PHOTO BY PAULA MULLER
Jeanette Watts of Dayton, Ohio, who is attending the Victorian dance weekend in Nahant, strikes a pose at the bar.
BY BRIDGET TURCOTTE
NAHANT — For more than two decades, Katy Bishop and her husband, Ben, have been bringing Nahant back to its roots.
One weekend a year, lovers of dance, clothing and history travel to the town and take a trip to the 19th and 20th centuries, when Nahant was known as a summer retreat for the wealthy.
The first hotel was built in Nahant in 1802, and many visitors owned cottages and homes to enjoy the summer on the ocean. They loved the scenic coastal views and spent nights at elegant dances and balls.
Bishop, office manager of the Nahant Historical Society, found her niche in the Victorian era when she tried on her first ball gown and felt her confidence grow.
“I’m a dressmaker and costume historian,” she said. “Wearing the clothes got me out of my shyness. I found out dancing is in my blood.”
In 1991, she organized the first event when five guests gathered for the day to play Victorian games on the lawn of the Nahant Country Club. They were invited back to her home for tea. Today, about 150 people register annually for an event that began Thursday night with a dance, and wraps up Sunday evening.
The weekend is packed with costume making workshops, dance classes, afternoon teas and a seaside soiree. The main event, a Venetian-themed Grand Ball, will be held Saturday night at Town Hall.
“My mother is from Vienna and my father was from Budapest,” Bishop said. “That part of the world calls to me.”
Guests dress in period costumes, many of which are handmade. The clothing is what inspires many of them to pick up the hobby.
“I’m a historian and I love clothes and fabric,” said Melissa Meier of Maryland. “I started making the clothes and I got sucked in.”
For the ball, Meier said she plans to wear a dress she made in 2003 for a trip to Vienna. She brought 10 dresses with her, and has many more at home.
Angela Elsey flew in from California, where she said there is a large vintage community.
“This is my first time in Nahant,” Elsey said. “There are international events, so I met some of these people before in Paris.”
Elsey said she is wearing 1920s clothing because it’s easier to travel with and cooler to wear in the warm weather. She attended her first ball because she liked to dance. But when Elsey saw the room full of elaborate costumes, she was hooked.
Both women said they will move on to the next event, held in Rhode Island, beginning Monday.
“This hobby has been great for meeting so many creative people,” Bishop said. “There are so many talents and everyone is willing to share them.”
A three-day weekend pass costs $140, a one-day pass $60 and a ticket to the ball costs $35. A full schedule of events is available at www.vintagevictorian.com.
Bridget Turcotte can be reached at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @BridgetTurcotte.
