The ball-room guide, a handy manual1874 |
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Common terms and phrases
advance and retire advance and retreat advance four steps asking a lady back to places bottom couples Chaine Anglaise change places chassez croisez circle commence COTILLION couple promenade couples and sides cross to opposite dancers Deux Temps dresses four bars four ladies Fourth Figure galop gentleman takes glissade grand chain grand rond Half promenade half round hops ladies advance lady and vis-ą-vis lady to dance leading couple left and back left foot left hand MAZURKA opposite places partners to places Pass places second eight private ball promenade round quadrille refreshment-room right and left right hand ROGER DE COVERLEY round dance round to left Schottische Second couples second eight bars Second Figure second lady Set to corners Side couples repeat sides repeat third beat third eight bars Third Figure tleman top and bottom Top gentleman Top lady turn partners turn to places Valse ą Deux WALTZ
Popular passages
Page 20 - ... door by which her guests enter (at least till supper time, or till all have arrived), in order to receive them with a smile, an inclination of the head, a passing remark, or a grasp of the hand, according to degrees of intimacy. The master of the house and the sons should not be far disr«"" — is to be able to introduce to the lady any of his or their friends on their arrival.
Page 21 - ... when going to a ball, so that they may be prepared to write down engagements. A pretty idea has been sometimes carried out at balls — it is that of having the order of dancing printed on small white paper fans, large enough for practical use, one being given to every lady on her arrival. The notion is charming, and the expense not great. From eighteen to twenty-one dances is a convenient number to arrange for : supper causes a convenient break after, say, the twelfth dance, and if, at the end...
Page 17 - White gloves befit the ball-room : in mourning they may be sewn with black. They should be faultless as to fit, and never be removed from the hands in the ball-room. It is well for those who dance to be provided with a second pair, to replace the others when soiled, or in case they should split, or the buttons should come off — accidents small in themselves, but sources of great discomfort. As in the promenade, so in the ball-room, boots have greatly superseded the use of shoes ; these are of kid,...
Page 12 - The place occupied by the orchestra is understood to be the top of the room, "out it is not always convenient to adhere strictly to this rule in a private room, but it is generally the end farthest from the door. The point should be ascertained by the dancers, as, in quadrilles, the top couples lead off, and uncertainty leads to confusion. Refreshments must, of course, be provided for the guests during the evening; ind.
Page 10 - ... as it is called ; but it is in far better taste to restrict the number of invitations, so that all the guests may be fairly accommodated. The invitations should, however, be slightly in excess of the number counted on, as it is rare indeed that every one accepts. One-third more than the room will hold may generally be asked with safety. It is desirable to secure the attendance of an equal number of dancers of both sexes ; but experience shows that to do this it is necessary to invite more gentlemen...
Page 25 - ... four, times. Do not forget to ask the daughters of the house. When a lady has accepted, the gentleman offers her his right arm, and leads her to her place on the floor. A slight knowledge of the figure is sufficient to enable a gentleman to move through a quadrille, if he is easy and unembarrassed, and his manners are courteous ; but to ask a lady to join you in a waltz, or other round dance, in which you are not thoroughly proficient, is an unpardonable offence. It is not in good taste for gentlemen...
Page 13 - ... tongue, turkey, etc., are absolutely necessary. Jellies, blanc-mange, trifle, tipsy-cake, etc., may be added at discretion. The French fashion of giving hot soup is coming in, and is very pleasant : the lighter kinds of soup — such as Julienne, gravy, and vermicelli — are most suitable. Nothing upon the table should require carving ; the fowls, pheasants, turkeys, and other birds should be cut up beforehand, and held together by ribbons, which only require severing. Whatever can be iced should...
Page 24 - Where there is great intimacy: "Will you dance?" may suffice. To accept is easy enough — " Thank you," is sufficient; to decline with delicacy, and without giving offence, is more difficult — "Thank you: I am engaged...
Page 12 - ... should be ascertained by the dancers, as, in quadrilles, the top couples lead off, and uncertainty leads to confusion. Refreshments must of course be provided for the guests during the evening; and, as nothing should be handed round in the ballroom, a refreshment-room is absolutely necessary. The refreshment-room should, if possible, be on the same floor as the ball-room, because it is not only inconvenient, but dangerous, for ladies heated by the dance to encounter the draught of staircases,...
Page 15 - Still, there are laws by which even Fashion is regulated and controlled. There are certain principles in dress, approved by good taste and common sense, which cannot be outraged with impunity. A lady, in dressing for a ball, has first to consider the delicate question of age; and next, that of her position, whether married or single. As everything about a ball-room should be light, gay, and the reverse of depressing, it is permitted to elderly ladies, who do not dance, to assume a lighter and more...