Around once a month, the historic Alameda Elks Lodge 1015 is filled with people dressed in costumes inspired by decades past, ready to learn to dance the way they did back then.
PEERS Dance, the Period Events & Entertainments Re-Creation Society, Inc [1]., an Alameda-based nonprofit founded in the 1990s by husband and wife duo James and Cathleen Myers, is devoted to researching and re-creating the performing arts of the past, bringing historical dance into the present.
[2]Guests are encouraged to dress for monthly themes and make friends as they learn to dance. The February Valentine’s Ball and the March Grand Victorian Ball at the Alameda Elks Lodge lived up to the society’s motto, Nunc est bibendum, nunc pede libero pulsanda tellus — “Now is the time to drink, now is the time to strike the earth with a free foot.” Dancers arrived in fun costumes, bought themed cocktails, and learned to waltz, polka, and more. And as always, the welcoming atmosphere had newcomers and experienced dancers sharing the same floor.
Beginner lessons set the tone. Dancers often learn a circling waltz routine and the teachers give newcomers time to review footwork before the band begins to play. Live music is typically provided by Franklin Beau Davis & the Brassworks, known for their arrangements of Viennese waltzes and light classical music designed for dancing. In addition to waltzes, there are often polkas, swing songs, tangos, rumbas, and foxtrots, offering a range of tempos and styles throughout the evening.
PEERS was created to satisfy the Bay Area’s appetite for costume and dance. James and Cathleen and several of their role-playing and actor friends had such a wonderful time working at the Dickens Christmas Fair, Renaissance Pleasure Faire, and The Old San Francisco Fair that they wondered, “Why not do this year-round, but re-create other historical periods as well as the Victorian, Elizabethan, and California Gold Rush eras?”
They began hosting balls in time to take advantage of the revival of interest in Jane Austen and have, since the 1990s, done events based on just about every Jane Austen novel. The popularity of Amadeus also contributed to a revival of interest in Mozart, inspiring several “Mostly Mozart” balls.
In addition to more traditional dances, PEERS also occasionally hosts popular Star Wars, Star Trek, and Babylon 5 balls, attracting science fiction and fantasy fans who arrive in elaborate costumes.
No longer do fun outfits have to be locked away until Halloween.
[3]A historical home in Alameda
Alameda, with its beautifully preserved historical buildings, has provided a fantastic home for historical re-creationists. The Alameda Elks Lodge, a 1909 building with a spacious Edwardian ballroom and salon, is well suited for historical events. James and Cathleen even joined the Alameda Elks themselves, impressed by the Lodge’s many opportunities for community service.
With reenactment groups, an important question often emerges. How do you celebrate historical dance while embracing modern understandings of inclusion and belonging?
“We try to emphasize the best aspects of the past, which was a lot more inclusive than most people realize,” Cathleen replied. She noted that events like the Dickens Fair offer opportunities to highlight the diversity of port cities like London and to emphasize the presence of women and people of color who are often written out of historical narratives.
To support the LGBTQIA+ community, PEERS adopts gender-free calling, following the example of groups like Improper English. “Honored Guests” replaces “Ladies and Gentlemen,” and dancers are referred to as “Leads” and “Followers” rather than “Men” and “Women.” Anyone can dance either role.
Why go dancing?
Social dancing is an ideal form of aerobic exercise and offers a way to socialize while moving. It also provides mental engagement, as dancers memorize choreography or learn the patterns of a country dance, set dance, or quadrille. The PEERS community is very newcomer-friendly and blends exercise with socialization, creativity, and fun.
[4]Cathleen and James currently teach weekly Vintage Social dance classes on Tuesday evenings at the Elks Lodge, 2255 Santa Clara Avenue. According to the PEERS website, the 7-8 p.m. class is newcomer-friendly, while the 8-9 p.m. class is for experienced dancers—and brave newcomers—as it covers more advanced variations and intriguing choreographies. The $10 fee covers one or both classes.
Upcoming PEERS dances include the Gilded Age Ball [5] on May 2, the Faerie Tale Masquerade Ball [6] on June 6, the Alameda 1900 Picnic Dance [7] (at Lincoln Park) on August 1, and the Great Gatsby Ball [8] on September 5. Visit the dance links for more information and to purchase tickets.
Vivian Delchamps Wolf (English PhD, UCLA, 2022) is a professor of English at Dominican University of California and a contributing writer for the Alameda Post. She is also a disability justice advocate, ballroom dancer, cat lover, and board game enthusiast. Contact her via [email protected] [9] Her writing is collected at AlamedaPost.com/Vivan-Delchamps-Wolf [10].