Details
Our bi-annual Regency style Ball, with dances mostly from Jane Austen’s time and top notch caller and musicians: Beverly Francis and Alchemy. We’re planning an afternoon Ball practice and evening experienced dance on Saturday, April 26. On Sunday April 27 there is another practice in the morning and the ball in the afternoon. We usually open Ball registration on Valentine’s day.
Preparation: Dancers should have prior experience with English Country dancing and be at least 17 years old. Even though dances at the Ball are walked through and prompted, we strongly encourage dancers to take advantage of our prep sessions, practices, and the Ball instructions & videos provided here. Dancers will give themselves — and their partners — the greatest pleasure if they are already familiar with the afternoon’s program before the Ball. Prior English Country dancing experience is expected for this Ball – it is not intended for first time dancers.
Dances will be chosen from the following list:
Click on a dance name to see video. Dance instructions will be available here very soon. Those instructions take priority if the videos differ in interpretation.
Schedule of Events
Sundays, March 30, April 6 & 13
2:30 – 5:00 pm: Ball prep sessions, at First Rochester Church, 175 Allens Creek Rd, Rochester, NY 14618. $5 per session. Newcomers to English country dancing should attend all Ball prep sessions. We welcome everyone to also attend our usual beginner-friendly evening dance on those days at the same place.
Saturday, April 26
10:30 am-2:00 pm: JASNA Luncheon and Talk by dance historian Allison Thompson. All are welcome. Location and cost TBA.
2:30-5:00 pm: Ball practice led by Beverly Francis at First Rochester Church with music by Alchemy, $10; pay at the door, credit cards accepted.
5:00-6:15 pm: Potluck dinner. Food contributions welcome but not essential.
6:30-9:30 pm: Experienced English dance, at First Rochester. An evening of challenging but rewarding dances and old favorites. Solid familiarity with English country dancing assumed; basic figures will not be taught and walk-throughs will be minimal. Music by Alchemy, dances taught by a cavalcade of regional callers. $25. Pay at the door, credit cards accepted. Open to all with the needed skills — you don’t have to be coming to the Ball.
Sunday, April 27
9:00 am: Welcome table opens at the Memorial Art Gallery, 500 University Ave., 14607. Changing rooms are available. Your Ball nametag will give you free admission to the art gallery (a value of $14 – $25), open 11 AM to 5 PM. We will be holding a silent auction featuring some fine items. We will accept cash, check or credit card as payment.
10 am-Noon: Final Ball practice at the MAG Ballroom, led by Beverly Francis with music by Alchemy. Included in the Ball ticket price.
Noon – 1:45: Lunch Break . An optional salad and sandwich buffet lunch will be available at the MAG, costing around $25. We will send lunch information out to registered ticket holders in March. Restaurants are available nearby for those who’d rather eat out. This is also a good time to change into ball attire.
1:45: Minuet demonstration.
2:00 -5:30 pm: The Ball, with beverages throughout and pastries mid-way.
Further details
Registration: register and pay online, or download a registration form to print and mail or bring in. Note that Saturday events of the weekend do not require registration.
If you need to cancel, contact the registrar, so that someone else can use your spot. If you cancel by April 10, we will give you a full refund; no refunds thereafter except for medical reasons, unless we can find someone to take your place.
Dress: Regency period attire is encouraged but anything formal or dressy is fine. Lisa Brown of Regency Rentals will again be offering rentals of Regency era costumes by appointment. Contact her at to inquire. Lisa’s guides to Regency Ball attire for ladies and gentlemen may also be of interest.
printable flyer with dance information.
Food options
Saturday
There will be a pot-luck dinner between the Ball practice and the advanced dance. There should be enough food to support people coming from a distance. If you’d rather eat out on Saturday, or need a bite before the ball practice the following restaurants / Groceries are close to First Rochester Church:
Walking
- Basha: Mediterranean food. one block west of the Church along Clover. There is a pedestrian crossing at the Railroad Loop trail.
- Whole Foods: backing up on the Church. Go NW along Allens Creek Rd to the Railroad Loop Trail, and follow it south to Whole foods.
- Starbucks and Jersey Mike’s Subs: south of Whole Foods along Monroe
Driving – go south on Clover and turn either direction on Monroe Ave. There are multiple options available for both fast food and fine dining.
Sunday
Walking
- on-site sandwich and salad buffet: In March the menu and cost will be published on the web page and sent out to registered participants.
- The Brown Hound: The Memorial Art Gallery restaurant. Reservations recommended for a table, some items available a la carte
- The Gate House: across the street in the Village Gate. Reservations recommended.
Driving: go south on Goodman to either Park Ave or Monroe Ave and turn left. There are multiple dining options on both streets.
Caller
Beverly Francis
Beverly Francis finds English country dance endlessly fascinating after more than four decades. She is Country Dance New York’s leader of longest standing and has called dances up and down the East coast as well as across the country and in Canada. Beverly has a particular fondness for country dance in the time of Jane Austen and has called many dances for the Jane Austen Society of North America, New York Metropolitan Region, as well as two balls for the national JASNA.
Band
Alchemy
Karen Axelrod: piano & accordion, Eric Martin: violin, viola, vocals, Rachel Bell: accordion, vocals
Alchemy is Karen Axelrod, Rachel Bell, and Eric Martin, three dynamic players steeped in traditional English Country Dance and Contra Dance music. Individually, they have performed across the United States, Canada, and Europe. As a trio, their improvisatory style brings a contemporary and innovative feel to both traditional and newly composed tunes and songs.
Alchemy invites the dancers to share in a sublime dance experience ranging from intensely energetic to the kind of exquisite, nuanced beauty that tugs at the heart strings. Click here to listen to some of their music.
