Georgian Ball for York School Children
Large scale George Ball to be held in York for the first since 1951 during the Festival of Britain.
Photo Opportunity: Student Tom Kay, who has made a Georgian style dress for his dancing partner Jessica Marshall, will be testing out the dance floor on Tuesday 28 August at 2.00pm in preparation for the York Civic Trust Georgian Ball.
More than 100 young people will be swapping their trainers and t shirts for 18th century costumes next month (12 Sept) and they stage their own Georgian Ball at the Assembly Rooms in York as part of an event organised by the York Civic Trust.
This event has been made possible thanks to a grant from Heritage Lottery Funds Young Roots scheme, with further financial support for the Noel Terry Charitable Trust and York Georgian Society.
The young people, mostly 6th formers, from All Saints, Bootham, Fulford, Huntington, The Mount, Pocklington and St Peters’ schools, have given up some their spare time for the past eight months to learn more about Georgian life in preparation for this spectacular Georgian Ball. (The page boys and footmen are drawn from the ranks of 3rd year boys at Pocklington School).
To help inform them, they have toured the Mansion House in York with the Lord Mayor to find out more about 18th Century politics, studied and copied the poses in the portraits at Beningbrough Hall and visited Fairfax House to find out more about how Georgian families lived.
The first time there was such an authentic recreation of a Georgian Ball was in 1951, during the Festival of Britain. On that evening, under the patronage of the Princess Royal, descendants of the Rooms’ originally subscribers were chief guests and danced the opening minuet. Public interest in the Ball was so great that policemen had to link arms outside to hold back the crowds!
Darrell Buttery, President of York Civic Trust, whose idea it was to create this young York Civic Trust event, added that there had been two smaller balls over the last five years but that this was the first time since 1951 that a large scale Georgian Ball had been re-created. He commented: “As a teacher and one who loves the 18th Century, I was worried that not enough was being done to introduce the 18th Century to 6th formers as it appears that this period in history is not currently being studied as part of their ‘A’ level courses.
“The York Civic Trust wants young people to become aware of their heritage in an enjoyable way and in particular to participate. This project has enabled them to experience the 18th century through all that York has to offer and is a very effective way of understanding social history. It was been received with terrific enthusiasm and genuine pleasure.”
Over the past eight months York Civic Trust has drawn upon the expertise of York scholars and other experts in the country to teach the young people more about 18th century life and the etiquette and the social graces they will need to enjoy the Georgian Ball on 12 September. They have learnt the rules of 18th Century card games including ‘Fan Tan’ and been coached by specialist dancing tutors, Ellis and Christine Rogers, in 18th century dances with names such as ‘Lord of Carnarvon’s Jig’ and ‘Mr Lane’s Trumpet Minuet’. There is even one dance appropriately named ‘York Assembly’. The dances have taken a while to accomplish. Student Jack Burke at Pocklington School, said of the dance training: “It’s harder than rugby!”
The musical accompaniment will be from a 10-piece orchestra of female musicians from The Mount School in York who are being tutored by music teacher Derek Chivers.
The young people are still to have their last Georgian Ball lesson Led by expert Louisa Wheatley, they will find out about the importance of the language of the fan, as in Georgian times ladies could signal a large range of messages by different movements and positions of the fan, including rescue strategies like ‘Beware! my husband is approaching!’
The Georgian Ball will last for over four hours. All guests will wear 18th Century costumes and wigs, most of which have been hired in especially for the grand event. Darrell Buttery added: “It will be fascinating for them to experience what it feels like to be strapped into satins and silks and learn how to act with decorum!”
Talented student Tom Kay, has made the costume for his dancing partner Jessica Marshall and she will be wearing it at the photocall in York on Tuesday 28 August at the Assembly Rooms at 2.00pm. The costume is a 1770s sack back gown in gold made of a brocade material. Tom has just completed his theatre studies and art at ‘A’ levels at Pocklington School and has secured a place at RADA this autumn. He was keen to use his new skills to make a costume for the Ball and was really pleased to be involved in this event: He commented: “It’s a unique opportunity, no other society puts on an event like this on such a large scale. The preparation has been rigorous, there has been so much to learn about dancing, food, the rules of etiquette and customs but it is a fascinating way to get an insight into the lives of the upper classes during this period.”
There will however be a little room in their costumes to enjoy the 18th century buffet supper which has been prepared by Bradshaw Caterers in York under the guidance of historian Sara Paston Williams, who has researched early recipes in order to provide a meal very similar to those our Georgian forebears would have enjoyed. The spread will include: Whole Fish in Pastry (adapted from John Nott’s ‘The Cooks and Confectioner’s Dictionary’ 1726) and Martha Bradley’s Trifle (adapted from ‘The British Housewife c.1758) plus many other treats!
In between the dancing and the feasting, the young people will play card games and adopt the behaviour and gentlle ways of the aristocracy and transport themselves back in time. Carriages will arrive at 10.30pm to take the young people back to their 21 century lives!
York Civic Trust is committed to helping young people understand more about the history of York and plans to run other events in the future.
ends
Press Contact: Melanie Paris
Tel: 01904 647408 or 07931 391736
E mail: hello@melanieparis.com
More than 100 young people will be swapping their trainers and t shirts for 18th century costumes next month (12 Sept) and they stage their own Georgian Ball at the Assembly Rooms in York as part of an event organised by the York Civic Trust.
This event has been made possible thanks to a grant from Heritage Lottery Funds Young Roots scheme, with further financial support for the Noel Terry Charitable Trust and York Georgian Society.
The young people, mostly 6th formers, from All Saints, Bootham, Fulford, Huntington, The Mount, Pocklington and St Peters’ schools, have given up some their spare time for the past eight months to learn more about Georgian life in preparation for this spectacular Georgian Ball. (The page boys and footmen are drawn from the ranks of 3rd year boys at Pocklington School).
To help inform them, they have toured the Mansion House in York with the Lord Mayor to find out more about 18th Century politics, studied and copied the poses in the portraits at Beningbrough Hall and visited Fairfax House to find out more about how Georgian families lived.
The first time there was such an authentic recreation of a Georgian Ball was in 1951, during the Festival of Britain. On that evening, under the patronage of the Princess Royal, descendants of the Rooms’ originally subscribers were chief guests and danced the opening minuet. Public interest in the Ball was so great that policemen had to link arms outside to hold back the crowds!
Darrell Buttery, President of York Civic Trust, whose idea it was to create this young York Civic Trust event, added that there had been two smaller balls over the last five years but that this was the first time since 1951 that a large scale Georgian Ball had been re-created. He commented: “As a teacher and one who loves the 18th Century, I was worried that not enough was being done to introduce the 18th Century to 6th formers as it appears that this period in history is not currently being studied as part of their ‘A’ level courses.
“The York Civic Trust wants young people to become aware of their heritage in an enjoyable way and in particular to participate. This project has enabled them to experience the 18th century through all that York has to offer and is a very effective way of understanding social history. It was been received with terrific enthusiasm and genuine pleasure.”
Over the past eight months York Civic Trust has drawn upon the expertise of York scholars and other experts in the country to teach the young people more about 18th century life and the etiquette and the social graces they will need to enjoy the Georgian Ball on 12 September. They have learnt the rules of 18th Century card games including ‘Fan Tan’ and been coached by specialist dancing tutors, Ellis and Christine Rogers, in 18th century dances with names such as ‘Lord of Carnarvon’s Jig’ and ‘Mr Lane’s Trumpet Minuet’. There is even one dance appropriately named ‘York Assembly’. The dances have taken a while to accomplish. Student Jack Burke at Pocklington School, said of the dance training: “It’s harder than rugby!”
The musical accompaniment will be from a 10-piece orchestra of female musicians from The Mount School in York who are being tutored by music teacher Derek Chivers.
The young people are still to have their last Georgian Ball lesson Led by expert Louisa Wheatley, they will find out about the importance of the language of the fan, as in Georgian times ladies could signal a large range of messages by different movements and positions of the fan, including rescue strategies like ‘Beware! my husband is approaching!’
The Georgian Ball will last for over four hours. All guests will wear 18th Century costumes and wigs, most of which have been hired in especially for the grand event. Darrell Buttery added: “It will be fascinating for them to experience what it feels like to be strapped into satins and silks and learn how to act with decorum!”
Talented student Tom Kay, has made the costume for his dancing partner Jessica Marshall and she will be wearing it at the photocall in York on Tuesday 28 August at the Assembly Rooms at 2.00pm. The costume is a 1770s sack back gown in gold made of a brocade material. Tom has just completed his theatre studies and art at ‘A’ levels at Pocklington School and has secured a place at RADA this autumn. He was keen to use his new skills to make a costume for the Ball and was really pleased to be involved in this event: He commented: “It’s a unique opportunity, no other society puts on an event like this on such a large scale. The preparation has been rigorous, there has been so much to learn about dancing, food, the rules of etiquette and customs but it is a fascinating way to get an insight into the lives of the upper classes during this period.”
There will however be a little room in their costumes to enjoy the 18th century buffet supper which has been prepared by Bradshaw Caterers in York under the guidance of historian Sara Paston Williams, who has researched early recipes in order to provide a meal very similar to those our Georgian forebears would have enjoyed. The spread will include: Whole Fish in Pastry (adapted from John Nott’s ‘The Cooks and Confectioner’s Dictionary’ 1726) and Martha Bradley’s Trifle (adapted from ‘The British Housewife c.1758) plus many other treats!
In between the dancing and the feasting, the young people will play card games and adopt the behaviour and gentlle ways of the aristocracy and transport themselves back in time. Carriages will arrive at 10.30pm to take the young people back to their 21 century lives!
York Civic Trust is committed to helping young people understand more about the history of York and plans to run other events in the future.
ends
Press Contact: Melanie Paris
Tel: 01904 647408 or 07931 391736
E mail: hello@melanieparis.com