Exhibit:

Balls and Dancing in Jane Austen's World

Assemblies, balls, and dancing are central to the plots and themes of many of Jane Austen’s novels.  Similarly, these events were central to sociability during the Georgian and Regency Eras, as they provided a socially acceptable setting for men and women to meet and begin forming relationships.  Knowledge of these aspects of society help readers to better understand Austen’s writing.  This exhibit displays various aspects of balls and dancing during the Regency Era, including assembly rooms, music, dancing styles, dress code, and overall ballroom culture and etiquette to provide historical context for the works of Jane Austen.