A sprightly, sociable18th- and 19th-century dance form that sprung from folk contredanses, it comprises four couples in rectangular formation and was all the range in polite society in the Victorian age in Europe and colonies, and is linked to American square dancing.
It was first introduced in two-couple form in France in around 1760, latter using melodies from popular opera. There are many variants around the world, including in Francophone Lesser Antilles where it is known as kwadril, and its legacy remains in Madagascar and older Caribbean culture.
It became a particularly popular craze from 1816 through introduction from high society’s English noblewoman and banker, Sarah Villiers, aka Lady Jersey, and used waltz moves as steps including The Caledonians and a big favourite form known as The Lancers.
Despite this, the quadrille’s structure remains intact, using musical themes in different sequences. Participants’ names and dance names could even be shown lady’s fan as a handy reference tool, handy also for cooling down.
A fan dance engagement card, featuring valse, polka, lancers and quadrille.
The main parts of the traditional quadrille comprise this structure, each theme being eight measures long.
1. Le Pantalon ("Trousers") (written in 2/4 or 6/8 time signature)
theme A – theme B – theme A – theme C – theme A
2. L’été ("Summer") (always 2/4 time)
theme A – theme B – theme B – theme
3. La Poule (“The Hen") (always 6/8 time)
theme A – theme B – theme A – theme C – theme A – theme B – theme A
4. La Pastourelle ("The Shepherd Girl") or sometimes alternative Trénis (always 2/4 time)
theme A – theme B – theme C – theme B – theme A (Trénis = ABBA)
5. Finale (2/4 time)
theme A – theme A – theme B – theme B – theme A – theme A
Here then are a few examples shown at revivalist and traditional quadrille clubs:
Not all dancers were as adept at the moves as hoped, nor went quite to plan. The trend was also subject to satire, such as this illustration:
Bumper edition: Accidents in Quadrille Dancing", 1817 caricature
Later Lewis Carroll satirised the dance in his dance in Alice's Adventures in Wonderland's with the scene of The Lobster Quadrille" (1865), also known as The Mock Turtle’s song, which included lyrics such as:
"Will you walk a little faster?" said a whiting to a snail,
"There's a porpoise close behind us, and he's treading on my tail.
See how eagerly the lobsters and the turtles all advance!
They are waiting on the shingle—will you come and join the dance?
An animation from John Tenniel`s original illustrations of the Mock Turtle and the Gryphon
Franz Ferdinand performed the song for Tim Burton’s 2010 Alice In Wonderland film soundtrack.
So then, any more to share in relation to the quadrille, in music or wider culture? Feel free to suggest examples, or even from film, art, or other contexts in comments below.
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