BOHEMIAN VINTAGE DANCE PAGE
For Gay, Lesbian, and Bi Dancers and Their Friends.

DEFINITION: "Bohemian(2) A person with artistic or literary interests who disregards conventional standards of behavior." American Heritage Dictionary, 1973. Editors note: the Bohemian sub-culture of English and American cities in the late 19th and early 20th century was always the most welcoming place for gays and lesbians.

HISTORY OF GAY AND LESBIAN FORMAL BALLS: There are shreds of evidence that, along with private parties and balls on western military forts, there were larger public balls held in major cities for gays and lesbians in the late 19th and early 20th century. In "Gay New York, The Making of the Gay Male World, 1890 - 1940" by George Chauncey (London and New York: HarperCollins Publishers, 1994) an account of the visit of a medical student, Charles Nesbitt of North Carolina, visiting New York in 1890 includes his description of a 'slummer's tour' of the night life on the Bowery (pp. 40-41). Nesbitt was invited "to attend a ball at Walhalla Hall, one of the most prominent of the many Lower East Side halls that neighborhood social clubs rented to hold their affairs. Nesbitt went and discovered some five hundred same-sex male and female couples in attendance, 'waltzing sedately to the music of a good band.' Along with the male couples there were 'quite a few...masculine looking women in male evening dress' dancing with other women, many of whom seem to have impressed the student as being of 'good' background. 'One could quite easily imagine oneself,' he recalled with amused incredulity, 'in a formal evening ball room among respectable people.'" [Footnoted source: "Charles Torrence Nesbitt memoir (1938), Charles Torrence Nesbitt papers, Duke University Library (pp. 106-7). Part of this manuscript has been published in Jonathan Ned Katz, "Gay/Lesbian Almanac: A New Documentary (New York: Harper & Row, 1983)."]

Inspired by this information about gay and lesbian balls from the 19th century, and prompted by the restraint of the mainstream vintage dance community to welcome same-gender couples (particularly male same-gender couples), it seems appropriate to organize vintage balls specifically for the gay, lesbian and bisexual community. Our friends from the mainstream vintage dance community are welcome to join us, with the hope that they will also feel the freedom convention of dancing with same-gender partners and enjoy breaking the conventions of the ballroom.

DANCES: Vintage dancing in the United States focuses on three main periods: 1. 1860s (Civil War era, with waltz, polka, mazurka, quadrilles and country dances); 2. 1890s (the Gilded Age, with waltz, polka, schottische, quadrilles and country dances); and 1910s (the Ragtime era, with one-step, two-step, waltz, polka, tango, foxtrot, cakewalks and Castlewalks). Each era had special versions of these dances and many variations of steps, and these will be taught during workshops prior to events. If sufficient interest exists, classes can also be arranged for vintage dance steps.

DRESS: Evening clothes worn by men (and also appropriate for women) include tail coats with white vests and ties. In the early twentieth century dinner jacket tuxedos also began to make their introduction, and although not historically typical for attire for a formal ball, a modern tuxedo will not be out of place for a Ragtime event. In the 1860s women's dresses featured hoops, in the 1890s leg-of-mutton sleeves were in fashion, and in the 1910s the style changed to loose fitted dresses of light materials.

Ragtime Dress Recommendations from the Commonwealth Vintage Dancers, Boston Gentlemen's evening dress for this era is fairly similar to modern formal wear consisting of a black tailcoat or tuxedo jacket. White formal shirts can have wing tip collars, vests and bow ties should be either white or black (cummerbunds are not period). White gloves are de rigeur for ballroom wear. (White cotton gloves can be found very inexpensively at police uniform shops.) Soft soled shoes such as Capezio black jazz oxfords are quite comfortable for dancing. Gentlemen wishing to purchase an outfit might enjoy a visit to Keezer's, 140 River Street, in Cambridge 617 547-2455, a supplier of new and used men's formal wear.

Ladies evening dress for this era consisted of a high waisted gown, usually in soft fabric such as chiffon or lightweight satin, often ornamented with elaborate lace or beadwork. The full length skirt should have enough fullness for dancing. Full length white gloves would complete the outfit splendidly. Shoes in a color to compliment the gown, with a medium height heel of 1 1/2 - 2 inches, such as Capezio character shoes are comfortable for Ragtime dancing. Hair should be worn up and was usually dressed with decorative headbands, ornaments or feathers. Resale, thrift or vintage clothing shops might be a good source of a suitable outfit, such as an old bridesmaid gown.

As noted above, women may also appropriately wear men's evening dress.

One of the best sources for buying tuxedos is Keezer's Clothing, 140 River Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts, telephone: 617 547-2455. They stock used and new tuxedos, including tail coats, at reasonable prices - although the cuts are not exactly like vintage cuts they are quite acceptable. Two specialist dressmakers for vintage clothing are Katy Bishop, Vintage Victorian, Nahant, Mass., telephone 781 593-3038, e-mail vintage@shore.net; and Joan DeGusto in Charlemont, Mass., telephone 413 339-8354. The best source for vintage clothing patterns is Past Patterns, P.O. Box 2446, Richmond, IN 47375-2446, telephone 765-962-3333, web site:, e-mail pastpat@thepoint.net; and for the swing era: Patterns From The Past.

No dates have currently be set for future events.

"The Bohemian Boston Ball" was held on Saturday, May 23, 1998, at the Parish Hall of the First Unitarian Society in West Newton, Massachusetts. Music was provided by Bill Matthiesen and Liz Stell of "Spare Parts." This was the first gender-role free vintage ball of this series, and it was an exciting and memorable evening.

"The Tintagel Ball" was held on Saturday, October 17, 1998, at the Parish Hall of the First Unitarian Society in West Newton, Massachusetts. Music was provided by Amy Cann and Lise Brown of "Pandora." This second ball of the series was a costume ball with a theme of the Court of King Arthur.

The National Gender-Role Free Dance Center, including a calendar of events across the United States.

The Victorian Events Calendar, with an updated list of vintage dance events and links to other dance calendars.

Past Patterns, The Historical Company Dedicated to Accuracy.

Patterns From The Past: original sewing, knitting, crochet and tatting patterns from the turn of the century on up.

Ragtime ball for gays

Tea dances and Vintage Balls in the Denver, Colorado Area

More information on Historical dance please look at the MiXED PiCKLES Vintage Dance Co or The Vintage Dance Society page.

Please also look at Manners Culture & Dress of the Best American Society and The Dance Card Museum

For more information on costuming sources, etc. on Vintage Dancing please check out John Fetvedt's Vintage Dance Page. or 18th & 19th Century Period Balls throughout the US and The Flying Cloud Academy of Vintage Dance