I wrote this piece a few years ago, but looking at it again I can see that the basic topic is ultra-fashionable in academic circles at the moment!

A word I have not yet used in connection with early dance is sociability, that arena where politeness appears in its most scintillating lustre. I have not mentioned sociability before now because this is a very difficult concept for those outside the UK early dance world to understand. In my efforts to explain it I must consider the normal behaviour to be encountered at an early dance gathering in England. My observations hold good whether the gathering is in London or the provinces, whether it is small or large, whether it is a dance class, a ball or even a conference. At all of these events similar patterns emerge. They individually and collectively reveal the meaning of the word sociability within the context of UK early dance.

Imagine that you are a stranger coming to a UK historical dance event for the first time. What happens when you enter the room? People may be in small groups conversing together. They may be alone, observing some private but completely polite early dance ritual. All will, sooner or later, turn to look at you and scrutinise you from head to foot. If they do not recognise you, they will turn back to what they were doing and completely ignore you. Do not be offended by this. The UK early dance word has its own, absolutely authentic, hierarchy mirroring that of the historical periods in which they are completely immersed. As an outsider, you have been consigned to the bottom of the heap and must expect to be treated with disdain.

You must wait to be spoken to before you can utter a word. This is just one of the rules of historical dance society. Everyone – except you – will know this. If you put a foot wrong (particularly while you are dancing) you will be told of your error loudly and disdainfully. Do not respond! Blush and look down with modesty. If you know you are in the right, keep it to yourself. If you speak up on your own behalf, great offense will be taken and nobody will speak to you.  Of course, nobody will speak to you anyway because you are at the bottom of the UK early dance social scale.

 Here are a few rules to remember when it comes to sociability within UK early dance (unless you are an insider and may behave as you please).

• Never speak unless you are spoken to;
• Never ask anyone to dance if you are at a dance class or a ball;
• Never expect anyone to ask you to dance at a dance class or a ball;
• If you stand up to dance, at a dance class or a ball, expect to be ignored (unless the insiders present decide to criticise your dancing).

Always remember that those within the UK historical dance world are superior in every way to those outside and must be constantly treated with reverence and awe.