Halsway is excited to offer a new masterclass of steps, patterns, music and manners, not forgetting that all-important ballroom etiquette. Join dance teacher and caller Georgia Delve for the midweek Halsway Winter Regency Retreat. As an extended, more challenging version of the weekend Regency Assembly, this longer residential course is a chance to immerse yourself for an in-depth study week looking at specific dancing masters, exploring Georgian period dances from around the world, and learning some of the more complex and unusual dances from the Regency era.
Aimed at more experienced Regency country dancers, this Monday evening to Friday morning course will allow more focus time for revisiting and building up repertoire as a group throughout the week. Each day will follow a rough pattern including a morning warm up with step revision followed by a focused session on a specific subject; Cotillions, Quadrilles, country dances, dancing masters, international dance fashions. Each afternoon will be either an optional workshop or downtime to rest, explore the library or enjoy the local area. The evenings will consist of various themed mini-balls (costumes welcome!) to share and celebrate the day’s achievements together.
Who is it for?
The Halsway Winter Regency Retreat is a course designed for dancers with experience of either Regency or English Country Dancing. Each session will be tailored to the abilities of the attendees present, and as a longer residential course some sessions may be duplicated to allow for smaller group work and down time. Costume of the period is welcome and encouraged, especially for the evening assemblies, but not essential. The course will build on your existing skills and techniques, and offer new repertoire to help you practise there.
Places are limited on this course so do book before it’s too late.
The Team
Georgia Delve is a professionally trained dancer, ballet teacher and dance caller for historical events, calling for the wider Georgian and Victorian periods, but specialising in the social country dances of the Regency era. She teaches workshops and residential courses focusing on the technique and style of period dance, as well as performing, teaching and advising on historical projects for TV and film. Georgia is passionate about keeping historical dance alive and accessible for everyone. Her teaching is enjoyable, informative, and tailored to the abilities of the dancers present.
Chris Green and Richard Heacock (The Warleggan Village Band) with Sharon Lindo will be providing the music.
The Warleggan Village Band was first convened in 2014 to play for the dance sequences in BBC TV’s Poldark and has since been a regular favourite at Halsway Manor. With further appearances in the hugely successful Netflix series Bridgerton, the band is renowned for its exceptionally inventive playing of English country dance music from Playford to Regency times, bringing joy and energy to dancers and listeners alike. They are much in demand for Regency dances throughout the UK. Chris Green (guitar, piano) is a regular musician at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre. He also tours as a solo artist, and as one half of GreenMatthews with his partner Sophie Matthews. Richard Heacock (violin) also played in Boldwood, producing their first CD ‘Feet, Don’t Fail Me Now.’ He now plays at European maritime festivals with The Sea Band and is a regular musician at Halsway.
Sharon Lindo enjoys exploring different styles of music, leading to performances in venues and festivals as diverse as the Bruges Early Music Festival, Sidmouth Folk Festival and even Glastonbury! She has worked with many of the country’s leading Early Music ensembles including The Sixteen, Consort of Musicke, His Majesty’s Sagbutts and Cornetts, The Broadside band and the Dufay Collective. She is a principle player with Devon Baroque and leads Marches Baroque orchestra based in Hereford Cathedral. Sharon is a tutor for Baroque strings at Hawkwood College in Stroud and has directed workshops in Baroque playing for Bath Spa University, as well as teaching private students.