The Arbeau dancers, based in West Yorkshire, are calling for more members to join. The group performs dances from over 500 years of history and are specifically wanting younger, male dancers as a lot of the regency era dances require male and female couples.
Dancer Sirje, from Estonia said: “What we find most difficult is getting young people to join us. And men. We never have any men.
“So you probably saw me dancing the male role today, and I do that regularly. And other ladies have to do that regularly because we have two actual men.
“You can’t get them. They’re like gold dust.
“Where are they all? Well I know where they are: watching football, instead of being here.”
Source: Toby Almond | All Rights ReservedThe group was set up in 1974 and is named after French Monk, Thoinot Arbeau, who wrote a book about 16th century choreography, titled Orchesography.
The group are hoping that if they can get younger members, not only will the dances have more energy, but the traditions of the music and the clothing will live on.
Louise Nicoll, group director, said: “There has been a huge rise in the country of regency balls, obviously Bridgerton has made them really popular.
“The dancing in Bridgerton is not historically accurate, neither the costumes. But it’s good fun to watch, isn’t it.”
The dancers rehearse for free at Temple Newsam as part of an agreement.
Robert Lee, visitor assistant, said: “The Arbeau dancers are a very important group and they are keeping alive lots of very important music that probably would die out without people like the enthusiasts.
“It gives the Arbeau dancers space to practice and it is also nice for our visitors to come and actually see people in the house behaving as people would have done in the past.”
The group will be performing at Temple Newsam for a Christmas special.
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