About Us
Many of us remember the 1996 BBC Production of Pride and Prejudice when Mr Darcy and Miss Elizabeth Bennett danced at the Netherfield Ball. It was in 1996 that Elspeth Reed founded the Jane Austen Dancers to give many of us the opportunity to imagine ourselves transported back to an age of elegance and to give us the confidence to dance in a very different way, quite alien to the dances of the current time. We were taught some of the etiquette, footwork, and dance patterns, often working on dances which had not been seen for over a hundred years. The dances are mostly from the late Georgian and Regency period when dancers were confident that they knew the dance steps and patterns before they attended the local assemblies and balls. Elspeth was not only an excellent dance teacher who researched many of the dances from printed fans and other sources in museums but she was also a professional historic dress designer and helped to ensure we all had suitably authentic costumes
Bath is a favourite location for many film companies and as a result, since 1996 the Jane Austen Dancers have taken part in many television productions where dancers in Georgian/Regency costume have been in demand.
Jane Austen Dancers is run by a commmittee of volunteers
Sue Law is our Director of Music who provides us with live music for our practices and classes and has her own Ensemble for public balls and performances.
Over the years as well as our filming activities, we have enjoyed our own balls, presented numerous workshops, taken part in festivals and helped to celebrate weddings, birthdays and other private events. It has been an exciting time and now we would like to bring in new members to pass on our expertise and give them the thrill and fun of dancing in the way that Jane Austen and her contemporaries might have enjoyed.
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