victorian framework. I'll also be doing some lectures and workshops with straight historical material.
This weekend, May 20-22, I will be appearing at the Steampunk World's Fair in Somerset, New Jersey and doing several dance-related events: a ball, workshops, and lectures, as follows:
Friday, May 20th, 4pm-5pm
Victorian Ballroom Etiquette Talk
Victorian ballroom etiquette for beginners. Proper bows and courtesies, how to perform introductions (and what you can do when youhave one) and the secret strategies of the dance card!
Friday, May 20th, 8pm-11pm
Formal Dance: The Big Brass Ball Part 1
Join us for a time-traveling formal evening at the Big Brass Ball! Enjoy Victorian and Victorian-inspired set dances and spin madly with your partner to romantic waltzes and lively polkas. No previous experience is needed; all dances will be taught by dance historian
Susan de Guardiola. Music will be an eclectic mix of modern and nineteenth century. Formal costume encouraged!
Saturday, May 21st, 2pm-3pm
Germans: Silly Victorian Dance Games
What those wacky Victorians got up to in the ballroom after a few drinks too many! Blindfolds, musical chairs, fan-slapping and more. Freud would love it!
Saturday, May 21st, 4pm-5pm
Victorian Dance Workshop I: Polkamania!
In-depth lesson on two popular Victorian ballroom dances, polka and
schottische and dancing to historical and modern music! No experience
needed!
Sunday, May 22nd, 3pm-4pm
Victorian Dance workshop II: Whirl of Waltz
The secrets of how to spin madly around the dance floor in Victorian-style waltzing to a wild mix of historical and modern music! No experience needed!
Then next weekend, May 27-30, I will head down to Baltimore, Maryland, for the science fiction convention Balticon, where I will do yet another Steampunk Ball:
Friday, May 27th, 10:00pm-midnight
Dancing in the Gears Steam Punk Ball
Attention all aeronauts, aethernauts, lady and gentleman adventurers, mad scientists, inventors, and other Steampunks and neo-Victorians! Join us at 10 pm Friday night at for a time-traveling formal evening at the Steampunk Ball! Become part of the living clockwork of Victorian and Victorian-inspired set dances and spin madly with your partner to romantic waltzes and lively polkas. No previous experience is needed; all dances will be taught by dance mistress Susan de Guardiola. Music will be an eclectic mix of modern and nineteenth century. Steampunk, neo-Victorian, or Victorian costume encouraged and admired but not required. Airships and time machines should be parked outside the ballroom. No sabers, ray guns, or clanks permitted on the dance floor.
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