I have tried numerous forms of dance and the one I fell in love with and do most often is Vintage Dance or Historical Dance), which includes the English Regency (circa 1790 to 182) and the Victorian era (1837 to 1901). The historical, cultural and costume aspects of dance are of special interest to me. It’s like being immersed in the past or being part of a movie shoot.
Regency dance was the time of Jane Austen and the dances popular then were country dances and cotillions. These dances are lively and romantic. They have balletic footwork (when done in period-correct style) and incorporate the social graces of the era. I mostly do this with BAERS (Bay Area English Regency Society). My BAERS web page has photos from various BAERS events I have attended. I have also done related dance styles such as English Country Dance, Scottish Country Dance, Irish Set Dances, Irish Ceili and Contra Dance.
Victorian dance includes the Rotary Waltz, Polka, Mazurka, Schottische, Redowa and Reels. I mostly do this with PEERS (Period Events and Entertainments Re-creation Society). My PEERS web page has photos from all the balls I’ve attended. At these balls, which have different historical, literary and even scifi/fantasy themes every time, I have also done a bit of Medieval, Renaissance and Baroque; Ragtime (Foxtrot and Tango) and 1920s (Charleston); and 1930s-1940s (Swing).