New Books in History Hilary French, "Ballroom: A People’s History of Dancing" (Reaktion Books, 2022)
Feb 10, 2026
Hilary French, an architectural historian and dancer, draws on design knowledge and personal experience to trace ballroom and Latin dance history. She explores the rise of public ballrooms, codification of technique, American and British influences, the art‑deco palaces of Mecca Dancing, midcentury decline, TV revival, and recent moves toward inclusivity and preservation.
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Britain Created The International Ballroom
- Britain codified modern couple dancing and created the English style that became the international standard.
- The British public ballroom, aimed at working classes, uniquely enabled dancing to flourish nationwide.
The Castles Made Modern Dancing Respectable
- Vernon and Irene Castle performed the Grizzly Bear to Alexander's Ragtime Band in 1911 and helped make modern couple dancing respectable.
- They toured Europe, boosted their fame, and opened dance venues that promoted the new dancing style.
Codification Balanced Accessibility And Skill
- Teachers and organisers spent decades codifying steps to balance ease for social dancers with enough challenge to retain interest.
- They developed shared terminology and documentation to allow anyone to dance together without practice with a fixed partner.
