The annual New Home Ball is held in Orange MA in November, a Saturday in mid-November, and organized by Brad Foster.
Save the dates: November 21–22, 2026
New Home Ball 2025
Saturday, November 22 – practice and ball
Schedule: Practice session 2:00pm to 4:30pm, evening ball 7:00pm to 10:30pm
Dance leaders: Joanna Reiner Wilkinson and Brad Foster
Musicians: Karen Axelrod (piano), Audrey Jaber (violin), Ben Schreiber (violin)
Sound: Dereck Kalish
Location: Town Hall, 6 Prospect St, Orange MA
Ball admission: $30 to $60 sliding scale per person includes afternoon practice session. Pre-registration is required; each individual must register separately. (Want to attend the afternoon practice session only? We do have limited spaces available, $20 to register.)
Sunday, November 23 — post-ball workshop
Schedule: 1:00pm to 3:30pm
Staff: Teaching by Joanna & Brad; music by Karen, Audrey & Ben; sound by Dereck
Location: Town Hall, 6 Prospect St, Orange MA
Admission: $15–35 sliding scale, payable either in advance or at the door; no registration needed.
Join us next time?
We’d be happy to add you to the New Home Ball email list, to which we send announcements when registration opens for the year.
Ball details
Format
We hold an afternoon practice session, take a break for dinner on your own, and return for an evening dance with festive attire encouraged. In the afternoon all dances are taught; in the evening most dances have a walk-through; around half will also be prompted. There will be a few “For Those Who Know” with no talk-through, walk-through, or prompting.
Logistics
The dance program and links to online videos will be posted below. A list of all dances, their format for the evening, and dance notes, will be sent to all registrants along with travel directions and restaurant suggestions. The hall will be open between the afternoon practice and evening ball for those who want to bring their dinner.
Refreshments
We are bringing mid-evening refreshments back to the Ball this year, and we’ll be seeking help in providing and setting out food. Details will be sent to registrants.
Post-ball workshop
A selection of recent compositions will be taught, for intermediate and experienced dancers who know standard figures and recovery skills.
Covid protocol
Please stay home if you feel ill or if you or a member of your household has either had significant exposure to Covid or tested positive. Masking is optional.
Questions?
Contact Brad Foster, ball chair, at amherstenglish@gmail.com or (413) 335-3489 (leave voicemail).
2025 program
Dance notes will be sent to all registrants.
| Another Nancy’s Fancy | ||
|---|---|---|
| * | Chelsea Reach | <video> |
| An Early Frost | <video> | |
| The Female Saylor | <video> | |
| Flora and Phaon | <video> | |
| Fourpence Half-Penny Farthing | <video> | |
| From Aberdeen | <video> | |
| Mary K | <video> | |
| The Merry Musicologist | ||
| * | Miss de Jersey’s Memorial | <video> |
| Monica’s Delight | <video> | |
| Saint Margaret’s Hill | <video> | |
| The Shrewsbury Lasses | <video> | |
| Softly Good Tummas | <video> | |
| Turning of the Hour | <video> | |
| Vines Entwined | <video> | |
| Wanton Dolly | ||
| Will o’ the Wisp |