Historic Ballroom Dance

I have discovered something wonderful.  A group of people that love to dress in costume and walz.

There are two reoccuring events that I attend regularly:
Gaskell's Ball and PEERS

Gaskell's (Ye Gaskell Occasional Dance Society) is a Victorian Ball that has a live band that plays walzes, polkas and other ballroom dances. The Balls are every other month.  It is typically held at the Scottich Rites Temple in Oakland. The dance floor is wonderfully large.

PEERS (Period Events and Recreation Socitety) is similar to Gaskell's but will do different themed Balls from early history to science fiction. There are about 10 a year.  Typically, the Balls are held at the Masonic Temple in San Mateo.

80's New Wave

I came into my own in the mid-80's. Since I love dancing so much and hated being asked to dance, I was estatic when I found a nitch that you could dance by yourself or with 10 friends.
For over a year, I went dancing between 1 and 6 nights a week.
I also adored the dress styles of the New Wave scene.
Now that we have finished with the 90's and are in the 00's, it is hard to find that kind of dance. I did find a fun place with New Wave City for a few years. It has since gotten popular and crowded.  Also my stamina is down.

Swing

There has been quite the craze about Swing in the last few years in the San Francisco Bay Area.

I really enjoy West Coast Swing and would love to learn Lindy Hop.  Some things have kept me from exploring it further.

I don't have a regular dancing partner.  I keep teaching new partners and never get to progress past the basics.  I also don't like to know a great deal more than my partner because then I feel that I am being held back.

The clubs out here are crowded. Because of the popularity of Swing, the dance floors are full.  Hopefully this will die down.

My stamina is not up to snuff. Hopefully the rest of my life will settle into some kind of routine and I can add Swing at that time.

Home

Page created March 2002