The Bay Area English Regency Society (BAERS) celebrates the spirit of England (and occasionally other countries in Europe as well as America) in the late 18th through the early 19th centuries. This was the time of Jane Austen and the Napoleonic Wars.
BAERS holds informal second-Friday dance parties in Palo Alto and three or four fancy dress (or costume) balls in various cities in the Bay Area. The dances come from English Country tradition, from Regency-era dance manuals, and from modern choreography done in the manner of the time. They are set to music by classical composers such as Mozart, Schubert and Beethoven or to traditional country dance tunes. Music is provided by a live band and may range from the elegant to the rowdy.
I started with BAERS in 2003 and currently hold the position of Secretary/PR/Outreach. I do mailings, publicity, coordinate volunteers and have also organized a few balls. I’m also one of the official photographers for BAERS and my photos can be found in the Gallery on the BAERS website.
Here’s a photo of me and Christopher at the BAERS Sanditon Ball in September 2013:
