Tuesday 1 April 2014

English Country Dance!!

So, I'm finally posting about the Country Dance I went to with my family in February. Hmm, that was a while ago! It was so much fun to dress up and dance with friends and, of course, partake of some incomparable refreshments. I sewed my own dress. It was inspired by Molly Gibson's white embroidered ball gown from Wives and Daughters.(I love that movie!)


This is her dress, which I tried to copy.

I made it out of white material with a thin white stripe. You can't really see it in this picture. It has short puffed sleeves with embroidered frills and an embroidered band around the neck. I used gold embroidery thread instead of coloured.

So here I am, wearing it! I tied a white satin sash around my waist and borrowed some gloves. I'm with two of my friends and my little sister. My aunty happened to be staying with us and she curled our hair.
My other sister Emily! I did her hair.
My other sister Ainsley. I did her hair too. 

My hair is actually a longish bob cut, so it was hard to curl it all and pin it all up. My aunty did a good job! I have a string of faux pearls wound around my head.

A close up of the braid in Emily's hair. It came out while she was dancing, and she kept coming over to me, "Beth, can you put this back up?"  Silly thing.

The first dance! It was really fun.

The Duke of Kent's waltz. I love this one! 
Me and my beautiful sister and friend! We had a ball! No pun intended.
Hope you enjoyed! 





23 comments:

  1. WHAAAT! You went to a ball! Oh I am green with envy! I'd just LOVE to attend a ball, but I don't see how I could. Oh and that dress is simply amazing..... you're so talented!

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    1. Thank you! If you ever get the chance you have to go to a country dance, they are SO much fun!

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  2. I think you made a good job of copying that dress Beth. Well done! Nana.

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  3. You all look lovely! We have english country dances here in australia too! My best friend Katie's older sister is the caller/instructor. Its always SO much fun!

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    1. Hey! It's nice to finally meet you, Katie has told me about you! Yes, they're heaps of fun eh!

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    2. Ooo…really?? I hope it was all the nice stuff! Nah, just kidding. =D

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    3. Most of it was nice:-) haha jokes! I actually haven't been able to contact her yet, I don't know what email address:-(

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    4. I hope my other comment was of some help! Phew! *dying of relief over here!* Well, maybe….. haha, sorry, I'm crazy!

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    5. Thanks, I already have that address, don't know if it's the right one as she's in Aussie at the moment:-(

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    6. Yes, it is the right one. Because shes with Hotmail, its a internet thing, so she can use it anywhere.

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    7. Yeah, it is, Abi and Elizabethany!
      This is sorta creepy that you guys are talking about me without me knowing!!!!!!
      Thanks, Kebabs for telling the whole word that I'm at Hotmail!!!! =)

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    8. Haha at least we're saying nice stuff. :-P we kept your actual address secret.
      Star Wars, Kaity!!! :-)

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  4. Good evening, Elizabethany,
    I just found your blog, and was pleased to see a post on the wonderful subject of English Country Dancing! 'Tis a delightful activity, isn't it?
    Your dresses and up-dos are beautiful!
    What, the Duke of Kent's was danced at the ball? Why, that's one of my top two favorite dances, and one we try to include in every dance event! :) Out of curiosity, which other dances were done there?
    I love your profile photo - and your profile, too! Rather like mine, in many ways... ;)
    Have a lovely day!

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  5. Hi Zoe! Thankyou:-) Do you have dances often? Other dances.....I struggle to remember all of them but we did Mairie's Wedding and the Virginia Reel and a couple others. I'm glad you enjoyed the post!:-)

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    1. Elizabethany,
      You are very welcome! :)
      Yes, we do have dances with something like frequency - or regularity, at a minimum - though not quite so often as I would like, naturally. ;) Our family has attended nine dances thus far this year, with plans for several more over the course of the spring and summer. Dances are highly anticipated events (for me at least!); whether they be fancy balls or fun 'n' friendly casual gatherings, all are greatly enjoyable! And what about you? Are there many dance events in your area?
      Mairie's Wedding... I have not heard of that one before... how is it set up? (Longways sets, large circle, separate sets of couples?) Ah, the Virginia Reel! That's a good one! :) Did you dance it "diagonals", or "partners"? We've done it both ways; I think "diagonals" may be the more standard version, but I'm not sure.

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    2. Wow, that's a lot of dances! I've only ever been to two!
      Mairie's Wedding is a round dance--we had two circles cause there were so many people. We danced the Virginia reel partners, I think...don't know much about it!

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  6. Hello :) I seam to have stumbled across your blog and I must say I really like it! I am also a great fan of Period Drama's and Englishness! Please do check out my blog and let me know what you think :)

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    1. Cool! Will visit your blog Evie! thanks for stopping by! :-)

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    2. I could only find your Google+. Do you have a blog? I'm confused:-)

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    3. Ah.. late reply.. :) I assume you have found my blog now? :)

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    4. I sure have! And I love it:-)

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    5. Awwwwwwwww shucks, thank you!!

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