As Bridgerton sashays back into the spotlight with its release of Season 4, I’ve found myself entranced by the fabulous costumes, romantic drama, and choreographed dances that unfold within its glistening ballrooms. While Bridgerton’s portrayal of dance culture is fictionalized, it nonetheless captures nostalgia for an era that feels increasingly distant to the digital age.
Throughout the Regency era and into the 20th century, dancing seemed to strike a balance that was both structured and social. Established choreography provided organization and familiarity, yet dances also maintained a distinctly social focus that fostered community. Today, the most common forms of dance usually unfold within nightclubs and ballet studios rather than ballrooms. While these modern developments in dance are uniquely fabulous, they appear to leave a gap between casualness and formality, a void which was until only very recently filled by a tremendously popular communal pastime: attending a local dance hall.
The Social Centrality of the Dance hall: 1918 – 1960
Between 1918 and 1960, dance halls were all the rage across the UK. People flocked to these multifaceted venues for leisure, community, and exercise. In a fascinating book entitled Going to the Palais, James Nott, a lecturer at St Andrews, writes that this period represents a ‘revolution in popular dancing’, where dancing became significantly more accessible. Vast numbers of dance halls opened across the country, and dances, such as the legendary Charleston, had fixed choreography, which gave participants the chance to learn and be part of a wider cultural phenomenon.
Part of the popularity of dance in this era can also be attributed to female participation and empowerment. While pubs and music halls were frequently perceived as rowdy institutions, behavior at dance halls was comparatively regulated, offering its attendees a secure environment. Women were thus able to socialize, thrive athletically, express themselves through dress and movement, and garner autonomy within the public domain. The atmosphere of the dance hall championed community and approachable entertainment.
Following this era, the dance hall began to buckle in the 1960s. Rising individualism, the marketing of music toward listeners rather than dancers, and various cultural factors contributed to this decline.
Dance in the Modern Day
Dance today is undoubtedly different than it once was, but people continue to crave and pursue it. The prevalence of dancing at clubs, Zumba classes, and ballet studios shows that while dance can change, it still remains a beloved pastime. However, these popular forms of modern dance fulfill comparatively niche roles that deviate from the historical centrality of dance for the general public.
A prime example of an attempt at rebuilding social dance culture is TikTok dancing. At the onset of the pandemic, finding a way to stay connected was critical. While TikTok dances are distinct from historical popular dance culture, they strive toward similar principles: fun, connection, and visibility. Especially in 2020, they were a way to see and be seen, find enjoyment in a time of isolation, and maintain social links. However, while digital dance was a passable substitute in a period where physical separation was essential, it also promoted a reality removed from tangible bonds. Watching a video of someone dancing cannot replace going out with friends and mingling with fellow community members in a face-to-face setting.
Opportunities for Social dance at St Andrews
Today, while a night out at the club with friends or a class at a studio are splendid ways to dance, it is vital to also have an accessible middle ground that balances ease and organization, celebrates community, and provides vibrant entertainment. And, luckily, St Andrews does offer some wonderful opportunities to participate in dance in a way that maintains the social essence of its previous eras of popularity. At the Union, students swing and twirl together to live music at Jazz Night. Ballroom Dancing, Swing, Salsa and Bachata, and the Caledonian Society also provide structured, yet exuberant atmospheres to dance and socialize.
My personal favorite way to dance, which I believe especially embodies traits that are vital to social dance culture, including community, structure, and accessibility, is attending a ceilidh. In St Andrews, locals, university attendees, and tourists gather each Saturday for a ceilidh at Forgan’s. Participants can chat between dances (if they’re not too out of breath from spinning and prancing), steps are taught before the beginning of each dance, allowing anyone to join regardless of prior experience, and it’s complete with a live (and lively) band. The annual St Andrews Day Ceilidh also offers a unique dance experience, where people of all ages fill South Street in a joyous frolic. The ceilidh is social, organized yet relaxed, and provides the perfect occasion for some good old-fashioned fun.
Even if culture today slants toward increasingly solitary tendencies, it’s crucial to continue to foster face-to-face connections. While opportunities to glide through a gilded ballroom in an empire-waist silken gown are seldom found in the modern age, there are plenty of other occasions that can certainly offer their own fizz of exciting entertainment.