Hilary French

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.

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.