(Second in a series of seven posts on the 1856 dance L'Alliance. An introduction and explanation of the steps may be found in the first post in the series. Later figures: Figure 2, Figure 3, Figure 4, Figure 5, Figure 6)
On to the actual figures of L'Alliance! Figure 1, La Reine, is presumably named after the most notable queen of any nation involved in the Crimean War, England's Victoria (left, click to enlarge).
Figure 1: La Reine
8b Introduction (bows and courtesies)
8b Both couples, side by side, holding nearer hands, both starting with right foot:
2b dance to the right (SCHop, SCLeap)
2b dance to the left (SCHop, SCLeap)
2b dance to the right (SCHop, SCLeap)
2b dance to the left (SCHop, SCLeap*) *First gentleman must end with SCHop
4b First couple takes closed position and dances across to second couple:
2b forward (SCHop); turn halfway counter-clockwise, lady crossing in front of gentleman (SCLeap)
2b forward "over elbows" (SCHop, SCLeap)
4b First couple returns to their places, opening up side by side at the end:
2b forward (SCHop); turn halfway counter-clockwise, lady crossing in front of gentleman (SCLeap)
2b forward "over elbows" (SCHop, SCLeap*) *Gentleman must end with SCHop
8b Both couples, side by side, holding nearer hands, both starting with right foot:
2b dance to the right (SCHop, SCLeap)
2b dance to the left (SCHop, SCLeap)
2b dance to the right (SCHop, SCLeap)
2b dance to the left (SCHop, SCLeap*) *Second gentleman must end with SCHop
8b Second couple takes closed position and dances across to first couple then back to their places, exactly as the first couple did above, the gentleman ending with SCHop.
8b Both couples, side by side, holding nearer hands, both starting with right foot:
2b dance to the right (SCHop, SCLeap)
2b dance to the left (SCHop, SCLeap)
2b dance to the right (SCHop, SCLeap)
2b dance to the left (SCHop, SCLeap)
Reconstruction & Performance Notes
La Reine is a short and easy figure with a simple, repeating pattern: the two couples dance right and left twice, the first couple "visits" the second and returns, they dance right and left twice again, the second couple "visits" the first and returns, and they dance right and left twice again. The active gentleman must switch feet twice to go from matching feet with the lady when side by side to opposite feet when in closed position and back to matching feet again.
The bows and courtesies during the introduction are not specified but are common in the first figure of quadrilles.
The dance to right and left figure is only shown once in the diagrams, but the instructions make it clear that it is repeated. Note the little dots at the end of paths which indicate the dancers end in the same place they started.
While the instructions state that the half-turn is to the right, which would normally mean clockwise, Raab seems to have had a non-standard definition of "right". The diagrams are quite clear that the half-turn is counter-clockwise, the lady crossing in front of her partner.
Original language
Erste Figur. La Reine.
Jeder Herr hält seine Dame mit seiner rechten bei ihrer linken Hand und beide Paare machen zu gleicher Zeit zwei pas rechts, zwei pas links, abermals zwei pas rechts und wieder zwei pas links. (Fig. 1) 8 Takte.
Der erste Herr und seine Dame stellen sich vis-à-vis, sich wie beim Walzer haltend, machen gegen das zweite Paar einen Polka-Mazur-pas, sodann eine halbe Wendung rechts und noch zwei pas zum zweiten Paare. (Fig. 2) 4 Takte. Dann dasselbe bis wieder auf ihre Plätze. (Fig. 3) 4 Takte. Beide Paare zwei pas rechts, zwei pas links, abermals zwei rechts und wieder zwe pas links. (Fig. 4) 8 Takte.
Der zweite Herr und seine Dame stellen sich vis-à-vis, sich wie beim Walzer haltend, machen gegen das erste Paar einen Polka-Mazur pas, sodann eine halbe Wendung rechts und noch zwei pas zum ersten Paare. (Fig. 5) 4 Takte. Dann dasselbe bis wieder auf ihre Plätze. (Fig. 6) 4 Takte. Beide Paare zwei pas rechts, zwei pas links, abermals zwei pas rechts und wieder zwei pas links. (Fig 7) 8 Takte.
English Translation
First Figure, La Reine.
Each man hold his lady with his right hand by her left, and both pairs make at the same time two pas right, two pas left, once more two pas right and again two pas left. (Figure 1) 8 measures.
The first man and his lady place themselves vis-à-vis, as they would perform the waltz, towards the second pair make a Polka-Mazur-pas, then a half turn right and another two pas to the second pair. (Figure 2) 4 measures. Then the same until again at their place. (Figure 3) 4 measures. Both pairs two pas right, two pas left, once more two right and again two pas left. (Figure 4) 8 measures.
The second man and his lady place themselves vis-à-vis, as they would perform the waltz, towards the first pair make a Polka-Mazur pas, then a half turn right and another two pas to the first pair.
(Figure 5) 4 measures. Then the same until again at their place. (Figure 6) 4 measures. Both pairs two pas right, two pas left, once more two right and again two pas left. (Figure 7) 8 measures.
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