Tea Party Diva - Life & Craft

Afternoon Tea Entertainment

The trend for “at homes” and afternoon teas developed to include entertainment.

This took the form of perhaps a palm reader, tea cup reader, musician or dancer. Sometimes the hostess herself would entertain, offering a song or a dance.

The Advent of Tea Dances

Later, it became common for Tea Dances to be included as part of the occasion. This was stated on the invitation.The tea room was set up to allow for dancing. Sometimes, another room was used, with the men escorting the women to the tea room between dance brackets.

Opposition to Tea Dances

Eileen Terry, author of Etiquette For All was obviously not a fan of the advent of the Tea Dance. She cautioned -

Tea dances are a recent form of excitement, but it is very questionable if it is good for the health or the complexion to get up and career round and round in the intervals of a meal. Your doctor will certainly tell you that it is a grave digestive mistake.

1910 Tango Teas

Tea Dances began to extend beyond the Afternoon Tea circuit. In 1910, the Tango was the latest dance craze, and fashionable hotels began to offer Tea Dances. These were known as Tango Teas. The Waldorf Hotel in London was a popular Tea Dance venue. Tea cost 3 shillings, and tea and dancing, five shillings.

1922 Tea Dance Etiquette Advice

Correct etiquette was paramount for both hostesses and attending guests. Books such as Cassells 1922 Book of Etiquette and Emily Post’s books in America were consulted, and became an important part of planning and attending any event.

The Cassells Book of Etiquette advised the following -

For a dance tea between 4.30 and 7, ladies wear the smartest afternoon dress, with small and very decorative hats or toques. For the evening, members will often make up a party to dine beforehand in the hotel and of course, evening dress is worn.

The refreshments are simple in either case - tea with nice cakes and possibly ices in the afternoon, and in the evening dainty sandwiches, petit fours, coffee, and perhaps claret or Sauterne cups, and these terminate by midnight.

Tea Dances at the Waldorf Hotel Today

Even today, London’s Waldorf Hotel offers Afternoon Tea and Tea Dances where couples can waltz to a five piece orchestra. The Tea Dances are held in the spacious and regal Palm Court. This room has a sense of history with its marble columns, brass railings, and of course, the palms for which it is named.

White linen tablecloths and Wedgewood China set the scene and add to the elegant ambience of days gone by. Afternoon Tea consists of sandwiches, scones with jam and clotted cream, cakes, pastries and tea. Afternoon Tea and Tea Dances are also held at London’s Savoy Hotel.

Times Past