New Books in Popular Culture Hilary French, "Ballroom: A People’s History of Dancing" (Reaktion Books, 2022)
Feb 7, 2026
Hilary French, historian and author who studies ballrooms and design, guides a lively tour through the rise, codification, and social life of ballroom and Latin dancing. She traces seaside and Art Deco venues, American musical influences, midcentury decline, and the TV-fueled revival. The conversation highlights changing class patterns, competition culture, and efforts to preserve ornate dance interiors.
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Britain Made Ballroom Into An International Norm
- Britain codified modern couple dancing and shaped the international standard used in competitions today.
- Public ballrooms in Britain uniquely enabled working-class participation and sustained ballroom culture.
The Castle Couple Sparked Respectable Modern Dancing
- Vernon and Irene Castle toured Europe and popularized modern couple dancing after performing the Grizzly Bear to Alexander's Ragtime Band in 1911.
- They became glamorous trendsetters who opened dance venues and published an early modern dancing manual.
Codification Balanced Simplicity And Skill
- Teachers and managers wrestled with making dances simple enough for social dancing but engaging enough to teach.
- A ten-year codification effort (1920s–1930s) created standardized figures, terminology, and teaching materials.
