New Books in British Studies

Hilary French, "Ballroom: A People’s History of Dancing" (Reaktion Books, 2022)


Listen Later

In the early twentieth century, American ragtime and the Parisian tango fuelled a dancing craze in Britain. Public ballrooms were built throughout the country, providing a glamorous setting for dancing. The new English style, defined in the 1920s and followed by the films of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers in the 1930s, ensured that ballroom dancing continued to be the most popular British pastime until the 1960s, rivalled only by cinema.

Ballroom: A People's History of Dancing (Reaktion, 2022) by Dr. Hilary French explores the vibrant history of ballroom and Latin dancing: the dances, lavish venues, competitions and influential instructors. It also traces the decline of couple dancing and its resurgence in recent years with the hugely popular TV shows Strictly Come Dancing and Dancing with the Stars.


This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose forthcoming book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/british-studies

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

New Books in British StudiesBy Marshall Poe

  • 4
  • 4
  • 4
  • 4
  • 4

4

3 ratings


More shows like New Books in British Studies

View all
In Our Time by BBC Radio 4

In Our Time

5,401 Listeners

Dan Snow's History Hit by History Hit

Dan Snow's History Hit

4,630 Listeners

Coffee House Shots by The Spectator

Coffee House Shots

184 Listeners

Americano by The Spectator

Americano

259 Listeners

The Book Club by The Spectator

The Book Club

8 Listeners

John Anderson: Conversations by John Anderson

John Anderson: Conversations

287 Listeners

Today in Focus by The Guardian

Today in Focus

984 Listeners

The Ancients by History Hit

The Ancients

2,941 Listeners

The Rest Is History by Goalhanger

The Rest Is History

12,517 Listeners

The Rest Is Politics by Goalhanger

The Rest Is Politics

3,142 Listeners

Ukraine: The Latest by The Telegraph

Ukraine: The Latest

1,753 Listeners

Empire by Goalhanger

Empire

2,009 Listeners

Past Present Future by David Runciman

Past Present Future

308 Listeners

Battle Lines by The Telegraph

Battle Lines

160 Listeners

Alas Vine & Hitchens by Daily Mail

Alas Vine & Hitchens

10 Listeners