A little Jane Austen comes to downtown Steubenville

STEUBENVILLE — For one October evening, downtown Steubenville will trade modern dance moves for English country dances as the city's ballroom scene takes a step back into the world of Jane Austen.

The second annual Sense and Sensibility Ball is scheduled for Saturday from 7-10 p.m. in the third-floor ballroom of the Renaissance Building, above Leonardo's Coffeehouse on North Fourth Street.

Organized through Bookmarx Bookstore, the event celebrates the October 1811 publication of Austen's first novel, Sense and Sensibility, with an evening of dancing, live string music and refreshments inspired by the social gatherings of the Regency era.

And guests won't need to know a thing about English country dancing to participate.

Experienced callers will guide dancers through traditional and adapted dances, while an optional instructional session beginning at 6 p.m. will give newcomers a chance to learn the steps before the ball begins. An additional practice session is planned for Friday.

The event offers a glimpse of the social traditions that figure prominently in Austen's novels, where dances often served as the setting for introductions, courtship, misunderstandings and changing relationships.

Published in 1811, Sense and Sensibility follows the Dashwood sisters, Elinor and Marianne, as they navigate family circumstances, romantic disappointments and the expectations of English society.

More than two centuries later, Austen's stories continue to inspire readers, films, television adaptations and events that recreate elements of the world she depicted.

In Steubenville, the ball is part of a developing series of cultural gatherings that organizers hope will bring people together through traditional dance, literature and live music.

John Byron Kuhner, who has helped develop the local ball series, described the events in a September online essay as an opportunity for participants to spend time together away from their phones while supporting musicians and creating additional cultural experiences in the city.

The Sense and Sensibility Ball follows a similar event held in 2025, when the celebration coincided with the 250th anniversary of Austen's birth.

This year's ball also comes as organizers work toward developing the Steubenville Athenaeum, a planned arts center in the former Masonic Temple building downtown.

Kuhner has written about the importance of creating opportunities for young people and families to experience music, dance and other cultural activities in person.

The ball is open to families and dancers of all experience levels.

Regency-inspired attire is encouraged, although period costumes are not required. Organizers ask guests to dress neatly, with formal attire encouraged.

Admission is $20 for adults and $10 for children ages 8-18. Children younger than 8 may attend free. A $50 patron ticket includes an additional contribution to support the Steubenville Athenaeum and similar cultural events.

Tickets are available through the event’s online ticketing page here: simpletix.com/e/the-2026-sense-sensibility-ball-tickets-292546