(See the previous post in this series for the structure of the quadrille and the "chorus" figure.)
Going on with the actual figures of the National Park Quadrille!
Note that the first figure does not open with eight bars for the standard honors to partners and corners or opposites. There is a specific kind of honors for the four-bar introduction to each figure.
Figure 1 (4b intro, A=8b, B=16b; played 4b + AABx4)
4b Introduction (not repeated): gentlemen step to the center and turns to face partners, all quickly bow/courtesy, and the gentlemen return to places
4b Head gentlemen with right-hand ladies turn by the right hand (polka steps)
4b Head gentlemen with left-hand ladies turn by the left hand (polka steps)
4b Head gentlemen with right-hand ladies promenade halfway round
4b Head gentlemen with right-hand ladies right and left (chaîne anglaise) to places
16b "Chorus" figure (described in detail here)
At the end of the figure the two ladies in each trio will have exchanged places. Head couples repeat, then side couples twice more.
Notes
(1) The dancers may use polka or walking steps for the promenade and right and left. Polka steps are specified by for the one-hand turns.
(2) For the introductory honors, there isn't much time. I would suggest the gentleman move to the center and turn with four steps, making simple inclination of the upper body on step four then moving back to place with four steps. This is essentially the "passing salute", regarding which New York dancing master Allen Dodworth stated, "No check...should be made in the natural walk." If the gentlemen move in a slightly oval clockwise track, the gentleman can continue curling around in the same direction to take the right hand of his right-hand partner and segue smoothly into the first turn. The ladies can sink into more of a courtesy on beats three and four.
(3) Clendenen says to promenade with the left-hand lady and then do the right and left with the right-hand lady. This does not actually work. Kopp correctly says to promenade with the right-hand lady. This is the only difference in wording between the two descriptions.
Figure 2 (4b intro, A=8b, B=8b; played 4b + AABBx4)
4b Introduction (not repeated): all join hands in a circle and salute to center of set
4b Head trios forward and back
4b Head trios forward; gentlemen back, leaving ladies in the center, facing out
4b Head trios forward and back (gentlemen alone facing ladies)
4b Head trios take hands three and circle round to places
16b "Chorus" figure
Repeat three more times as above (heads, sides, sides).
Notes
(1) Again, this is a very brief introduction; it will take a couple of steps to join hands, then bows and courtesies should be roughly on beat four before dropping hands and backing out to the sides of the quadrille.
(2) No hand hold is specified, but for the opening forward and back and leaving of the ladies, it will be more graceful if the gentleman takes the ladies by their outside hands - his right hand to the right hand of the right-hand lady, his left hand to the left hand of the left-hand lady. This will enable the ladies to easily turn to face outward as he backs out to place.
(3) Steps are not specified for the first eight bars or the final hands three; they may be walking steps or polka steps at the discretion of the dancers. For the forward and back with the gentleman facing the ladies, the description is to "Chassé four steps forward and back", which I would dance as two polka steps forward and two back. I think it's nicer if the dancers make small steps so that they go no further than shoulder to shoulder rather than swooping past each other and if the gentleman actually looks alternately at each lady rather than staring straight forward into space.
(4) For the final hands three to places, the dancer should start circling before taking hands; just take them whenever they come within reach. There's not enough time to break it into moving into a circle, taking hands, and moving round to places. The right hand lady in particular has a very long track. Polka steps will make this easier for her.
Next post: figures three and four!
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