The Farms: Dances of the Gilded Age: A Fancy Dress Ball

You won’t want to miss the final class of Dances of the Gilded Age, which will be A Fancy Dress Ball on Monday, March 3 from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Mansion.

Led by instructor Jeanette Watts, the evening will be devoted to dance party games called “Germans”, along with mixers, quadrilles, set dances and the two most popular dances of the early 1900s — the waltz and the two-step.

The dress code? Masks are not required, but with it being the day before Mardi Gras it would be a great time to wear one! Fancy Dress, which at one time basically meant Halloween, refers to attending as a historical figure, character from literature or other fanciful thing (a peacock, a butterfly, even an electric light!). So pull out anything you’ve worn to a Renaissance festival, or that tuxedo/prom dress at the back of your closet and come join the revelry!

If you haven’t attended previous sessions of Dances of the Gilded Age, you should still get to the Fancy Dress Ball. Class members will be happy to show you the ropes!

The evening will also include a potluck; contributions to the table are welcome.

$30/person. Register here by Feb. 28. All sales are final.

It’s also not too late to sign up for other individual classes of Dances of the Gilded Age. Get more information and register here.

Learn more about the space where your course will take place here. If you will need disability-related accommodations in order to participate, please email owarren@illinois.edu.

By attending, you consent to your image being used in Allerton marketing, social media and publications. Please alert the photographer or videographer if you do not want your image taken.

About the instructor

Jeanette Watts has been teaching historical dances for over 20 years. She is the founder of the Terpsichorean Delights Dance Assembly in Dayton, Ohio, Queen City Vintage Dance in Charlotte, North Carolina, and spent covid writing an 8-volume series of instructional dance manuals for historical museums.

About The Farms

The Farms: An Allerton Folk School, offers classes, workshops, and gatherings focusing on art, health & wellness, history, nature & outdoor education, or science. All experiences value hands-on, experiential teaching and learning, and are facilitated by and for the members of the community.

See the complete Spring Session schedule here.