Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra & Chorale and Dance Through Time present Dance Like It's 1699: Free Country Dancing with Live Music. The free 90-minute workshop takes place Saturday, May 2, 2026 at 2:00 PM on the stage of the Blue Shield of California Theater at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts (YBCA), as part of Bay Area Dance Week.
Open to participants of all experience levels, the event invites the public to step directly onto the theater stage and learn English country dances from the famous 17th-century dance collections of Thomas Bray and John Playford, set to live music by Henry Purcell, performed by musicians from Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra. Professional dance instructor Jennifer Meller, Artistic Director of long established Bay Area historical dance company Dance Through Time, will guide participants through the steps in an accessible, participatory workshop celebrating the lively social dance traditions of the Baroque era.
English country dances were among the most popular social dances of the 17th century-simple, communal dances designed for groups of people rather than trained performers. With Purcell's vibrant dance music played live on period instruments, participants will experience the rhythms and energy that animated social life in Purcell's England.
The workshop is presented as part of Bay Area Dance Week, the region-wide festival that offers hundreds of free classes, workshops, and performances celebrating the diversity of dance throughout the Bay Area.
Admission is free, but advance registration is required. For details and the link to register, visit philharmonia.org/dance.
Event Details
Dance Like It's 1699: Free Country Dancing with Live Music-presented by Dance Through Time and Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra & Chorale
Saturday, May 2, 2026, 2:00 - 3:30 PM
Blue Shield of California Theater at YBCA
700 Howard St, San Francisco, CA 94103
Free admission - registration required at philharmonia.org/dance
Free
Presented by Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra & Choral