conuly

" One of the interesting thing about the Inns of Court is that we have some early dance choreography and melody lines not found anywhere else, in a collection that was used there to teach the law students how to dance. Of course the choreography document predates Dickens by a couple of centuries..."

I actually do make reasonable sense of that. But then I have an interest in historical dance, and know from somewhere or other that the Inns of Court are to do with barristers.

There was a long period in history where most young men of quality would be expected to learn to dance well. Think Georgette Heyer, Jane Austen, etc. But not only the Regency era would expect this. The Tudors danced too.

I dislike Dickens, but I would not be in the least surprised to find balls/public dances featuring somewhere in his novels.

There are choreographic records of many historical dances - Playford and other dance masters taught all those young men, and wrote detailed instructions.

I've danced some Playford myself and also a 16th century sword dance.

I seem to recall that masques were often held at the Inns of Court, (Yep, Google backs up that random memory - "In the early 17th century, the Inns of Court (professional organizations for the legal profession) in London frequently sponsored elaborate theatrical performances called masques. These masques were extravagant entertainments, often featuring choreographed dancing, singing, and elaborate costumes. The Inns of Court, including Inner Temple, Gray's Inn, Middle Temple, and Lincoln's Inn, would stage these masques in the Great Hall of Whitehall Palace or at the Inns themselves.")

Records survive of some of them.