Would you like to have a Regency or other historic dance at your science fiction convention? We'd like to come and dance! Almost any historical period from the Renaissance on provides suitable material for a ball, and many SF/fantasy authors' works can provide jumping-off points. We specialize in putting on beginner-friendly events with dances carefully chosen to be easy to learn on the spot.

Here are some ideas:

Time Travel Ball
A series of easy set and choreographed couple dances moving chronologically from the 16th century through the 20th century. Great for all types of costumes (and easily combined with hall costume awards), very SFnal.

Steampunk Ball
Alternate late Victorian style ball with set dances and couple dances such as the waltz. Ties in with the early SF of Jules Verne and H.G. Wells as well as numerous modern SF authors. See Wikipedia's entry on Steampunk for more background on this genre.

Regency Ball
A sort of Regency ball is a long-established tradition at many SF conventions. Our balls use our own set of historically accurate dances, leaving out the historically difficult footwork, for a lively mix of country dances, quadrilles, and waltzes.

Barrayaran Ball
Elegant set dances inspired by the brief mentions of dance in the Barrayar novels of Lois McMaster Bujold.

Here's what's involved:

Space
Any medium-large program room will work. We do not need a dance floor. Chairs around the perimeter for people to sit on between dances and a water setup would be helpful.

Time
Dances generally run for two to three hours. Usually Friday night or Saturday or Sunday afternoons are the best times, unless your convention has no major Saturday night event.

Music
Enough sound equipment to play CDs audibly is needed; in a pinch we can make do with a large boombox. A microphone for the prompter is nice if the room is large or the attendance high.

Publicity
A link to EAS should be placed on your website and the group and the name of the instructor mentioned in your publicity materials.


The Elegant Arts Society will provide recorded music, a professional dance instructor, copy on the dance and on suitable costumes for your flyer, progress report, or website, and experienced dancers to help beginners. We're also generally willing to sit on panels on fringe fandom, weird fannish hobbies, and anything else our members have any expertise in. We will publicize your convention on our website, and if you wish to set up an email alias will answer inquiries directly.


Please email our manager, Meredith Schwartz, for more information about holding a Regency or other historic dance at your science fiction convention.

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