Social Dancing Schools Costumes: Country Trends


Figure 1.--This drawing depicts Signor Mazaer's Dancing Academy in Montreal during 1872. It was labeled "New Cathedral Block". I'm not sure what that mean. The boys wear both long pants and knickers.

Given the importance of dancing in most European counties as well as America and Canada, dancing schools were opened. We believe that this is a largely 19th century or Victorian era development, reflecting the rise of the middle class. Aristocratic or other rich children did not need to attend dancing schools. There parents would simply engage a dancing master or tutor. It was middle class families that would in the 19th century take advantage of these schools. There were also substantial differences among countries. This is a topic, however, that HBC has only begun to address. The clothing worn was usually a boys' best suit and thus to the extent images are available provide information on fashion differences between countries.

America

HBC begins to notice the first organize dancing schools being organized iun America during the mid-19th century in the larger northeastern cities. Dancing classes undoubtedly ocurred earlier, but was less formalized. They were often called acasdemies. Often they were founded by foreigners, especially French or Italians. Recent imigrants also played an important role in these schools. American mothers probably assmed that Italian or French dancing masters would be more competent than native Americans. The growth of the middle class as part of the expanding American economy after the Civil War undoubtedly created increasing demands for dance instruction. The increasing number of middle class children meant that there was a need for more schools. Many of the parents came from humble origins and were very interested in ensuring that their sons and daughters had the needed social graces.

Canada

We believe that these dancing schools or academies generally followed the same pattern as in America. We do not know if there were differences among the English and French communities.

England


Framce


Germany

A German reader tells us, "In Germany it is an old tradition for teen girls and boys of the middle and upper class to attend a dancing school in winter. You find them in all bigger towns, even more than one. Usually you do it with your classmates with about 15 to 18 years of age, the boys one year elder than the girls, a group of 20 to 30 of each gender. The lessons are once a week in the early evening for 2 hours in the rooms of the school or in another appropriate environments. You learn the classical dances (waltz, fox, rumba, tango, boogie-woogie etc) and modern dances whatever is just en vogue. The most important event is the „Abschlußball“ at the end with a life band and parents invited. I include a picture of my „Abschlußball“ in February 1952, we were 17 years old. On Sunday afternoon, the dancing school usually offers an open dancing where former pupils may learn more figures. Adults may attend a dancing class in late evenings. Folks dancing (polka, laendler etc.) may also be learned, more in villages and with interested groups, organised in traditional associations very often in combination with a folks music band."

Italy










HBC






Navigate the Historic Boys' Clothing Web Site:
[Return to the Main dancing school and lessons page]
[Introduction] [Activities] [Biographies] [Chronologies] [Countries] [Style Index]
[Bibliographies] [Contributions] [Expanded Site] [Frequently Asked Questions] [Glossaries]
[Boys' Clothing Home]



Navigate the Historic Boys' Clothing Web chronological pages:
[The 1890s] [The 1900s] [The 1910s] [The 1920s] [The 1930s]
[The 1940s] [The 1950s] [The 1960s] [The 1970s]



Navigate the Historic Boys' Clothing Web style pages:
[Main social dance page]
[Main dance page]
[Ballet] [Irish step]
[Kilts] [Highland] [Native American] [Tap]



Created: October 20, 2001
Last updated: 7:39 PM 8/15/2004