Playford-to-the-Present Ball

LocationAdmission
The DancesEvents Schedule
FAQ
Talent
The CommitteeContact
History

2024 Playford-to-the-Present (P2P) Ball

We are pleased to announce that we will be holding the Playford-to-the-Present Ball on Saturday, October 19, 2024, at the Pasadena Scottish Rite Cathedral. We hope to open registration in May 2024.

Please notice that this year:

• there will be two practices and a review in advance of the ball, and dance instructions will be distributed in advance;

• the dance leader will be Anna Rain, and live music will be provided by TBA.

• Masks are required to be worn in the hall during the ball.

The Playford-to-the-Present ball is hosted by Culver City English Country Dance, an affiliate of the California Dance Co-operative. As always, the ball is geared toward knowledgeable English country dancers; there will be no teaching of figures at the ball. Most dances will be briefed with a walk-through and lightly prompted, except for the dances marked For Those Who Know. It is assumed that all dancers are either knowledgeable with these particular dances or are experienced enough to pick up patterns on just one walk through. Several of the dances have complex figures that will require familiarity before the day of the ball even for very experienced dancers. (Come to our ball practices!)

Location

The Pasadena Scottish Rite Cathedral is located at 150 N. Madison Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91101. There is free parking in the parking lot on the north side of the hall. The entrance to the hall is on the north side of the building.

back to top

Admission

Live music, wonderful dances, sumptuous refreshments – all that for only $50. Pre-registration is required. See our REGISTRATION FLYER .

You can also register electronically here. New this year: you can purchase tickets electronically, via PayPal (price includes additional $2 to cover fees).

6:00 p.m.Doors open
6:30 p.m.Dancing begins. There will be two breaks with light refreshments.

back to top

The Dances

Ball Dances in Alphabetical Order

TBA

S = Simple, I = Intermediate, C = Complex, FTWK = For Those Who Know: This complex dance may have no walk thru and will require familiarity with the patterns.

Videos recommended for illustrating these dances are available by clicking here, or in the playlist embedded below.




back to top

Events Schedule

WhatWhereTimeDayDateRegistration
Ball Practice/Style Workshop 1Culver City2:30p-5:30pSundaySeptember ??Click to register
Ball Practice/Style Workshop 2Culver City2:30p-5:30pSundayOctober ?Click to register
Ball ReviewPasadena 17:00p-10:00pFridayOctober 18Click to register
The Playford BallPasadena 26:30p-10:30pSaturdayOctober 19Click to register
HTDS WorkshopPasadena 3TBASundayOctober 20Visit HTDS

Culver City: Lindberg Park Stone House, 5041 Rhoda Way (on the corner of Rhoda Way and Ocean Drive). Suggested admission: $15.

Pasadena 1: Skandia Hall, 2031 E. Villa St. Suggested admission: $15.

Pasadena 2: Pasadena Scottish Rite Cathedral, 150 N. Madison Avenue. Pre-registration required.

Pasadena 3: This event is produced by the Historical Tea and Dance Society. For information, see www.historicalteaanddance.org .

back to top

Frequently Asked Questions

What does “Playford” mean?

John Playford was the publisher of The English Dancing Master, or Plaine and easie Rules for the Dancing of Country Dances, with the Tune to Each Dance, considered the first English Country Dance (ECD) manual published.

In modern ECD, a “Playford” ball is one in which there is no basic teaching at the ball itself, and the dancers can enjoy the dancing with no teaching and very little prompting.

How is this ball different from a regular local dance?

At an ongoing dance series (sometimes referred to as a class), time is taken to explain and teach each dance figure and pattern. At the Playford-to-the Present ball, there will be no teaching; each dance will have one walk-though and be prompted for the first few repetitions. It is assumed that all dancers are either familiar with these particular dances or are experienced enough to pick up dances on just one walk through.

How do I know if I’m experienced enough to attend?

Dancers attending the ball should be familiar with standard modern ECD figures such as hey, rights and lefts, siding, poussette, cast and lead, gate, double-figure-eight, etc. and be able to do them without explanation when prompted. Some people will catch on right away; for others it will take longer. Regular and frequent attendance at dances is the best way to reach that level of confidence with the dancing.

How can I learn these dances?

One way is to attend the Ball Practice and Style Workshops that are put on shortly before the ball. One does not need to be registered for the ball to attend the practices.

Written instructions for the dances will be available in a booklet sent to all ball registrants. In addition to the special workshops and practice sessions, dancers are encouraged to use the instructions to learn the dances on their own. Videos of some of the dances may be available on YouTube. Be creative! Go through the steps by yourself in your living room or backyard. Or get a set of friends together and have an informal dance party.

Many local dances will have special practices or sessions dedicated to the Ball dances. Talk to your local dance leader to find out if that will happen in your community. To find out about dancing in your area, check out this regional list of regular local dances

What will people be wearing?

Ball attire is “Festive/Formal,” and is not period-specific. The dances span the years 1651 to present day, and the attire in the hall will likely do the same. Guests will be dressed in everything from Medieval to Regency, Victorian to Jazz Age, and many (possibly even most) will be in modern formals. The degree of elaborateness of the clothing will also vary considerably, some guests will have very ornate costumes, others will be dressed very simply. Most will be dressed elegant/formal, some will be in fanciful costumes. Wear whichever you most enjoy dancing in. Just to give you an idea, take a look at photos from our previous balls on the CCECD website.

In consideration of people dancing close to you, please do not wear strong perfume or cologne. There are large dressing rooms at the hall for those who wish to change into ball attire after arriving.

Where can I find an outfit?

Modern formal wear as well as festive attire can usually be found inexpensively in second-hand and vintage clothing stores. Discount clothing outlets such as Ross or Loemann’ are also good sources. Sometimes even major department stores can have great sales on formals.

For period attire, an ability to sew comes in handy. There are readily available Simplicity patterns for costumes of many eras, and a search on Google using keywords like “vintage” “sewing” “patterns” will bring up many resources. Second-hand and costume rental stores are another option.

One of the best ways to find an outfit is to ask your fellow dancers where they bought, borrowed, or found patterns for their ball attire.

What kind of shoes should I wear?

Be kind to your feet. Wear comfortable shoes that are easy to move around in. Low-heeled, soft-soled shoes are recommended. Make sure you’ve worn the shoes dancing before, so you don’t have aching, pinched, or blistered feet the night of the ball.

How do I find a partner at the ball?

Anyone can ask anyone to dance — male or female, veteran ball-goer or first-time attendee. If you have come without a partner, don’t be afraid to ask people to dance. If you have come with an escort, we encourage you to meet and dance with other people as well as the person you came with. That’s part of the fun of the community.

A bit of advice: dancers join the set at the bottom of the line as it forms. Therefore, if you are looking for a partner, the best place to find one is usually at the bottom of the hall, where other single dancers will be on the lookout for partners. If you stay seated, chances are that other dancers will assume you are choosing to sit out, and therefore might not ask you to dance.

What happens if I can’t find partners?

Balls are large, exciting, and somewhat chaotic events. Dancers from all over the region (and sometimes the country) will attend. Friends who only see each other once a year will be renewing acquaintances, and sometimes new dancers can feel lost in the shuffle. Dancers who find it hard to get partners are encouraged to ask any of the ball hosts, callers, or local dance leaders for help finding partners. Don’t worry that dancers are willfully ignoring you; it is simply that there is so much going on that wallflowers are not as noticeable as they are in a smaller crowd.

Will there be a dance card?

No, we do not use dance cards. We encourage dancers not to book ahead, opening up more opportunities for dancing with new friends.

back to top

Talent

Playford-to-the-Present Ball 2023 Talent

Dance Leader

Anna Rain


Musicians

TBA

back to top

The Committee

The Playford-to-the-Present Ball is definitely a community affair. Many people contribute their time and effort to help bring about the event.

Administrative Chairs:
Pat Keating, Mickey Waring
Dance Booklet:
James Hutson, Renée Camus,
Mickey Waring, Tim Steinmeier
Registrar:
Aileen Poehls
Name Tags:
Pat Green
Program Advisors:
James Hutson, Renée Camus
Talent Liaison:
Pat Keating
Refreshments:
Kaye Evans
Costume Sale:
Elyse Ashton, Robert Rickun
Graphics:
Tim Steinmeier
Co-op Representative:
Renée Camus
Decorations:
Elyse Ashton, Robert Rickun,
Alex Bradley
Other:

.

back to top

Contact

For Registration Inquiries
Playford-to-the-Present Ball 2024
c/o Aileen Poehls
11001 Lindblade Street
Culver City, CA  90230
SoCalPlayford@gmail.com
818-577-7168

For General Inquiries
Pat Keating
patricia.a.keating@gmail.com
310-666-1069

Sponsored By
California Dance Co-operative

Produced by
Culver City English Country Dance (an affiliate of the California Dance Co-operative)

back to top

History

The Playford-to-the-Present Ball has a fine history of callers and musicians who have conspired to bring that special combination of sound and movement together for delightful and memorable events.
 

  • 2023: Dance Leader – Alan Winston. Music by Audrey Jaber, Anna Patton, Jeffrey Spero.
  • 2022: Dance Leader – Val Medve. Music by Persons of Quality (Jon Berger, Rebecca King, Jim Oakden).
  • 2021: Dance Leaders – James Hutson and Renée Camus. Music by Force for Nature (Audrey Knuth, Ashley Hoyer, Jeffrey Spero).
  • 2020: Our Special Virtual Event celebrating 20 years of Playford-to-the-Present – Caller Judee Pronovost. Music by Linda Kodaira (violin) and Bill Marks (guitar); additional music from Jeffrey Spero (piano).

  • 2019: Dance Mistress – Joanna Reiner. Music by Shira Kammen, Jim Oakden, Jeffrey Spero.

  • 2018: Dance Master – Bruce Hamilton. Music by Sweetwater (Bonnie Insull, Audrey Knuth, Ryan Sandburg).

  • 2017: Dance Master – Graham Christian. Music by Offbeats and guest (Ashley Broder, Ben Schreiber, Jeffrey Spero, plus Bonnie Insull).

  • 2016: Dance Master – Brad Foster. Music by StringFire (James MacQueen, Annie Rodier, Patti Cobb, Erik Ievins).
     
  • 2015: Dance Master – James Hutson. Music by Flutatious (Miranda Arana, Bonnie Insull, Christa Burch, Jeffrey Spero).
     
  • 2014: Dance Mistress – Kalia Kliban. Music by Persons of Quality (Jon Berger, Rebecca King, Jim Oakden).
     
  • 2013: Dance Leader – Chris Page. Music by Bonfire (Bonnie Insull, Frank Hoppe, Richard Scher).
     
  • 2012: Dance Master – Ric Goldman. Music by The Syncopaths (Jeffrey Spero, Ryan McKassen, Ashley Broder, Christa Burch).
     
  • 2011: Dance Leader – James Hutson. Music by The Funky Fandango String Quartet (Jon Berger, Erik Ievins, Shira Kammen, Michelle Levy).
     
  • 2010: Dance Leaders – Kris Davey, Chris Page, Tom Wilson. Hostess – Judee Pronovost. Music by The English Roses (Mary Ann Sereth, Walter Sereth, Robert Winokur).
     
  • 2009: Dance Mistress – Annie Laskey. Music by The English Roses (Mary Ann Sereth, Walter Sereth, Guinevere Sanger, Mike Earls).
     
  • 2008: Dance Leader – Mary Devlin. Music by Cuckoo’s Nest (Frank Hoppe, Kurt McInnis, Ken Shaw, Jeffrey Spero).
     
  • 2007: Dance Masters – James Hutson, Judee Pronovost, Ben Rotenberg. Music by Bonfire (Bonnie Insull, Richard Scher, Jon Berger).
     
  • 2006: Dance Master – Giovanni De Amici. Music by Interfolk Goes Baroque (Kriss Larson, Bonnie Insull, Mary Ann Sereth, Carter Dewberry).
     
  • 2005: Dance Master – Gary Shapiro. Music by Interfolk (Kriss Larson, Jim Garner, Mary Ann Sereth, Bob Brooks).

  • 2004: Dance Master – Ben Rotenberg. Music by Festivity (Mary Ann Sereth , Bonnie Insull, Steve Maranto, Carter Dewberry).

  • 2003: Dance Mistress – Annie Laskey. Music by Bob Brooks, Jim Garner, Kriss Larson, Mary Ann Sereth.

  • 2002: Dance Master – Giovanni De Amici. Music by Jeffrey Spero, Linda Kodaira, David James.

  • 2001: Dance Master – James Hutson. Music by Frank Hoppe, Ken Shaw, Jeffrey Spero.

Photos and dance programs from all of the past P2P balls can be found on the CCECD website .

LocationAdmission
The DancesEvents Schedule
FAQ
Talent
The CommitteeContact
History
Back to top