American dancing master, and ball-room prompter: containing about five hundred
dances ... By Elias Howe .. 1866

COTILLON 
THE PYRAMID

9.The Pyramid--La Pyramide (Waltz, Polka, or Mazourka Step.)

Three couples set out together, dancing or waltzing. Every gentleman seeks
another gentleman, and every lady another lady. The six ladies form three
unequal ranks. One lady alone forms the first rank, and represents the top of
the pyramid; two compose the second rank, and three the third. The gentlemen
take each other by the hand, and compose a chain. The conductor leads the other
gentlemen, and passes, running, behind the three last ladies. He enters the
last rank, then the second, causing the chain of gentlemen he conducts to wind
about the ladies. When he comes in front of the lady placed at the top of the
pyramid, he claps his hands, and leads off either in waltz or promenade the
lady opposite to him. The other gentleman in like manner waltz or dance with
their opposites. This figure may be executed by five couples, by forming a
fourth rank of ladies.

                         L
                       L   L
                      L  L  L
                     L  L  L L