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Jane Austen Society of Australia

<< Back to more JASA writings on Pride & Prejudice

Pride & Prejudice Study Day, 2002
Dancing

Dancing with
Mr Darcy
... and avoiding Mr Collins

Some of the members who enjoyed the dance demonstration at the 2002 Pride and Prejudice study day asked where they could learn similar dances. There are quite a few bush dance or colonial dance groups in the Sydney area. Many of their dances come from the English Country Dances of Jane Austen’s time, updated and simplified for modern tastes. Some also teach the traditional country dances as part of their repertoire. Ring the contact person and see if the dances are what you’re interested in, and suitable for your level of fitness.

Parramatta Folk Dance Group. I’ve danced with this group and can recommend them, even if you have to travel a bit. They do dance Sir Roger de Coverley, not quite the version we did, but to the music Jane knew. Their regular class is a Thursday evening but they plan a beginners’ afternoon for a Saturday in July, and would put Sir Roger on the programme if asked. Ring Nancy, 9477 1141.

Australian Colonial and Folk Dancers, in Eastwood, St Andrew’s Church Hall (next to BBC Hardware) Friday evenings. They dance things like The Lancers and quadrilles, which Jane would also have known. I can recomend them personally as well; it’s a good group for beginners. Ring Anthony or Lisa, 9873 4805.

Patricia Early runs the Playford Dance Group at Berala on 3rd Mondays. Playford published books of country dances in the 18th century, Jane’s time. Patricia also has a daytime class in the City, Wesley Centre on Fridays I think, for over 50s. Ring Patricia, 9649 6978.

Australian Heritage Dancers at the Annandale Neighbourhood Centre on Tuesday evenings are unknown to me, but ring Jim Young, 9412 3721.

Pennant Hills Community Centre: a bush music club dance workshop runs here on Monday nights. They welcome beginners. Ring Mark, 9638 7690.

If you live near my area, Bundanoon, I sometimes have a dance afternoon. Get in touch if you’re interested and I’ll put you on the list.

Julia Ermert, juliae@mitmania.net.au

A young lady had to be able to conduct herself becomingly in a ballroom. By doing so she was able to display her conversational skills, her elegance of dress and deportment, her education in the steps of the dance, and, most importantly, was able to engage the interest of the opposite sex.

In a book on etiquette written in 1811 by ‘a Lady of Distinction’(1) , the pleasures of the ballroom were described thus:

The spectator of a well-ordered English ball sees, at one view, in a number of elegant young women, every species of female loveliness. He beholds the perfection of personal proportion. They are attired with all the gay habiliments of fashion and of fancy; and their harmonious and agile movements unfold to him, at every turn, the ever-varying, ever-charming grace of motion.

Thus far his senses only are gratified. But the pleasure stops not there. His best feelings receive their share also. He looks on each gay countenance, he sees hilarity in every step; he listens to their delighted converse, communicated by snatches; and, with a pleasure sympathizing with theirs, he cannot but acknowledge that dancing is one of the most innocent and rational, as well as the most elegant, amusements of youth.(2)

This description is as much about the opportunity provided for the young ladies to display their charms, as it is about dancing, but, of course, without that basic knowledge of the steps one would make a sad partner. Remember Elizabeth Bennet’s discomfort when obliged to dance with Mr Collins.

The first two dances, however, brought a return of distress; they were dances of mortification. Mr Collins, awkward and solemn, apologising instead of attending, and often moving wrong without being aware of it, gave her all the shame and misery which a disagreeable partner for a couple of dances can give. The moment of her release from him was exstasy.(3)

Mr Collins’s lack of skill on the dance floor displayed both his self-absorption and his faulty education. Children of gentle breeding would have had instruction in simple country dances from an early age and would have practised their dancing skills at informal gatherings of family and friends such as those Austen describes at the Coles’ party in Emma, or the Lucas’ party in Pride and Prejudice, or the evening entertainment at Uppercross in Persuasion.

So that members present would not be guilty of the same faults as Mr Collins, Julia Ermert then instructed them in the steps of a simple country dance.

Pamela Whalan

1 A Lady of Distinction, Regency Etiquette: The Mirror of Graces (1811) R.L.Shep, Mendoccino, 1997
2 Ibid. pp. 175-176
3 Austen, Jane Pride and Prejudice (1813) The Folio Society, London, 1975, pp. 80-81

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15 June 2002

Pride & Prejudice Study Day, 2002 Dancing

Dancing with Mr Darcy ... and avoiding Mr Collins

Pride & Prejudice Study Day, 2002
Dancing

Dancing with
Mr Darcy
... and avoiding Mr Collins