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A Dance
A Dance
Original text: “Whole figure This is a longways dance for a minimum or actions are from the simplest of
A Dance
at top lead down the middle up again & allemande“ of three couples, and “as many as will” thereafter. These particular “figures” several different dances given for this tune.
First Figure: Whole figure at top 1st 1st Couple walks a “whole” figure, (a figure eight), around the 2nd couple – the lady 2nd gentleman (who does not move at all). At the starts by crossing right shoulders with the 1st 2nd gent starts by crossing left shoulders with the lady (who does not move same time the at all either.) Both continue to trace the figure eight and return to their starting place.
Second Figure: Lead down the middle up again 1st Couple join hands (lady’s right and gent’s left) and walk down the set, let go hands and turn towards each other to face back up the set then taking hands again walk up the set into 2nd couple “progresses” into first position in order to create the gap into second position. The 1st couple end after leading down and up. which the
Third Figure: & allemande 1st Couple faces each other and by crossing right shoulders “do – si – do” around Lastly, the each other, or as Thomas Wilson writes: “move round each other’s situation back to back”.
Continuing… 1st couple repeats these figures around the 3rd couple, and then a “new” 1st couple at the top of the set is in position to begin. If there are only three couples dancing, the new top couple begins. If there are more than three couple dancing, these two 1st, 3rd 5th and couples and so on. couples dance the figures simultaneously, then
Historic Background: La Jupon Rouge is french for red skirt or petticoat. Diarist Elizabeth Simcoe, wife of John Graves Simcoe, 1st Lt. Gov. of Upper Canada, wrote in Montreal “Monday June 4th [1792] – A splendid ball at the Chateau, but the heat was so great that I was very near fainting after having danced Money Musk and the Jupon rouge.” Judging by the date, it must have been a King’s Birthday Ball
19th Want to learn more about early century social dance? Would 8th you like to give it a try? Historic Fort York presents the annual 19th century English Dance & Dance-ability, an evening workshop of Country Dance. Jane Austen fans and anyone interested in the social life of the officers’ in garrison are encouraged to attend. Friday 26th September at 7:30 p.m. Cost is $10 per person. Beginners are welcome and no partners are required. Live music and historic refreshments will be served. Call 416-392-6907 to register today!
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