AMERICAN CIVIL WAR WEDDING DANCE
What is more romantic than a vision of a beautiful bride in a full hoop skirt and her dashing gentleman groom in either a civil war uniform or period 1860s ballroom attire complete with hat and gloves? In addition to just saying, "Gone With The Wind" all over it, this picture harkens back to days gone by when
men treated ladies with a tip of their hat and a howdy ma'am as proper protocol and every young girl dreamed of a gallant gentlemen that would sweep her off her feet into wedded bliss!
I've heard a lot of questions since I began teaching period American Civil War dancing over ten years ago and here is a whimsical look at just a few of them...
Q: My hoop is e-normous and I'm afraid I can't dance partner-like with my husband very close.
A: I will teach you both how to work with your hoop so that it does not take on a "life of its own" and you can enjoy your dancing in your beautiful ballgown and look good too!
Q: My brogans make me feel like I've got two left feet and I'm afraid I'll step on her dainty shoes and be in the dog house for days.
A: If you dance the steps as I will show them we can make sure that you have plenty of room to dance and she gets out of your way and no one but the dog is in the dog house!
Step back in time... to an age of manners, polite conversation, white gloves & shined boots. I can teach steps and dances appropriate for an outdoor romp in the grass under tall trees and hanging lanterns to a gracious in-door social soiree with all the finest trimmings.
Learn to country waltz, kick up your heels with a schottische or polka with impunity. Additionally, I can teach your party the Virginia Reel, Texas Star, and other vivacious group dances with timeless charm.
Here are some fun resources to help you research and costume your Civil War Wedding: Abraham's Lady, American Civil War Society, Blockade Runner, C&D Jarnagen, Civil War Wedding Dress Images, Civil War Music Store, Clearwater Hats, Custom Wigs, Fallcreek Sutlery Books, Gentlemen's Emporium, & This Week in the Civil War.
Jillian & Torin at The Cosmopolitan Hotel in Old Town, San Diego.
Make your first dance as husband and wife as special as everything else on your wedding day!