In Georgian Edinburgh, women’s contributions to music and dance—whether as composers, performers, teachers or patrons were often overshadowed, yet their influence was undeniable.
Join Alena Shmakova and Frances Scott as they explore the pioneering women of Enlightenment Scotland’s performing arts scene—from the Lady Directresses of Dance Assemblies to the musicians and dancers who helped shape Edinburgh’s cultural landscape.
Discover the dances once performed and taught by Marianne Violante and Sofia Parker, as well as the music by talented amateurs like Magdalene Stirling or professionals as Sophia Dussek, whose compositions once filled the city’s salons and concert halls.
Through music and dance, this lecture-recital brings to light the often-overlooked women who helped shape Scotland’s artistic legacy.
The programme is made possible through funding by the University of the Highlands and Islands Student Development Fund, funded by REC, the Early Dance Circle and support by the European Association for Dance History.
Alena Shmakova has studied historical dance since 2006, training with the Historical Dance Society, Nordic Baroque Dancers, and other practitioners. Since 2013, she has taught historical dance in Edinburgh, performing at venues such as Holyrood Palace, Stirling Castle, and Early Dance Festivals. As a researcher, she has received funding to study female patronage in Scotland and the early 19th-century Strathspey style, presenting her work at major dance history conferences. Women in Dance in Scotland, 1500–1800 is part of her research for an MLitt in History at the University of the Highlands and Islands. Alena also teaches historical dance and dance history through the Edinburgh Adult Education programme.
Frances Scott was trained at the Royal Northern College of Music as a pianist before joining the music staff of Scottish Ballet. She then moved to Covent Garden as a pianist with the Royal Ballet Company. Fortunate enough to own a harpsichord, she also worked with groups such as Kist o’ Music and Bruntsfield Baroque, giving concerts in St Cecilia’s Hall and the Georgian House. Her interests include Scottish music in the 18th century and female composers and performers.
Where possible we will update our listings to notify of cancelled, postponed and rescheduled events, however we STRONGLY ADVISE that you check with the venue/organiser in the first instance for updates.
All information (whether in text or photographs) is supplied in good faith but should not be relied upon as being a statement of representation or fact.GOT AN EVENT TO SHARE? It's free to post your events on What's On Edinburgh, click here to find out more!
Want to be the first to hear about what's happening in Edinburgh? Just hit 'Like' on our Facebook page, join the What's On Scotland Facebook Group and 'Follow' on our Twitter account and you're all set!Join us at St Cecilia’s Hall during the Fringe for a guided tour of the musical treasures on display. Topics and guides vary daily!
READ MOREJoin storyteller and musician Ailsa Dixon on 5th August, in the music museum St Cecilia’s Hall, for a fun-filled family friendly romp through myth and legend!
READ MORECome along to a one-hour reduction of Handel's most performed opera, Giulio Cesare at St Cecilia's Hall on 8th August as part of the Fringe!
READ MOREMarin Marais, Silvius Leopold Weiss and J.S. Bach are brought together again, with clair-obscur pieces of indescribable darkness and melancholy, in contrast with moments of brightness and serenity.
READ MOREIn this concert at St Cecilia's Hall, you will hear a variety of piobaireachd, the classical music of the great Highland bagpipe, Scotland’s national instrument.
READ MOREBack by popular demand, the self-taught and self-proclaimed David Munrow of punk brings his Early Music Show to the beautiful surroundings of St Cecilia's Hall for the fourth time.
READ MOREGeorge Weir performs music for violin and harpsichord by Bach, Handel and Corelli as well as an unaccompanied violin piece Austrian composer Johann Vilsmayr.
READ MOREJoin Dr Brianna Robertson-Kirkland as she explores the story of the first generation of the Corris through images, storytelling and song at St Cecilias Hall on 14th August!
READ MOREThis concert on 15th August features an exciting young trio of Glasgow’s finest jazz musicians and pays homage to jazz clarinettists of the 1920/30s!
READ MOREJoin us at St Cecilia's Hall on 16th August for our first ever South Asian Heritage Month Community Day!
READ MOREThe Edinburgh Renaissance Band with the Edinburgh Early Dancers return for 2025 with a lively performance of their ever-popular Viol Rackett Show on 17th August at St Cecilia's Hall.
READ MOREEnjoy an exploration of the music heard during the period of the Hundred Year War – spanning from Burgundy, the Flemish region and England at St Cecilia's Hall on 20th August!
READ MOREBe transported to 17th century Venice, Naples... baroque into the 20th century with an hour of delicious sound which brings pure joy!
READ MOREThe critically acclaimed team of McDonald and Kitchen perform virtuoso works for recorder with continuo and obbligato harpsichord by Bach, Vivaldi, Telemann and Corelli.
READ MOREJoin historian Jayme Kurland at St Cecilia's Hall on Thursday, 4th September as she discusses who the women of Fender were and their impact on American popular music!
READ MOREJoin Fiona Johnston, audio describer, as she describes various artwork and objects from the Royal Collection at the Palace of Holyroodhouse.
READ MOREMany authors have been inspired to pick up their pen to write about the Palace of Holyroodhouse. These sessions will explore these literary works followed by a hearty discussion!
READ MOREJoin us on Thursdays at The Palace of Holyroodhouse for a short talk on one of the fascinating photographs in our exhibition Royal Portraits: A Century of Photography!
READ MOREA lecture about spiritual healing and help through the teaching of Bruno Groening is taking place at The Open Door Community Centre, Edinburgh on various dates throughout the year.
READ MOREFancy a wee treat? Join Ms Crème De La Cream's breakfast ice cream taster sessions at Stockbridge market.
READ MOREThese tea and talk sessions deliver a series of small-scale talks from the RZSS team in the stunning setting of the Mansion House at Edinburgh Zoo.
READ MOREAre you considering participating in the Festival Off Avignon in France in 2026 or 2027 as an artist, company, or producer? Then join one of these workshops at the Institut Français!
READ MORESex sells, or so the saying goes, but when did it start selling musical instruments? Join Dr Sarah Deters for this lecture on 6th August!
READ MORECome and discover how notoriously bad coffee, book stacks and a Glasgow group were ignitors of today’s Edinburgh Fringe and International Book Festivals.
READ MORE