It was highly improper, according to social etiquette, for a woman to dance more than two dances with the same partner, unless engaged. Due to the social nature of dancing in the period, it was also unacceptable for husbands and wives to dance together more than one dance. However, it was quite expected for young couples to use the opportunity of a dance to flirt with the opposite sex. A dance in the Regency Period often lasted for thirty minutes, giving young people ample time to get to know one another, since talking without a chaperon was forbidden before marriage.
