GEOrgian & Regency GETtogether, Talk and dancE Society or Georgettes of Oxford

My story… beings as all good stories should… once upon a time – These Old Shades by Georgette Heyer 1926

The hope when forming this society was to have a group of people with an interest in the 18th and early 19th century in an around Oxford. As the name suggests we do this by social gathering, talks and dancing. The hope is that everyone will find something of interest on the programme as well as meeting like-minded people.
Georgettes of Oxford is a community group open to all people with an interest in the 18th and early 19th century in and around Oxfordshire. We offer twice monthly historical dance classes one open to all and the other for intermediate historical dancers, free talks, book groups, socials and costumed meet-ups.

Our history
2023
Forming in March 2023, our first year was an exciting one for Georgettes, after only having been formed for three months, we were asked to provide Georgian dancers and extras for Channel 5’s Secrets of Buckingham Palace with Alexander Armstrong. In the summer we performed a costumed dance display and hosted a complete beginners’ dance workshop at the National Trust’s Claydon House. During the autumn term we focused on learning Ignatius Sancho’s dances, and have performed with actor and biographer of Sancho, Paterson Joseph as part of his talk on Sancho at Corpus Christi College.
2024
2024 started with the BBC filming us dancing to the music of early music ensemble Charivari Agréable, and playing Georgian card games at Claydon House for a feature they did on us. Then in April we were invited to perform Regency dances as part of the commemorations for the 200th Anniversary of Lord Byron’s death, at his family home Newstead Abbey in Nottinghamshire. During the summer we performed a programme of Charles Ignatius Sancho dances and the UK premiere of dances choreographed to Mozart’s dance music on the lawn in front of Broughton Castle, by permission of Lord and Lady Saye and Sele, and in the 18th century folly Garrick’s Temple to Shakespeare in London at a music and dance recital with period ensemble Loki Music. The year concluded by hosting a book launch party for local Regency Romance novelist Penny Hampson.
2025
2025 commenced with re-created a traditional Twelfth Night celebration in Abingdon Abbey Buildings, where we were joined by musicians Kate Allsop and Ibrahim Aziz; shortly followed by performing at Wembley Stadium. In 2025 we celebrated all things Jane Austen in the 250th anniversary year of her birth. Over the summer we are invited to give five Jane Austen themed dance displays at: Lydiard Park, Broughton Castle, Oxford Festival of the Art and at Garrick’s Temple to Shakespeare (both in collaboration with period music group Capability Consort) and at the Jane Austen House Museum in Chawton. In the lead up to Austen’s birthday we ran a book group looking at a different Austen novel each month, danced and led dance workshops as part of two exhibitions at the University of Oxford: Austens at Oxford at St John’s College and Dancing with Austen at the Bodleian Libraries. Our dance mistress Helen Davidge was invited to call the Jane Austen Birthday Ball in Southampton and at the Bank of England Museum, where we also gave dance displays. We have also fitted in some Georgian events, having been invited to dance in Windsor Castle as part of their Glorious Georgian weekend. In the spring Helen Davidge was invited to collaborate with Malaysia’s only baroque group, Wicked Music People bringing baroque dance to the country for the first time in modern times, performing with the group in Kuala Lumpur and running a weekend workshop for pre-professional dancers; Helen also as taught multiple dance workshops in Japan (Tokyo and Gifu).

Our full listing of events can be found on our programme page.

Code of Conduct

This group is open to all people over the age of 18. Even though the 18th and 19th centuries were sadly not, this is an inclusive space for everyone, regardless of age, gender, sexuality, ethnicity, race, religion or ability.
This group will not tolerate any ableist, racist, anti-semitic, islamaphobic, misogynist, homophobic or transphobic behaviour, as these are values we do not agree with from the past.
If anyone feels this is not an inclusive space, a matter we would take very seriously. Please contact us using the contact page.
Also if you need any accommodations please also let us know on the contact page.

Our People

Dr Helen Davidge – Director

Since the age of five Helen has had a fascination with history starting with all things Victoriana. She discovered the Regency period when watching the classic BBC Pride and Prejudice in 1995 and her interest in the Georgian period was kindled in her teens when she was introduced to the works of Georgette Heyer. Helen enjoys researching history in a variety of ways, including through literature (particularly 18th century female authors), hand sewing, renovating an 18th century cottage, reenactment and dance. Helen has been attending Ballet classes since she was three years old; a hobby she continues (previously attending classes by Bennet Gartside at the Royal Opera House and now locally by Sarah Tree in Bicester) along with Regency dancing when she joined Mrs Bennet’s Ballroom in 2017, and more recently taught by Sasza Zargowski at Mr Gosk’s Dance Academy. Soon after starting Regency dance, Helen broadened her historical dance repertoire to include the 17th and 18th Century French Noble Style Baroque dance being taught mainly by Barbara Segal, and also by Louisa McAlpine in London and Irene Feste in Paris. During her time working in finance Helen has presented Data Science work on the novelist Georgette Heyer at several international conferences and taught dance workshops online. She has had much experience with facilitating events for the public at the Open University while studying for a PhD in Astronomy and at JAXA (the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) while sponsored by the British Council. While working as a professional actor and drama business manager she has taught over 600 drama classes to adults and children. As a classically trained dancer, Helen is an experienced historical dance teacher, having taught Contra Dance and Baroque in both Europe and East and South East Asia, as well as performing Baroque dance with Academy of Ancient Music and Wicked Music People. She is the first person to have performed and taught Baroque dance in Malaysia in modern times, and was the dance mistress for the first professional theatrical production of Death Comes to Pemberley.