author
Thomas A. Faulkner
A former champion dancing master turned outspoken Christian reformer, Thomas A. Faulkner drew on years inside the ballroom to warn readers about what he saw as its hidden dangers. His best-known work, From the Ball-Room to Hell, offers a striking glimpse into nineteenth-century debates over dance, morality, and social life.
1 Audiobook
From the ball-room to hell
by Thomas A. Faulkner
About the author
Thomas A. Faulkner was a professional dancing master who spent much of his career in dancing parlors and academies. He was formerly the proprietor of the Los Angeles Dancing Academy, served as president of the Dancing Masters’ Association of the Pacific Coast, and held the Pacific Coast championship in fancy and round dancing. He also said he had created many popular round dances of his day.
After converting to Christianity, Faulkner rejected his former profession and became a vocal critic of ballroom culture. In From the Ball-Room to Hell, first published in 1892, he presented his arguments as a warning to parents and young people, drawing on his own experiences as a teacher and performer.
Faulkner continued this theme in later works, including The Gates of Hell: Or, Easter Ball Room Unmasked, published in 1896. His writing reflects the era’s intense arguments about entertainment, temptation, religion, and changing social customs.