Hilary French is a cultural historian and dance scholar whose work examines the social and historical dimensions of dance as a form of human expression. She is the author of *Ballroom: A People’s History of Dancing*, published by Reaktion Books in 2022, which traces the development of ballroom dance across cultures, social classes, and historical periods, highlighting its role in community life, identity formation, and cultural exchange. French’s research situates ballroom within broader frameworks of performance history, leisure studies, and embodied practice, drawing on archival sources, dancer narratives, and cultural analysis. She has contributed articles and presentations on dance history and cultural performance to academic and public audiences, and engages in teaching and research that explore the intersections of movement, society, and everyday life.