Der Große Jane Austen Ball

B A L L P R E P A R A T I O N I I
Etiquette of the ballroom
by Peter Hoffmann
16th - 19th June 2025 • Eichstätt

What is gallantry?
The gallant dealing with loved ones at a ball
may be innate to some and does not need to be learned further,
but the knowledge of contemporary behavior
and etiquette is always a helpful support.

It is still the case that good behavior is the ticket nowadays,
but many of the social rules of Jane Austen's time are simply no longer familiar,
indeed they may seem a bit strange to the uninitiated
and should be rehearsed in such a way that they underline the natural grace.

Life at court still follows strict rules that go back to Charles V,
who, with the Spanish court ceremony, subjected not only the subjects,
but also the rulers and the entire court life to very strict rules
and precisely specified processes.

The dance masters played an important role
in this from the very beginning.
In many of her works since the Renaissance
there are not only dances and dance steps,
but also sets of rules for life at court and behavior at balls.

We already knew rules of behavior from the Renaissance.
In the beginning there were rules about things
that are almost taken for granted today,
which are mentioned in the corresponding chapters of the dance books,
later increasingly complex processes that determined the common interaction
and everyday life and over time filled entire books.

As we know from Jane Austen's novels
and other sources around 1800, or can read about it,
the balls of the season were
extremely important events for high society.
They were there, especially for young ladies,
to be introduced into society.

A real marriage market to meet young men
outside the family who were looking to get married
and to find a suitable match.
The fact that a lady who danced more than two rounds
with a man was considered engaged
and the fear of being blamed as a stigma
without an engagement after the first ball season
shows for me how important dancing
was still considered at that time.

In order to take away the drowsy,
lecture-like effect of the behavior lessons,
it will now be integrated into the workshop day and the dance lessons
will be peppered with various exercises for reverence,
taking a seat and sitting, and the breaks will be loosened up
with anecdotes and examples on behavior.

So there is no separate course and there is no separate registration
for each participant in the dance courses.
In an entertaining and enjoyable way, you will learn some
of the rules of the Regency.
And in joint exercises we will cultivate courtly interaction
with one another and thus develop a gallant game for the ball.

P R O G R A M