Capering & Kickery

An 1830s Galop Pattern

• Era: 1830s England

This new and fashionable dance, which it appears is of Russian origin, was first introduced into this country at His Majesty's ball, St. James Palace, on the 11th June, 1829, when the Princess Esterhazy, the Earl of Clanwilliam, the Duke of Devonshire, and some of the foreign ministers exerted themselves in teachings its novel movements to the company, and was danced alternately with Quadrilles and Waltzing during the whole of the evening.
     -- J.S. Pollock, Companion to La Terpsichore Moderne (2nd ed), London, c1830

In an earlier post, I described the basic galop of the mid- to late 19th century as a series of slides and "chasing" steps with half-turns interspersed, commonly found in the pattern of four-slide galops, performed as follows:

2b    Slide-close-slide-close-slide-close-slide (half-turn) (count: 1 & 2 & 3 & turn)
2b    Slide-close-slide-close-slide-close-slide (half-turn) (count: 1 & 2 & 3 & turn)

All slides are performed along the line of dance.  The default turning direction is clockwise, though counter-clockwise turns are also possible.  The first set are performed with the first foot (gentleman's left, lady's right) with the second foot then closing behind in order to again slide with the first foot.  The second series is then performed by sliding with the second foot and closing with the first.  The galop sequences may also be extended to four bars per set, i.e. "eight-slide" galops. 

This description is consistent with most galop sources from the mid-century onward.  But oddly enough, that's not how it's described in the source from which the quotation above was drawn. 

Tea and more tea! (Massachusetts, December 13 & 20, 2009)

Update 12/20/09: This Cambrdige Mostly Victorian Tea Dance is canceled due to severe weather conditions!  Sorry!

I don't actually drink tea, but this month I'm doing two afternoon tea dances in Massachusetts on consecutive Sundays.

On Sunday, December 13th, I will be leading a just-pre-Regency-era tea dance in Rehoboth (closer to Providence than Boston) in honor of Jane Austen's birthday.  (That's actually the 16th, but the 13th is as close as we can get.)  The dancing will primarily be country dances, but we'll also do the Boulanger (as mentioned in Pride and Prejudice and some of Austen's correspondence);  the nine-person reel known as the Bumpkin; and a cotillion (slightly shortened) from the 1770s.  We might even get a bit radical and do some of that scandalous waltz that came in at the very end of her lifetime!  Dances will be taught and steps briefly gone through but not dwelled heavily upon.  (More information about dance in Jane Austen's lifetime may be found in my earlier post on this topic.)

The suggested donation is $6.  Music will be recorded, primarily from the lovely Regency Ballroom CD by Spare Parts.  Light refreshments will be provided.  Period costume of the early 19th century is admired but not required.

For more information, please see the event website, download the flier (pdf), or contact Liefe Wheeler.

And then on December 20th, I'll be up in Cambridge as part of Michael Bergman and CVD's Mostly Victorian Tea Dance series.  This event will be a mix of couple dances and set dances (contras, quadrilles) of the  mid- to late 19th century and a mix of instruction and social dancing.  Instruction will probably focus on the schottische and polka.  There will be a mix of recorded music for teaching and live music for social dancing.

Admission is $9, or $5 for students.  Light refreshments will be served.  Note this is in a different location from previous years' tea dance series -- see the directions on the website.  Period Victorian costume is admired but not required.

More information, please see the tea dance website or contact Michael Bergman.

1830s Gallopade & 17th-Century English Dance Workshops, NYC (Sunday, December 6, 2009)

I will be teaching two dance workshops for The Elegant Arts Society in New York City this Sunday, December 6th.  Logistical details are below.

The first (1:00-3:45pm) will cover English gallopades of the 1830s, including the Royal Gallopade described here.  This will be a lively class, with gallopades combining quadrille figures done with steps similar to those of the Regency era and whole-set gallops up and down the room.  Depending on available time and numbers, we will also dance the lively reel for nine people (and one hat) known as the Bumpkin, which isn't a gallopade but is still lots of fun.  (This class replaces the usual monthly Regency class, as traditionally for the two classes after the Assembly we enjoy a change of pace by sliding a few years into the future to enjoy the dances of the post-Regency but pre-Victorian era.

The second class (4:00-6:00pm) will focus on English dance of the 17th century, mixing a selection of the processional dances known as almans with some of the rounds, squares, and early longways country dances drawn from the earliest editions of John Playford's The (English) Dancing Master.  These dances are low-key and non-bouncy.

Both of the above are beginner-level classes.  No experience is needed and no partner is required, though gender balance is not guaranteed.  Clean, leather-soled flat shoes are recommended for both classes.

The classes are held at Dick Shea's (a capoeira studio), 104 W. 14th Street at 6th Avenue, New York City.  Ring buzzer #3, up 2 flights, first door on the right.  For more information, please email EAS.

The 1830s gallopade class costs $18, or $12 for people attending a 1:00 class for the first time; the seventeenth century English dance class costs $15.  Pay at the class.