WESTERCON 63: CONFIRMATION
CONCHORD 23
Regency Dance
Fans seem to be amused by the aristocracy of the English Regency (about the year 1800).
Regency ballroom dancing will be an evening Social Event at Westercon 63: Confirmation, and has become traditional for many cons.
Period costume, or S.F. or fantasy, or cosplay, are welcome but not required. Don't worry if you don't know how, I'll teach you.
Mostly I think it's Georgette Heyer's fault. Heyer, a 20th century Englishwoman, published three dozen Regency romances, deft, delightful,
and historically accurate. Fuzzy Pink Niven and Mary Jane Jewell addicted me to them twenty years ago. Marty Massoglia,
proprietor of A & M Bookcellers, says she is his bestselling author.
In a monarchy, a regent rules while the monarch is alive but unable, because of youth, long absence or illness, or like that.
England has only one regent in modern times; strictly speaking, for only nine years starting in 1811, but the Regency Period probably begins about 1790
and runs through the early 1820's. It was the day of Jane Austen and Napoleon, when the cut of a man's coat was as important as his politics,
and "Beau" Brummell offended the Prince Regent by asking "But do you really call that a coat?"
Since we don't have to live then, we can play at it. Do join us, especially if you're at least reasonably frivolous
Text copyright © John Hertz
