About Us
Ellis has been a folk dancer, morris, rapper and longsword dancer since
1947. He was Squire of Ravensbourne Morris side for two years and their
musician for ten. He ran barn dances in venues ranging from Buckingham
Palace to the World Conference of Nudists. He was a member of the folk
dance team for England and performed annually at the Royal Albert Hall, with his
first wife Iris and later with his second wife Chris. He is an Approved
Tutor for the English Folk Dance and Song Society and serves on the advisory
panel to the Dance Research Committee of the ISTD.
In
1969 Ellis and Chris embarked on historical dancing at the Dolmetsch Historical
Dance Society summer school, held then in Cheltenham. Chris became a
certificated tutor for the Society and she and Ellis together were teachers for
the annual Dolmetsch summer school and occasionally for the Nonsuch summer
school. They taught 16th century dance and researched, composed and taught
baroque dance and notation. They started the group Pastime, in Orpington,
to dance all periods from the 15th century to the 19th, and were the regular
'residential' tutors for the Oxford Historical Dance Society when that group
first started. They were founder members of the Early Dance Circle.
Since 1990 they have concentrated almost entirely on 19th century
dance.
Teaching Abroad
Their first experience
of teaching abroad was a week in Canada in the town of Brandon where a daily
temperature of 94F. slowed them down somewhat. Since then they have taught
several times in Italy, Germany, Denmark, the U.S.A. and in Japan by the invitation of
professor Ikema of the Folk Dance Federation of Japan, where they were
privileged to have Prince Mikasa in their class. Classes in Japan tend to
be larger than in England and in 1993 Ellis found himself with a class of over
1300 on a dance floor formed by boarding over the Olympic swimming pool in
Tokyo.
19th Century Dance
Since 1982 Ellis has concentrated his research and teaching on
dances of the period 1780-1900, this period providing a wealth of social dances,
Cotillons, Quadrilles, Country Dances and Couple Dances. The great variety of
steps and rhythms give the enthusiastic dancer the opportunity to widen his
experience and enjoyment.
In 1984 the Rogers started their Quadrille
Club, a venue for those interested in practising dances of this
period in a social setting. Growing requests for a demonstration team led to the
formation of The English Quadrille in 1990. This team had
the good fortune to have two members who were also members of the Costume
Society, Jean and Pawel Nowak, whose expertise ensured that the team were always
correctly attired. The team appeared for several years at Apsley House in
London together with The Napoleonic Association and the living history group
Histrionix. Two or three times a year The English Quadrille danced for
English Heritage at their outdoor concerts at Marble Hill, Kenwood House and
Audley End. On these occasions they had the support of a full orchestra and
the enthusiastic co-operation of the conductors John Bradbury and Anthony
Hose. Other memorable performances were given at the Beaumaris Festival,
the National Portrait Gallery, the Brighton Pavilion and the annual Strauss Ball
at the Cafe Royal. The team also performed at the summer galas of the
keyboard instrument museum at Finchcocks in Kent. Throughout the whole
period of its existence The English Quadrille was encouraged and supported by
the knowledge and advice freely and enthusiastically given by Oliver Davies of
the Royal College of Music.
Summer Schools.
Ellis and Christine have taught at several of the summer schools
organised by both the Dolmetsch Historical Dance Society and Nonsuch. Their
class for the former in 2004 included, as well as their normal repertoire, such
items as dances from the Isle of Man, a Czech quadrille and a Spanish solo
dance, La Cachucha .
Russian Balls.
In 1989 Ellis was asked to be dancing master for the
War and Peace Ball, held annually in London to raise funds for Russian
charities. The ball was held in the Napoleon Room at the Cafe Royal,
Regent Street, to music played by one of the Regiments of Guards.
Some years later the ball divided. One, the War and
Peace, moved to the Dorchester Hotel, the other remained at the Cafe Royal and
was renamed the St. Petersburg Ball. After ten years Ellis resigned his position
as dancing master but the balls continue.
Stage, Screen, Radio and Television.
Ellis has advised on a stage production of La Traviata,
on film for Vanity Fair, on television for Dr.Quinn, Medicine Woman, and has
appeared on BBC radio partnering Debora Bull in a programme about the waltz.
Music and Musicians.
Throughout their dancing life Ellis and Christine have been
fortunate in working with some outstandingly talented musicians. They would like
to thank in particular:-
Oliver Davies, performance keyboard tutor at the Royal College of
Music. He is an enthusiast for and collector of 19th century dance music
and an inspired performer of this and classical music.
Green Ginger, a trio who specialise in Scottish dance music but who
have fully co-operated with Ellis to produce recordings and live performances in
authentic 18th. and 19th. century styles.
Stuart Marsden, a dancer who is also a musician, an asset to any
dance club. He provided all the recorded music for the Rogers' part of the
2004 Dolmetsch Historical Dance Society summer school.
