Dr Heather Blasdale-Clarke will be presenting two workshops, and a section of the ball at the Sydney Regency Weekend. This event is sold out.  Contact the organisers to be added to the mailing list.

Sydney Regency Weekends are proud to presents the fifth annual A Regency Affair at Exeter Village; a costumed Regency weekend held in the heart of the Southern Highlands at the historic Exeter Village Hall. All the delights of a weekend in the country, with dance classes, a ball on the Saturday night, and with indoor and outdoor workshops and activities for all.

Workshop 1.

The Village Maid.

Friday 15th May at 3:30pm

The beautiful flowing Regency dress allowed women a great deal of freedom of movement. The advantage of this was manifest in the new and exciting steps they could now dance. Together with soft ballet slippers, flesh coloured tights, and shorter hemlines women, could point their toes and enjoy a new level of artistic expression.

Join dance historian Dr Heather Blasdale-Clarke to learn the Village Maid, a graceful ladies’ solo dance. The melody was first published in 1789 and was also popular for country dances. It’s a relatively easy dance and having just a little dance experience will make the it both achievable and enjoyable for most people. Gentlemen are also welcome to learn this elegant dance because Regency gentlemen loved to dance too!

Workshop 2.

Currency Lasses Quadrille

Saturday 16th May at 9am

This June marks the 200th anniversary of the Currency Lasses Quadrille, a significant milestone in Australia’s cultural heritage. First danced in Sydney in 1826 at a private ball where “the muses and graces mingled together most harmoniously,” the music was composed by Tempest Margaret Paul. It is the earliest known surviving instrumental composition written in Australia—and notably, dance music.
As no original instructions exist, a period-appropriate version has been devised in consultation with leading quadrille authority Ellis Rogers. This single-figure quadrille will be taught in this workshop, alongside a selection of Regency dances known in the early colony.