IRISH 19'th Century Dance

Kate Hughes' "Dancing Book,"
Dundalk, 1867

Arch. Thomson - Dancing Master

Quadrilles

All notes are by the late Professor Tom Flett, whose wife Mrs. Joan Flett, kindly gave me full access to her husband’s extensive interpretative notes on the manuscript. These notes compare many of the dances in the manuscript with contemporary published sources. Additional notes in italics are by Chris Brady.
© Frank Maginnis, Joan Flett, Chris Brady - 2002

Preface # Introduction # List of Dances

Grand March # Reels # Quadrilles # Country Dances # Circle Dances

QUADRILLES
(click on theclick hereimage to see the scanned pages)

Lady is sometimes spelt 'Laide' or 'Laidie.' Sometimes the word 'Laidie' means 'Laidies' - the plural meaning can be ascertained from the context of the rest of the figure's instructions.

1. Quadrills First Set (scan click here#click here)

(1st Figure)

1 Top and bottom rights and lefts to places 8
2 Set and turn partners 8
3 Ladies chain 8
4 Half promenade and half rights and lefts to places 8
Sides repeat this

2nd Figure

1 Top ladie and opposite gent advance and retire and change places 8
2 Advance and retire and back to places 8
3 Set and turn partners 8
Repeated by other couples

3rd Figure

1 Top ladie and opposite gent changes places and back giving left hands 8
2 Balance four in a line and half promenade 8
3 The same couple advance and retire and bow to partners [?] 8
4 Both couples advance and retire and half rights and lefts to places 8
Repeated by the other couples

4th Figure

1 Top and bottom ladies chain 8
2 Set and turn partners 8
3 Top couple advance and retire, advance again leaving the ladies with the opposite gent 8
4 Opposite gent advance with the tow [two] ladies and retire and leave the two [two] ladies with the 8
5 Top gent whow [who] advance again with the two ladies 8
6 Four hands half round and half rights and lefts to places 8
Repeated by the other couples.

5th Figure

1 All hands in and turn partners 8
2 Top and bottom shacie [chassé] ?
3 Ladies chain ?
4 Shacies [chassés] back to places ?
Repeat four times.

6th figure

1 Ladies advance to the centre and retire 8
2 Gents do the same 8
3 Set to corners and turn 8
4 All promenade to places 8
Repeated by the other couples

Quadrilles First Set - Notes:

[? - unintelligible.]

First figure: This is the same as Latimer's 1895 first figure, and is given as an alternative figure in Allan.

Second figure: This is similar to that given as an alternative by Allan. The other figure given by Allan is the same as Latimer's 1895 figure.

Third figure: The half promenade in bars 13-16 is of course only danced by top and bottom couples. Then Allan and Latimer agree.

Fourth figure: If the first 16 bars were removed, the figure would be the same as that of Allan and Latimer. But Allan remarks "Some teachers still retain the ladies chain and set and turn partners".

Fifth figure: This is similar to Allan's old style figure. Allan's new style figure is the same as Latimer's 1895 figure.

Sixth figure: On bar 24, the gent should turn his corner lady to his place. The figure then is the same as Allan's Flirtation Figure, "sometimes danced as a sixth figure." Latimer has no sixth figure.

2. Lord Deas (scan click here)

1 Top and bottom rights and lefts with the couples on the right 8
2 Set and turn partners 8
3 Rights and lefts with the couples on the left 8
4 Set and turn partners 8
5 Top ladie solo 8
6 Opposite gent solo 8
7 Top and bottom advance and retire sides the same 8
8 Top and bottom swing four
A[t] the same time the sides promenade 		8
9 Top and bottom pousett[e]
Finish with all set and turn partners 		8
Grand chain full round 16
Set and turn partners 8
All promenade 8
Repeated by sides

Lord Deas - Notes:

In Figure 1, bar 6 the 'Top gent solo' has been over-written with 'Opposite gent solo.'

3. Waltz Castillian (scan click here)

1 Top couple waltz in the centre 8
2 Top and bottom ladies change places 8
3 Sides ladies change places 8
4 Top and bottom gents change places 8
5 Sides gents do the same 8
6 Top and bottom ladies do the same 8
7 Side ladies do the same 8
8 Top and bottom gents back 8
9 Side gents back the same 8
10 All waltz to corners ladies pas
sing full round by the right gents by the left
11 Top couple waltz across back [?] open out changes places 8
12 Bottom couple waltz back to places top couple open out 8
13 All Waltz round to places 8
Repeated by sides

Waltz Cotillion - Notes:

[? - unintelligible.]

Spelling of name is unusual.

4. Caledonians (scan click here)

First figure

1 Top and bottom swing four 8
2 Set and turn partners 8
3 Ladies chain 8
4 Half promenade half rights and lefts to places 8
Sides repeat

Second figure

1 Top gent solo in the centre 8
2 All set to corners and turn
3 All promenade 8
Repeated by sides

Third figure

1 Top ladie and opposite gent advance and retire turn partners 8
2 Top and bottom rights and lefts 8
3 All set to corners and turn 8
4 Advance four in a line from top and bottom and turn partners 8
Repeated by sides

Fourth figure

1 Top ladie and opposite gent advance and stand next couple do the same and turn 8
2 Ladies to the right into each others places gents to the left into each others places 8
3 Ladies to the right ag[a]in and gents to the left ag[a]in 8
4 All promenade to places 8
Repeated by sides

Fifth figure

1 Top couple pousette 8
2 Ladies in the centre 8
3 Gents in the centre 8
4 All set and turn partners 8
5 Grand chain half round 8
6 All promenade to places 8
7 Corner chain 8
Repeated by sides
And all promenade

Caledonians - Notes:

First figure: is the same as Latimer's figure provided that 'swing four' is interpreted as '4 hands across'. In this case, Allan is also the same save that he omits the ladies chain.

Second figure: 'solo in the centre' appears to mean 'advance and retire twice'. The corners should again be turned to the gent's place. Then the figure agrees with Allan and Latimer.

Third figure: Here the notebook, Allan, and Latimer all differ slightly.

Fourth figure: A 'turn' is obviously required in the last 8 bars. Then Allan and Latimer agree.

Fifth figure: 'Top couple pousette' is 'top couple waltz or promenade round in the inside of the dance' in Allan and 'top couple promenade' in Latimer, 'Corner chain' is 'all change sides at corners and turn, change back to places, and turn partners' in Allan, and 'gents pass their ladies in front of them to the gents on their left by whom they are turned with the right hand. Ladies return to places with left hand to own partners' in Latimer. There should obviously be a 'turn' in bars 40-48.

5. Princess Alexandria (scan click here)

1 Figure

1 Top and bottom half rights and lefts sides the same 8
2 Top and bottom back to places sides the same 8
3 Ladies chain 8
4 All promenade 8
Repeated by sides

2 Figure

1 Top ladies and opposite gent changes places and back 8
2 Four hands half round half rights and lefts to places 8
3 Set and turn partners 8
Repeated by sides

3 Figure

1 Top ladie and opposite gent swing in the centre 8
2 Set and turn partners 8
3 Ladies chain 8
4 Half promenade half rights and lefts to places 8
Repeated by sides

4th Figure

1 Grand chain full round 16
2 Ladies swing in the centre 8
3 Set and turn partners 8
4 Corners chain 8
5 Top and bottom rights and lefts 8
Repeated by sides

5th Figure

1 All hands round 8
2 Top lady and opposite gent advance and retire and change places 8
3 Advance and retire 8
4 Set and turn partners 8
5 All hands round ?
Repeated by sides

6. Reagle Ballmorall (scan click here#click here)

1 Figure

1 Top and bottom advance and retire half rights and lefts 8
2 Set and turn partners 8
3 Ladies chain 8
4 Advance and retire and ballance 8
Repeated by sides

2 Figure

1 Top ladie and bottom gent advance and retire, advance ag[a]in and swing back to places 8
2 Top and bottom half promenade and half rights and lefts 8
3 Eight hand half round & back 8
Repeated by sides

3 Figure

1 Top couple lead in 8
2 Top ladie and bottom gent cross over to each others places and back again 8
3 Top gent solo in the centre 8
4 Top and bottom rights and lefts 8
Repeated by sides

4 Figure

1 Top couple advance and retire and swing 8
2 Bottom do the same 8
3 Top ladies the bottom gent

The ladies retire the gent retire

8
4 Double ladies chain set and turn partners 16
5 Top and bottom rights and lefts 8
Repeated by sides

5 Figure

1 All promenade round 8
2 Top ladie solo in the centre 8
3 Set to corners and turn forming a line of four at the top and bottom 8
4 The tow [two] lines advance and retire and turn partners in places 8
5 Repeated by sides

Regal [Royal?] Balmoral - Notes:

Unsure of interpreting name correctly.

7. Mazourka (scan click here#click here)

1 Figure

1 Eight hands round to places by the left 8
2 [La Via?] with partners round by the right to places 8
3 Top and bottom change places and back again 8
4 Top and bottom ladies set in gent set out set back to places 8
5 Top and bottom couples waltz to partners and changes places 8
6 Waltz again and back to places 4
7 Top and bottom hands in [for 4 Barrs?]
Repeated by sides

2 Figure

1 The four ladies set in the centre and retire into places 4
2 At the [square?] [?] the gents
Pases the ladies on the left and set		 4
3/4/5 Repeats round to places 2
6 Top and bottom cross over to each places and back ag[a]in 8
7 All waltz to corners 8
8 All waltz to partners 8
9 All hands in [for 4 Barrs?] back to places 8
Repeated by sides

3 Figure

1 Ladies rights hands across in the centre and turn partners half round to the left 8
2 Cross left hands and turn to the right to places 8
3 A[t] the same time the gents goes half round on the outside 8
4 Back ag[a]in to places by the left 8
5 Ladies all set into the centre
The gents at the same time set out
The ladies set out and gents set in and back to places		 8
6 All waltz to partners 8
7 Top and bottom gents [kneel?] 8
8 Top and bottom cross over top in side 8
9 Back to Places Top in side
At the last finish with eight hands round and [La Via?] 16
Repeated by sides

4 Figure

1 All polka round with partners to places 8
2 All polka round single 8
3 Ladies advance to the centre
Stamp feet 3 times and clap 3 times 		8
4 Gent do the same 8
5 Top couple chain with sides 8
6 Swing in the centre
At the last finish with all polka with partners full around to places all polka single
Repeat by sides

Mazourka - Notes:

[? - unintelligible.]

8. La Belle France (scan click here)

1 Top and bottom half rights and lefts and turn partners 8
2 Sides the same 8
3 All promenade to places 8
4 Chain with opposite partners 8
5 Set and turn corners 8
6 Repeated same to places 24
7

Top and bottom advance and retire

 4
8 Sides the same 4
9 Repeated as 7 and 8 8
10 Top and bottom swing four 8
11 Top and bottom pousset 8
Finish with hands half round and back 8

Set and turn partner

 8
Gran[d] chain round to places 16
Set and turn partner 8
All promenade 8
Repeated by sides 8

9. Les Lanciers (scan click here)

1 Grand chain full round 16
2 Four ladies swing in the centre, gents walk round 8
3 All set and turn partners 8
4 First couple lead off facing top
5 The 2: 3: and 4 couples do the same 12
6 All chasse in strai[gh]t lines ladies to the left gents to the right 8
7 Back to places 8
8 Ladies turn off by the right gents by the left meet at bottom and lead up 8
9 All chasse apart ladies to right gents to left and swing couples [?] 8
10 All advance in tou [two] lines set and turn partners to places 8
11 Grand square tops and bottoms in 8
12 Grand square sides in 8
Finish with all promenade
Repeated by sides.

Les Lanciers - Notes:

[? - unintelligible.]

This appears in Allan as the "Old Lancers", the "New Lancers" being a 5 figure dance. The instructions as given by Allan are:

1) Grand chain or right and left round to places.

2) The four ladies give right hands across and back with left; the gentlemen round in circle on outside.

3) All set and turn partners.

4) The top couple turn and form into line.

5) The second, fourth, and third couple repeat the same, all forming one line.

6) The ladies to left hand and gents to right in straight line.

7) Back to places.

8) The top lady turns to right and gent to left to the bottom of the dance, the others following up the centre, forming two lines.

9) The ladies all to right hand and gentlemen to left hand.

10) All turn round.

11) All advance and retire in two lines.

12) Advance again and turn partners to places.

13 & 14) The square - the top and bottom couples advance to centre, the top lady and opposite gentleman out to side into the second couples place; same time the top gentleman and opposite lady to the side into fourth couples place, the lady and gentlemen now part from one another into line, then advance to places. During the time the top and bottom are doing this, the side couples go apart into line, then forward to top and bottom couples place, advance into centre, take hold of partner's hand, and into places. The reverse square is then performed by the side couples advancing into the centre, and the top and bottom going apart, forming a square.

This is repeated by the other couples. When the top and bottom form into line, the square is performed, but when the side couples form into line, the reverse square is done first, and then the square.

10. La Russe (scan click here)

1 All the gents set and turn the lady on the right 8
2 Set and turn the lady on the left 8
3 Set and turn partners 8
4 Top couple lead in 8
5 Top couple pousette in 8
6 Top and bottom change places bottom open up 8
7 Back to places top open up 8
8 Repeat nos 6 and 7 16
9 Eight hands half round and turn partners 8
10 Pousette to places.
Repeated by the other couples.
Finish with all promenade

La Russe - Notes:

No other version (Allan, Kerr, or Border Book) has the second 8 bars, but its inclusion here explains why this is not just a 'corner chain' (see note on Caledonians, Fig. 5) with setting introduced. The last 16 bars differ in the various versions. Allan gives "all join hands and round; all promenade round with partners". Kerr gives "promenade, hands round to left and promenade or pousette back".

11. Manfriana (scan click here)

1 Top and bottom half rights and lefts 8
2 Set and turn partners 8
3 Advance and retire half rights and lefts to places 8
4 Four hands half round and back 8
5 Swing four 8
6 Rights and lefts to places 8
7 Pousette
Repeat four times

12. La Gavottiana (scan click here)

1 Ladies double chain 8
2 Set and turn partners 8
3 First ladie solo 8
4 Bottom gent solo 8
5 Top ladie solo 16
6 Bottom gent solo 16
7 All promenade round 8
Repeated by side couples

13. Assembly Reel (scan click here)

1 All hands round to places 8
2 Set and turn partners 8
3 Top and bottom promenade 4
4 Sides the same 4
5 Set to corners and turn 8
6 Grand chain to places 8
7 Swing four at corners 8
8 Top and bottom rights and [lefts?] 8
Finish with all round twice, all promenade
Repeated to 4 times

Assembly Reel - Notes:

[? - unintelligible.]

14. New Petronell (scan click here)

1 Top ladie and opposite gent cut the diamond to each others places 8
2 Round to places again 8
3 The four ladies cross [giving?] right hands in the centre giving left to partners going round by left to places 8
4 The gents cross left hands giving right to partners to places 8
5 Set and turn partners 8
For the last time eight hands half round and back 8
Set and turn partners 8
Grand chain full round 16
Set and turn all promenade 16
Repeated by sides

New Petronella - Notes:

[? - unintelligible.]

15. Bas Quadrill [?] (scan click here)

1 Top ladie and bottom gent
Advance and retire and change places		 8
2 Advance ag[a]in and retire and back to places 8
3 Set and turn partners 8
4 The four ladies swing in the centre at the same time gents pass round on the outside 8
5 All set and turn partners 8
6 All waltz round to places 16
Repeated by sides
Top and bot[t]om gents
Advance and retire
Set and turn all partners

Bass Quadrille - Notes:

Unsure of name?

The last three instructions: 'Top and bot[t]om gents...' through to '...turn all partners' - seems to have been added in a different hand.

16. Phoulcan [?] (scan click here)

1 Top and bottom half rights and lefts 8
2 Sides same 8
3 Grand chain to places 8
4 All set and turn partners 8
5 Top gent solo 8
6 Bottom ladie solo 8
7 Top and bottom advance and retire 4
8 Sides the same 4
9 Top and bottom swing four 8
10 Rights and lefts 8
11 Poussitte 8
Finish with all set and turn 8
All promenade 8
Repeated by sides

Phoulcan - Notes:

Unsure of name?

17. Cicessian Quadearl [?] (scan click here)

1 Top couple pousitt 8
2 Top and bottom rights and lefts 8
3 Grand chain half round 8
4 Poussitte to places 8
Repeated by sides 8

Circassion Quadrille - Notes:

Spelling of name?

18. Parisian Quadrill (scan click here)

Same as first set but all commence at once

1 Figure
1 Rights and lefts 8
2 Set and turn partners 8
3 Ladies chain 8
4 Promenade to opposite places 4
5 Return to places half rights and lefts 4

2 Figure
1 Lady no.1 with gent no. 2 and
Lady no. 2 with gent no. 1
Advance and retire cross over each into the place of the other		 8
2 Advance and retire and that [?] side must so [?] cross to places 8
3 Set and turn partners 8
Repeated [again?]

3 Figure
1 Top and bottom gent change places return given [giving?] right hands to partners 8
2 In this position ballance 4
3 Promenade half 4
4 Top ladie and bottom gent advance and retire twice 8
5 Top and bottom advance and retire and half rights and lefts to places 8
Repeated [again?]

4 Figure
1 Top gent with his ladie
Advance and retire and leave the ladie with bottom gent		 8
2 Bottom gent repeats the same movements with both ladies leaving them with the top gent 8
3 [?] ag[a]in repeats same movements 8
4 Swing four half round and half rights and lefts
Repeated [again?]

5 Figure
1 Top and bottom ladies chain 8
2 Top ladie and bottom gent and
Bottom ladie and top gent
Advance and retire cross over into each others places		 24
3 Ladies chain 8
4 Repeat no. 2 over again 24
5 Finish with promenade to [opposite?] places and back to places 8
This figure is repeated four times

Parisian Quadrille - Notes:

[? - unintelligible.]

19. New Caledonian Quadrille (scan click here#click here)

1 Figure, Reel Time

1 Top and bottom advance and (retire) and half rights and lefts 8
2 Set to corners and turn 8
3 Ladies Chain 8
4 Top and bottom advance and return retire half rights and lefts to places 8
Repeated by sides

2 Figure, Strathspey Time

1 Top and bottom reel figure eight gents back to back and [to?] opposite ladie 8,8
2 The four set and [turn?] couples 8
3 The tow [two] couples perform the Hilliand [Highland?] Schottische turning to opposite places with the second part 8
Repeated by sides and then repeated once again

3 Figure, Reel Time

1 The four square by a continuous chain of ladies top and bottom beginning with right hand couples 16
2 They advance and retire with left hands [? joined] 4
3 All turn to left without lossing hands 4
4 This figure is repeated by couples 3 and 4 beginning the chain with [hand or head?] couples 24

4 Figure, Strathspey Time

1 Top gent solo in the centre 8
2 Each gent dances the Hilliand (Highland?) Schottische with the ladie on the left turning with [?] to opposite couples places 8
3 All gents dance a solo in the centre

5 Figure, Reel Time

1 Ladies in the centre 4
2 Gents in the centre 4
3 All set at corners and turn forming tow [two] lines of four at top and bottom of the set the gents standing back to back and ladies at the corners facing the gentlemen 8
4 Rill [reel?] figure eight 8
5 Set and turn each gent finishing with the ladie he has set to in her own place
6 This is repeated that gents [?] regain places 32
Final all promenade 8

New Caledonian Quadrille - Notes:

[? - unintelligible]

20. Les Quadrill Des Dames (scan click here#click here)

[1 Figure]
1 Top and bottom half rights and lefts 4
2 The four ladies balance with right gent 4
3 Top and bottom half rights and lefts to places 8
4 The four ladies advance to the gents and bow 4
5 They return by the left to places 4
6 Couples no.3 and 4 repeat parts 1:2 and :3: 16

2 Figure
1 Top gent makes a turn on the right with opposite ladie in turn on the left with ladie no. 3 a turn another right with ladie no. 4 and turn on the left with his own ladie each ladie [?] [?] being turned to places by their own partner [?] the [?] hand 16
2 Each couple [?] advance and retire and turn 8
3 Gents no. 2: 3: and 4 perform the same figure 72

3 Figure
1 Couple no.1 and 2 advance to right hand couple the gent take the ladie whom they have before them make an open [chasse?] and by half a turn [?] are placed [?] gent no. 1 facing and no. 3 and no. 2 facing no. 4 8
2 The four couples form a square by a continuous chain of ladies 16
3 Advance on each side [?] all eight chasse across 4
4 Gent 1 and 2 take the opposite Laidie and turn to each others place while gent no. 3 and 4 turn to their own places 4
5 They repeat the figure so that the genst may regain places 32
6 Couples no. 3 and 4 perform the same figure 64

4 Figure
1 Top and bottom ladies join left hands 2
2 Ladies no. 3 and 4 join right hands with ladies no 1 and 2 2
3 The four balance 4
4 They drop hands in the centre and turn by tow [two] turn round
5 They join hands as before and balance 4
6 Ladies no. 1 and 2 ballance with opposite partners and ladies no. 3 and 4 with their own gents 4
7 All turn 4
8 Ladies no.1 and 2 repeat figure to regain places 24
9 Ladies no.3 and 4 perform the same figure 48

5 Figure
1 Top and bottom advance and retire at same time sides [?] turn partners  in placesman 8
2 Top and bottom repeat part first [first part?] 8
3 Top and bottom advance each gent takes the opposite ladie and makes the [?] with other couples and return by separating to their place while [?] couples which have [?] make a half [?] each in their neighbours place 8
4 The four ladies advance and retire 4
5 Half [?] to opposite places 4
6 Repeat part third [third part?] 8
7 The figure is repeated that the ladies may regain places 40
8 Couples 3 and 4 repeat the same figure 80
[?] all chasse across and ballance and turn 8
Repeat the same to places 8
All bow and curtsy 4

Les Quadrille des Dames - Notes:

[? - unintelligible]

23. Circessian Quadrill (scan click here)

1 Top couple pousitt in centre 8
2 Top and bottom rights and lefts 8
3 Grand chain to [places or half?] round 8
4 Poussitt to places 8
Repeated side couples

Circassian Quadrille - Notes:

[? - unintelligible]

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