Save the Date: December 27th, 2025
At the ball, we dance a number of Victorian dances. Some of them are simple, some complex, and some have choreography that must be learned.
We have two main types of dances:
The group dances are taught right before they are danced, at the ball. You don't need to know them in advance. If you are new, the one thing to know, is don't take the lead position at the top. If you do, you will be expected to teach the dance!
For the couples dances, like the waltz, we have classes.
On the day of the ball, we teach a longer afternoon class, which is $15.
This is also a shorter, 30 minute class right before the ball. This class is included in ball admission.
You can also practice before the ball at the locations listed below.
On the afternoon of the ball, in the same location, there is a 2½ hour dance class taught by Tom Hill, Amelia Thomas and Robert Galloway.
The price for this class is separate from the ball admission, and is $15, payable at the class.
We'll be teaching the Waltz, Polka, Schottisch, Mazurka, Galop and the Congress of Vienna Waltz, a choreographed dance.
Note that, as this is a Victorian Ball, we teach the Victorian form of the Waltz. Anyone who is familiar with other versions of the Waltz should have no difficulty learning the Victorian style in an afternoon.
Most people attend the class in street clothes, changing after the class for the ball.
You will, of course, want your dance shoes for the class. Any shoe you can turn in, on a wooden floor will likely work. Avoid grippy athletic shoes, platforms and spike heels!
This class is included with admission to the ball
This is a half-hour introduction to basic Waltz, Polka and Schottische.
If you are new to dancing, we recommend the afternoon class, half an hour is a very short time in which to learn to dance.
If you are not already a dancer, taking any couples dance class before the ball will help: swing, tango, etc.
For those who are interested in teaching dance, please take a look at the book How to Teach Ballroom Dancing.
This is a book for teachers (NOT STUDENTS), on teaching ballroom dance, written by the senior instructor at the Gaskell Ball.
Note this is a book on teaching dance, not a book that teaches the dances from the ball.