From Thomas Hillgrove, 1865 The Lancers' Quadrilles (as they are now danced in New York) FIRST FIGURE - Three Parts --------------------------- HEAD COUPLES FORWARD AND BACK, taking four steps each way, the gentleman holding the lady's left hand in his right. FORWARD AGAIN and turn the opposite partners with both hands and return to places. CROSS OVER - The first couople join hands and cross over to opposite places passing between the second couple; while the second couple cross over on the outside of the first (or leading) couple, and exchange places with them. CROSS BACK and return to places; 1s outside, 2s inside. [It's the drawers figure.] BALANCE to CORNERS - Thus, the four ladies forward to the gentlemen on the right, and the four gentlemen forward to the ladies on the left, each taking four steps forward and four steps back, and then turn with both hands to place. [Not unlike 'The Convention' cotillion.] The second couple then take the lead, and the third and fourth follow in succession. [Remember, 1 ] 3 4 2 SECOND FIGURE ------------- HEAD COUPLES FORWARD AND BACK FORWARD AGAIN, and LEAVE THE LADIES in the center, facing partners, and salute with a bow and courtesy; the gentlemen retire alone. [The picture shows a line of four, like a reel; M W W M.] CHASSEZ ACROSS - all slip four to their own right, four to their own left, finish facing partners. TURN PARTNERS TO PLACE - two hand turn with partner, opening up facing across at home. SIDE COUPLES DIVIDE, AND ALL FORWARD in two lines. The side couples separate from their partners and join hands with the head couples, forming two lines, four in a line, as follows: M3 and W4 join couple 1, W3 and M4 join couple 2. Thus: M4 W2 M2 W3 W4 M1 W2 M3 So placed, all forward and back, taking four steps each way (4 bars). FORWARD AGAIN AND TURN partners to places, all turning to the right with both hands (4 bars). Repeat four times, twice by the head couple, twice by the sides. When forming the two lines for the third and fourth times, the head couples divide and join with side couples, reversing the figure. THIRD FIGURE ------------ HEAD COUPLES FORWARD AND BACK FORWARD AND SALUTE - Head couples forward again 4 steps stop in the centre to salute the opposite couple - here the musicians must pause while the dancers bow and courtesy - and then they retire back into places. FOUR LADIES CROSS RIGHT HANDS - that is, ladies do a right hand star halfway round while the men halfway on the outside in the other direction. FOUR LADIES CROSS LEFT HANDS - reverse the previous piece, meet partners at home, turn right hand to places. Repeat four times, twice by the head and twice by the sides. [NB- In place of the four ladies crossing hands in the third figure (as above described) and then turning roundin the center, it is now fashionable to perform the LADIES' CHAIN FIGURE the same as it is danced in the first set or plain quadrille.] FOURTH FIGURE ------------- HEAD COUPLES LEAD TO THE RIGHT, AND SALUTE: The two head couples lead out to the right and face that couple. Bow and courtesy. (4 bars). Lead out to the left (4 bars). Turn partners to places - and if you bow and courtesy, the musicians need to retard the music to allow it. RIGHT AND LEFT: Head couples cross to opposite places, ladies passing through the centre, and the gentlemen on their outside; the gentlemen then present their left hands to the left hands of their partners and turn them half round; recross in the same way and turn partners to places (8 bars). [Right and Left Through with an Open Courtesy Turn.] Repeated four times - twice by the head couples, twice by the sides. Second time, lead left, then right. FIFTH FIGURE (music, six parts) ------------ RIGHT AND LEFT ALL ROUND - Grand Right and Left, starting right with partner, bow and courtesy when you meet. 16 bars. FIRST COUPLE PROMENADE ROUND - inside the set and return to their own places, finishing with their faces turned outside the quadrille. (Eg, facing up - the active couple is the head of the line about to form.) [The picture shows a right-in-right left-in-left both arms in front hold, a little below the woman's shoulder level.] Then the couple on the right fold in, then the couple on the left, and the bottoms remain in place as they were; that gives us contra lines. (8 bars) ALL CHASSEZ ACROSS: The ladies passing in front of their partners, slide four steps sideways to the left, while he gentlemen do so to the right. Then take one step forward and one step back again to fill out the music. Recross in the same manner - women in front again - and then step forward and back to fill the music. MARCH ROUND - Women turning right, men left, march round within the space of the quadrille; meeting partner at the bottom, pass up the centre to original places, all the women following the top women, all the men following the top man, and then fall back in two lines (still contra lines), facing partner. (8 bars.) ALL FORWARD - Women take hands in line, men take hands in line, forward and back, then forward again and turn partners to places (8 bars). Repeat whole thing four times. RIGHT AND LEFT ALL ROUND again (16 bars); all chassez to finish.