Oh sure, attraction is not at all required for flirting, and I flirt with more people than I'm attracted to. But given my druthers, I'd like to dance with people I'm attracted to.

I should note here that I refuse to say that Regency in general expects such (except in a historical context). However, Susan de Gardiola, who is a very good teacher (she is, I think, why I know how to pas de basque) and a generally good person is the person who runs most of the Regency events on this coast, and, for the balls, at least, this is her ruling.

I would not say rule out all Regency for this --I honestly enjoy it more than Scottish, when I get the chance to do it.

I...think that a kilt and a nice tailcoat would be accepted at all the balls except the most anal-retentively period ones. For what it's worth, I'd guess at least a third of the people in attendance were not actually period, just formal.

Also, re: beginners, it is admittedly a *lot* easier to dance in a set when everyone is gender balanced. When they say "go to the gents side", well, if everyone on that side is a gent, it makes more sense than remembering that the gents are on the left when facing the music. Soyeah.

((And gender balanced can mean costumed --for Regency, pants vs not works))

~Sor