Dancing & 'Valet'

[ayamemishi]

Alright, so first things first: I've started a story wherein the major character is taking a beginner's dance class. I am, however, relatively unfamilar with dancing, and I need a few ideas of dances that one could do with a partner that aren't extremely complicated. Also, is a waltz a good idea for a beginner's class? As I recall, the version I

Comments

[bolddeciever]

Perhaps a handmaiden or handmaid?

[chickenfeet2003]

The female equivalent of a valet is a lady's maid. The only real difference being (apart from gender) that a valet might serve a young gentleman living on his own in rooms (think Jeeves), which implies a broader range of functions than a valet in a house with a full staff, while, of course, no respectable unmarried woman would be living apart from her family unless at school or something.

[crazykimmy]

Yep, agree with this.

[chickenfeet2003]

In earlier times, yes. I'd have thought by the early 1800s that would be rare and would become rarer to having vanished by 1900.

[philomytha]

I think 'lady's maid' is the female equivalent. I've also seen 'abigail' used in Regency romances.

[frenchpony]

The waltz is just fine for beginners. I've taught people the basic waltz step in about five minutes, and from there, it's just practicing to get it smooth. The major difficulty lies in pacing out a triple beat with two feet, but once people get the hang of the pattern and how to switch it from one foot to the other, they can go on forever.

For a real beginner's class, maybe some circle or mixer dances might be fun. I had a good time learning the Gay Gordons and the Troika at different classes.

[julian_black]

I haven't taken dance lessons since my mother made me do it in sixth grade. But as I recall, we started out learning the basic box step, and after that learned simple versions of the fox trot, cha-cha, waltz, and hustle. So yes, a waltz would definitely be part of a beginning dance class. Some teachers might introduce it first, because it's so easy.

[ayamemishi]

Ah, feel grateful- they were required at my school up until this year, and I learned next to nothing.

Thank you, by the way. I'll look into these dances.