Centuries Historical Dance

Our DVD production,
the first volume in a series of documentaries
featuring demonstrations of social dances.
The DVD series is entitled:

Dancing Through the Centuries

The first volume is now available for purchase:

Dawn of a New World:
Two-Step to Lindy Hop (1890s to 1940s)

"Presented with infectious enthusiasm and sense of humor, Dawn of a New World: Two-Step to Lindy Hop (1890s 1940s) is a delightful DVD. It is both entertaining, with varied and interesting choreography, and enlightening, providing a great amount of information about the dances, music, costume and social setting through readings and visual images. I recommend this DVD highly to anyone interested in the dances from this period."
                    --Dr. Dorothy Olsson, Dance Historian, and Director of The New York Historical Dance Company

"Love the DVD. You did a wonderful job, very clear and it makes one want to dance! I very much appreciated the added documentary photos and careful attention to creating a context."
                    --Catherine Turocy, Artistic Director, The New York Baroque Dance Company

"3 Stars For those who can’t get enough of Dancing with the Stars, this dancu-mentary illustrates how various popular dances arose from a number of influences: a single song that inspired new steps, changes in women’s clothing that allowed flappers to move more freely, and a routine from Argentine bordellos that was transformed into an international rage called the “tango”. Director-host Renee Camus looks at each dance within a larger historical context, starting with John Philip Sousa’s “Washington Post March”, which set off a frenzy of two-stepping among late Victorians, through the Ragtime era’s many “animal trots” (turkey, squirrel, and most enduringly, the fox), up to the dawn of the Lindy Hop in the late 1930s. Although at times over-lighted, this is an interesting look at a specific period of social dance. Recommended. "
                    --R. Reagan, Video Librarian

Read more reviews

Travel back in time through recreations of popular social dances from the 1890s to the 1940s. Learn how changes in politics, economics, behavior, and dress molded and shaped the way people moved and expressed themselves. Enjoy fun, energetic dances like the Turkey Trot and Charleston, or beautiful, graceful dances like Fox Trot and Tango, professionally reconstructed, smartly choreographed, and skillfully executed. Experience a fuller picture of the early decades of the 20th century through period photos, new illustrations, invigorating music, and beautiful costumes.

Dawn of a New World, Two-Step to Lindy Hop is the first video endeavor from Centuries Historical Dance, a professional performance troupe dedicated to accurately recreating and presenting period social dances. Join them as they bring back to life dances like:

♪ The Cakewalk	♪ Tango	♪ Charleston	♪ Fox-Trot	♪ Grizzly Bear
♪ Maxixe	♪ Bunny Hug	♪ Lindy Hop	♪ Turkey Trot	And More!

Run time: 60 minutes. $31.95
To order your copy, please visit our distributor, National Film Network.

CENTURIES HISTORICAL DANCE is a professional performance troupe dedicated to recreating and presenting period social dances in an historically accurate manner. We strive to educate and entertain simultaneously, through the dance, music, and costumes of days past. We hope to involve our audiences, either by provoking thought with lectures, discussions and demonstrations, or with direct involvement through audience participation dances, workshops, and classes. We hope to build a stronger community and help educate through dance.

Founded in January 2000 by Renée Camus, Centuries Historical Dance captures the look and feel of many eras, through its costumes, music, and above all, its dances. The troupe performs dance styles from many periods of time, presenting them in a way that is fun, entertaining, accesible, and educational. The audience learns about the specific dances in the context of their development, and how the social climate influenced the way the dances developed.

Centuries Historical Dance is based out of the Metro DC area. We focus mostly on 19th and early 20th century social dances, but our repertoire also includes dances from the Renaissance, and folk couple dance styles such as the Scandinavian Hambo, and the Czech Czardas.

We are available for performances, parties, educational presentations, workshops, and teaching events. In addition to performances, we offer workshops and hold events to promote historical social dance or vintage dance in the DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia communities.

Would you like more information on the kinds of events we offer? Would you like to schedule a workshop, performance, or event? Would you like to hire us for an event? Contact our Artistic Director. Send email to <dancing at centuriesdance dot org>.