Nahant Victorian Dance Weekend

2017 Nahant Schedule Overview
Times and exact details are subject to change

Thursday, August 10
	2 to 4 pm	Sewing Circle	Bishop Home
	6 to 11 pm	Formal Dinner and Dancing	Nahant Country Club
Friday, August 11
	10 am to 12 noon	Costume Workshop with Sue Fischer (small fee; kit available)	Nahant Knights of Columbus
	1:00 to 3:00 pm	Dance Class: The Black Bottom with Idy Codington	Nahant Knights of Columbus
	3:30 to 5:00 pm	Dance Class: Pivots Class with Jeanette Watts	Nahant Knights of Columbus
	7 to 10:30 pm	Silent Film with organist Jeff Rapsiss	Nahant Knights of Columbus
Saturday, August 12
	10 am to 12 noon	Vintage Bazaar	TBD
	2:00-3:00 pm	Dance Class	Nahant Town Hall

	3:15-4:45 pm	Beginner Dance Workshop, Ben Bishop	Nahant Town Hall
	7:30-11:00 pm	Grand Ball: An Evening in Vienna with Spare Parts	Nahant Town Hall
Sunday, August 13
	1 to 5 pm	Afternoon Tea, Concert and Promenade	Nahant Village Church
	1 to 2:30 pm	Concert: From the Stage to the Dance Hall—dance tunes from popular theatre with Spare Parts
	2:30 to 4 pm	Formal Afternoon Tea
	4 to 5 pm	Informal Dancing with Spare Parts
	5 to 6:30 pm	Victorian Promenade to East Point
Monday, August 14
	10 am	Optional Monday Outings	Lynn & Boston, MA
	10 am	Fabric Shopping at Zimman's
	1 to 2:30 pm	Tour of Gibson House Museum Beacon Street, Boston, MA
	3 to 5 pm	Swan Boat Rides and Promenade in the Boston Public Garden

If you are interested in buying some period style fabrics we suggest you head over to Zimman’s fabric store in Lynn for some shopping. For those of you unfamiliar with Zimman’s, it has an impressive array of high-end decorator fabrics, silks, linens, wools, and cottons, perfect for period costuming. Their basement clearance section can offer some huge discounts.

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2017 Nahant Victorian Dance Weekend Schedule

Thursday, August 10, Nahant, MA.

Sewing Circle: Last Minute Fixes
Costume Repair and Finishing with Katy Bishop & Sue Fischer, 2:00 - 3:30p
Bring your unfinished projects, fitting problems, and questions to this informal, hands-on session. If there are gents in the house, maybe we’ll even learn how to tie a bow tie or cravat! Period hairstyle advice will also be available if you need to create a hairstyle for tonight’s dinner dance. Katy’s extensive costume resource library will also be available for research. Please let us know in advance if you will be attending.

Formal Dinner and Dancing with Dan Gabel and the Nahant Society Orchestra
at the Nahant Country Club, 6:30 - 11:00p
Our formal Dance Holiday begins with a wonderful repast followed by dancing as we meet new friends and catch up with old ones. Before dinner, enjoy the sunset from the piazza or stroll in the garden while sipping a cocktail; dinner will be served at 7:00p. We’ll dance the night away to the fabulous live music by Dan Gabel and the Nahant Society Orchestra playing Ragtime and Jazz for your dancing pleasure. Those of you who attended the Providence dance week last year will remember Dan and his authentic Jazz Age sound from the gala 1920s opening ball at the Biltmore hotel.

The musical program will begin with turn-of-the-century tunes during dinner, and gradually progress through the 1910s and 1920s, concluding with some hot jazz to lift your spirits. Suggested attire is formal evening wear of any era, with an emphasis on turn of the century through 1920s dress if you so desire.
(Hors d’oeuvres, dinner, cash bar)

Friday, August 11, Nahant, MA
all events at the Nahant Knights of Columbus Hall

Costume Class: Ribbon Flower Hair Ornament, with Sue Fischer, 10:00a - 12:00n
Make a new accessory for the ball!
Each person will create a ribbon flower (2" - 3" diameter) and leaf assemblage and attach it to a hair clip or comb (or pin if you like).

Class fee will be $7 and includes 1-1/2" ribbon to make one large flower and leaf, crinoline for mounting, and the clip, comb, or pin. When registering for the class, please specify your choice of ribbon color (pink, lilac, peach, or blue) and whether you would like a clip, comb, or pin. Please bring your own sewing supplies (scissors, small needles, and heavy thread).

We encourage you to bring additional trims to decorate your hair ornament; feathers, lace appliques, extra ribbon, decorative buckles or brooches, tassels, etc.
Dance Class: The Black Bottom with Idy Codington, 1:00 - 3:00 pm
In the afternoon Idy will lead us in her ever popular Black Bottom choreography. Idy is delighted to share the choreography of the dance that people of the 1920s thought would outlast the Charleston… the extremely popular Black Bottom. This fast, energetic and fabulously fun dance was taught to Idy in almost thirty years ago by Warren Hayes, founding member of England’s Jiving Lindyhoppers. We have a two hour slot to learn it on Friday afternoon and we will find time and space to dance it together during the weekend. Come prepared to yell OOO, EEE, AAH, OHHH during the poses and get set to dance in a way that would scandalize people from the 19th century. Comfortable clothes and flexible-soled shoes are recommended for the class.

Dance Class: Pivots with Jeanette Watts, 3:15 - 4:30 pm
Comfortable clothes and flexible-soled shoes are recommended for the class.
Silent Film, 7:00 - 10:30p
After dinner on your own, we’ll meet back at the Knights of Columbus Hall for a silent film. Upon arrival you can grab a drink and snack and enjoy a lovely view of the sunset over Boston from the gazebo. The film will be Buster Keaton’s “Seven Chances”, with live organ acompaniment by Jeff Rapsiss. After the film we will have dancing to recorded music.

Saturday, August 12, Nahant, MA.

Vintage Bazaar, 10 am - 12 noon
We will shop ’til we drop at the vintage bazaar. We always have a wide array of vintage items for your shopping pleasure. Let us know if you wish to reserve a table

Dance Class: TBD, 1:30 - 2:45p

Dance Class: Ballroom Basics with Ben & Katy Bishop, 3:00 - 4:15p
The pre-ball beginner workshop will introduce the figures of the Nahant Quadrilles and go over the basics of waltz and polka for beginners. This class is designed for ball attendees who need a basic refresher just before the evening’s ball. Comfortable clothes and flexible-soled shoes are recommended for the class.

The Grand Ball: An Evening in Vienna at the Town Hall, 7:30 - 11:00p
Enjoy this evening of 19^th century dance and music evoking the Belle Epoque Vienna of Strauss & Lehar, plus a scrumptious offering of refreshments, at the historic Town Hall. Music will be by Spare Parts; they will welcome Larry Unger on Bass as an additional “Spare Part” tonight! Dances will be a mix of Set Dances, the Nahant Quadrilles, Waltzes, Polkas, and Galops from the second half of the 19^th century. There will be a dance card, but there will also be many extra dances not on the card. Suggested attire is evening wear 1860-1900; this is a good venue to accommodate a hoop skirt if you’ve been waiting for the opportunity. Changing space will be available.
(Savory & sweet refreshments, punch, fruit, home-made sorbet)

Sunday, August 13, Nahant, MA.

Concert: From the Stage to the Dance Hall—dance tunes from popular theatre
with Spare Parts, 1:00 - 2:30p
After a morning of shopping, sightseeing, or sleeping-in, we will conclude the Nahant portion of the week with a relaxing afternoon, starting with a concert by Spare Parts featuring music from the dance hall era.

Formal Tea 2:30 - 4:00p
After the concert, we’ll enjoy a Formal Tea with John Burrow’s famous scones!
(Tea, scones, light sandwiches)

Informal Dancing, 4:00 - 5:00p
After tea, Spare Parts will return with a program of 19^th & early 20^th century tunes for dancing.

Victorian Promenade,
5:00 - 6:30p (approx.)
The day will conclude with a seaside promenade to East Point, the former site of the famous Nahant Hotel. There you can marvel at almost 360-degree views of the rocky shore, open ocean, Boston skyline, lightouses, and more. We ask that everyone remove their belongings from the venue before the promenade.

Monday, August 14, Nahant, MA.

Museum Tour and Boston Public Garden

In the afternoon we will meet at 1 pm in Boston at the Gibson House museum; they are opening specially to give us a private tour. The Gibson House Museum is an historic house museum, located at 137 Beacon Street in the Boston’s Back Bay, preserves the 1860 Victorian rowhouse occupied by three generations of the Gibson family. The Gibson family had a summer house in Nahant, which is now a privately owned estate near East Point. After the tour we will stroll in the Boston Public Garden, where we can enjoy the gardens and ride the famous Swan Boats, which have been in operation since 1877.

THE MUSIC IN NAHANT

Spare Parts

The music for the Nahant events will be provided by Spare Parts: Bill Matthiessen, Liz Stell, and Eric Buddington. On piano and flute, Bill and Liz play romantic couples dances, hot contras, and historically accurate programs for Regency (Jane Austen era), Victorian (1860s), Gilded Age (1890s) and Ragtime. Argentine tangos, milongas, and vals are a special passion of theirs. Liz and Bill usually play as a trio with violin.

Our Spare Part for the weekend, Eric Buddington, switches effortlessly between fiddle and violin. He excels at Argentine tangos, waltzes, and milongas; he also joins Spare Parts for Regency balls, Ragtime balls, and English country dances as well as contras and concerts. He performs with on The Regency Ballroom and Returning Heroes CDs. Formerly (and occasionally still) with the Flying Garbanzos, Eric also performs with several other ensembles.

Larry Unger will be joining Spare Parts on Saturday evening playing the bass.
--More information at Spare Parts homepage.

We will be dancing to music of the period. Many of the tunes come from sheet music dedicated to Nahant, such as the Nahant Polka and Nahant Quadrilles. If you are interested in enjoying the music ahead of time, we have produced the Dancing by the Shore CD with Spare Parts.

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DINING & LODGING

There are no hotels on Nahant itself, these are the two closest hotels and a B & B with easy access to Nahant:

Comfort Inn & Suites, 781-485-3600
85 American Legion Highway (Route 60 near 1A), Revere, about 20 minutes away.
Sheraton, Four Points, 781-284-7200
407 Squire Road, Revere, about 20 minutes away.
Ocean View B & B, 781-598-6388
email: ocean@shore.net, 11 Ocean Street, Lynn, 10 minutes away
Informal period ambiance

Other hotels and Bed & Breakfast listings can be found on our Lodging and Dining page.

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Frequently Asked Questions

DO I NEED TO BRING A PARTNER?
Though a partner of one’s own is a help at a ball, please don't let the lack of one keep you away! During the ball, folks mix and dance with many different partners throughout the evening. We also do not Gender Balance so singles will not be placed on a waiting list. Many singles, both male and female, attend the ball. Proper 19^th Century etiquette encourages dancers to dance the first and last dance with the person they came with, but to dance with many different partners during the rest of the evening.

CAN I JUST COME AND WATCH?
The ball is great fun to watch (almost as fun as actually dancing). There is a great view from the Balcony, something of a Busby Berkeley experience during the Quadrilles and Contra Dances. There is no fee for watching, but donations are appreciated especially if one wishes to partake in refreshments.

CAN I BRING MY CHILDREN?
Children are welcome at the ball if they are accompanied by an adult, and they must be well behaved and supervised during the Ball. Younger children, if they wish to participate in the dancing, might be admitted for a reduced fee.

WHAT TO WEAR? (or do I have to wear Victorian clothes?)
The perennial question that confronts one when getting ready for a ball is "What shall I wear?" For our vintage Balls, we encourage our patrons to wear dress that is either period-style or evocative of the period or theme, but modern formal or semi-formal wear is also equally acceptable. Please don’t let the lack of period or formal clothing keep you away from the ball; the most important thing is for you to come and enjoy the evening. For this Ball, a modern full-length gown, full enough in the skirt to allow freedom of movement, would be just fine. For the Gentlemen, a suit and tie is also an acceptable alternative to white tie and tails or a tuxedo. For those who wish to recreate the mid (1850-60s) or late (1880-90s) Victorian Era, we have created a guide with illustrations of some of the styles worn during this time; please visit the Fashion Section for detailed information about proper period dress and the Costume Timeline for a selection of evening fashions 1850s-1890s.

WHAT TO WEAR--MORE DETAILS
Period clothing is not required at any of the weekend’s events, we usually have a mix of attendees in period dress and modern formal or semi-formal wear. Don’t let the lack of period clothing keep you away, wear what make you comfortable (no jeans or t-shirts please) and enjoy dancing. The following is an overview of what period dress might be appropriate each day. Remeber that modern dress is welcome at any of the events (no jeans or t-shirts please)

1890s ladies At the formal dinner on Thursday night, the setting will be late 19th century, so elegant evening wear, period or modern is recommended, especially fashions of the 1880s and 1890s. For the Friday evening Soirée the layout of the rooms might make hoopskirts cumbersome, so we are recommending bustle era through early twentieth century fashions.

Costumes of the late Victorian era, the 1850s through 1890s are encouraged at Saturday’s ball.

Summer whites of any era, especially those of the early 20^th century, and hats, are encouraged at the concert and tea. The music of the concert will be ca. 1914-1918.

Visit the Evening Dress Timeline Page for a selection of evening fashions from the 1850s-1890s, or the Costume library for a number of links to pages detailing fashions of various eras.