Dance Lessons with Robert
When we think of Ballroom Dancing it conjures up images of the Grand Ballrooms of Europe. Lavishly decorates halls full of Ladies in Ball Gowns and Gentlemen in Tuxedos!
What a wonderful era the turn of the 18th Century must have been!
the Studio
The matter of the fact was that all these Grand Ballrooms were actually in private homes. They were used by the aristocracy to entertain their many friends for pleasure as well as business.
There were places that ordinary people could dance but mainly in the Pubs and Beer Gardens (common in Germany) but these places were "not fit for people of refinement!"
Lords and Ladies, Gentlemen and their Wives and even Kings and Queens would attend the Palaces' Grand Salon.
But this was not a place where people gathered to "LEARN TO DANCE!"
Oh, no!
It might have been where the estate owner, his wife and family would bring a Dance Teacher for their Private Instruction but there were no such displays of such "vulgarity" as public Dance Lessons!
You can note the enormous grin on my face.
As the Common Class became more affluent and a Middle Class income became more pronounces more people were able to purchase better and larger homes and, of course, wanting to have "the Good Life" they also established Parlors where they could, like the Gentry, entertain their friends, family and guests. As well and because social graces demanded it, they too joined the Dance Set. Although the "Parlors" were smaller, used for multi functions and not nearly as lavish they were non the less as active for social events. It was just a matter, sometimes, of rearranging some of the furniture.
This, sometimes, was a steppingstone to associate with the rich especially for business contacts!
Sadly, such Social events all but disappeared over the years and by the end of 1930's few people could afford the luxury of the large entertainment space. Smaller houses became the norm and, in the World of Dance, Dance Halls took the place of the Grand Salon Ballroom Dances and Socials.
But time took its toal as property became far to expensive and with attendance dwindelling one by one the, once posh, dance halls also faded into history.
Wouldn't it be nice to think that things have come full circle and the Grand Salons were once more in vogue but that is not the case.
However, as I have never been one to worry about the latest trend
. . . and . . .
seeing as Alexandra and I have this large space, which we converted into an area to accommodate our own dancing, we thought it would be fun and unique to use it as people did in days-gone-by.
Our very own GRAND SALON!
Boasting just over a thousand square feet with over half in dance area we not only have enough space to teach Private Lessons and small Groups but we can host our, several yearly, special parties as well as personal and family celebrations.
We have not Turned Back the Clock but instead brought the old into a New Day!
I'm not certain if it was called a GRAND SALON because of its size or for the grand amount of fun but either way we ARE looking forward to GRAND TIMES in the coming future.
See you on the dance floor and thanks,
Alexandra & Robert
Trocadero, Sydney, Australia the last of the Grand Ballrooms was a large dance and concert hall that operated between 1936 and 1971.
Final dance February 5, 1971 and I was there!
Trocadéro Grand Salon & Theater
Paris, France
Frank Coughlan and his Band
on the Trocadero Stage 1936.