Dances were a significant part of many communities' social life.   It was an opportunity to enjoy close physical proximity with members of the opposite gender in a public place, and perhaps to make the acquaintance of people formerly unknown to you.  More than anything, though, it was a place you could work upa sweat having a great deal of fun.

While dances or balls sometimes took place outdoors or in barns, most often they were held in a large hall or ballroom which was well-lit. A sizable mansion or public building could meet the requirements of a well-attended dance, and large inns often had ballrooms for rent to dance organizers. A good-sized lawn or, better yet, a large balcony or flower garden was considered a necessity, as dancers needed a place to cool down after dancing.

In the spirit of keeping balls or dances fresh, not only were new dances introduced from time to time (many of which originated in Europe), but the dances or balls often had themes. While there were informal dances that took place, sometimes spontaneously, in homes where the furniture would be moved out of the way so that a few couples could dance and one musician or a small group of folks made up an impromptu band, or they could be highly formal affairs to which people were invited by engraved invitation and more than one band might play, as well as having military escorts and all the fanfare they could throw into the mix.

Dances and balls of the period began and ended quite late, by our standards. Since most occupations ended at dusk, attendees had time to go home, clean up, take a nap, and dress up before traveling to the dance. It was fairly normative for dances and balls (at least public ones) to begin after 9:00 PM and as late as 11:00 PM, and for them to last until dawn. Consequently, it was not at all unusual for a dance or ball to offer a supper buffet around midnight.

Don’t forget that the mode of transportation for folks of the period made travel much slower than we enjoy today, which meant that a greater amount of travel time had to be allowed, especially for those in outlying areas, than we would have to take into account today.

Public dances or subscription balls were often organized by political candidates or office-holders, many different sorts of organizations, and even towns or villages. The intention was to draw large numbers of people, all of whom were required to purchase a ticket for admission, so these dances were often advertised in local papers and with handbills or flyers. Many of these dances had a purpose or theme, such as a Hospital Ball intended to raise money for a hospital, a Bachelor Ball which would be akin to our contemporary "singles mixer", or a Country Ball which had a pastoral theme, somewhat akin to our "hayride" - without the ride.

Masquerade balls or dress balls were dances which had a costumed theme, usually a historical theme. Since most folks did not wear their costumes to the site of the dance, it was necessary for the dance organizers to provide a good deal of dressing space for both ladies and gentlemen.

During all formal occasions and parades, white gloves would be worn by a man. This is particularly true of a dance, for men tend to perspire and their hands become unpleasant for a lady to touch - even through her gloves..

Upon entering a dance, visitors should go immediately to the cloak room. If a gentleman arrived without gloves, it was in the cloak room that he would be expected to don his gloves as he divested himself of his coat and hat. A gentleman would then wait at the ladies' cloak entrance for his lady. Ladies took that time and opportunity to fix their hair, divest themselves of shawls, wraps, cloaks, and bonnets, and to slip off their street footwear in favor of dance slippers. As did the men, ladies would most commonly wear gloves of white or yellow. Whatever preparations must be made or attentions might be applied to oneself in the cloak room or ladies’ dressing room, always be careful to finish your toilet before entering the ballroom.

A host was responsible to make the appropriate introductions, as well as seeing that all ladies who had an inclination to dance were supplied with partners.

Introductions were generally not to be followed by shaking hands, but rather by a bow. In the ballroom where the introduction is to dancing and not friendship, you never shake hands. Ladies were expected to wear gloves in all public places and in church, and it was improper for her to remove her gloves to shake hands. However, the dilemma raised by shaking hands should not generally occur at the instigation of a gentleman.

Introductions were not to be followed by shaking hands, but rather by a bow. In a ballroom setting where the introduction is to dancing and not necessarily to friendship, neither ladies nor gentlemen should shake hands. A lady should curtsey before starting a dance with a gentleman, while a gentleman should bow to the lady before they begin to dance.

Once having met friends at a ball or promenade, it is only necessary to greet or salute them once for the evening. Avoid the habit of some to constantly bow and nod to folks whom you have already greeted there. It is an irritating and disagreeable habit.

A gentleman at a dance was expected to dance, and dance frequently; this being most especially true when there is an imbalance of gentlemen in relation to the numbers of ladies at a dance. It was considered impolite to dance with the same partner more than once or, at most, twice in an evening, especially with one’s own spouse. Gentlemen were to leave no "wall flowers" without a dance partner who were willing and waiting to dance. Ladies and gentlemen alike are cautioned to avoid dancing too much with one's partner, for dancing is a social activity, and is meant to be shared.

Ladies are never to refuse one gentleman and accept another for the same dance, unless the dance was previously promised to another. Too, ladies attending dances at which dance cards are issued should neither solicit dances with gentlemen, nor should they boast of having a full card. As the Bible says in Proverbs 16:28, "Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall".

Dance quietly. There is no merit in stomping your way through a dance, and you risk harming others by stamping through the steps of a dance. Likewise, be aware of others around you as you dance; it is rude in the extreme to bump and jostle others as you dance, and shows a want of courtesy and self-control. Do not flail about and make wide, wild gestures, but restrict the greatest part of your movement on the dance floor to the hips downward.

Young people may escape dancing while very young, but young people who are about to enter into society found it necessary to learn to dance. As part and parcel of learning to dance, it was incumbent upon them to learn ballroom etiquette.

A gentleman finding himself a stranger at a public ball should seek out the dance master and mistress for a partner that he might have a lady with whom he may dance. Making her acquaintance for the purpose of enjoying a dance does not entitle a gentleman to claim her acquaintance afterwards, though. In fact, a gentleman should not so much as recognize her again unless she makes the first advance toward him with a bow or a smile. There are few ladies who attend the public balls who would object to being noticed by their ballroom acquaintances, or who would fail to bow on meeting; and a gentleman may then properly respond by lifting his hat.

Unless a gentleman has been presented to a lady strange to him for the purpose of dancing, it is improper for him to invite such a lady to dance. Ballroom introductions, like traveling acquaintances, end when the dance ends. To think to carry the acquaintanceship further is to be presumptuous in the extreme.

An escort should always see that the lady he escorts is cared for. She should never have to obtain her own refreshments, cross the ballroom without his company, or leave the ballroom unattended.

When waltzing with a lady, do not press her waist; touch it lightly with the open palm of your hand.