Paper 20

Regency Era Country Dances - Embellishments

Contributed by Paul Cooper, Research Editor

If you're reading this paper it's likely that you've read our previous research papers on the Regency era Country Dancing Industry, the Figures, the Music, and the Form of the Country Dance. If not, you might like to do so. In this paper we'll consider those graceful embellishments to a Country Dance that marked the difference between a regular Country Dancer, and an elite dancer. Many social dancers 200 years ago did not reach this level of accomplishment, they were happy just to dance and to enjoy themselves; but the best dancers mastered the etiquette, steps and courteous attentions taught by the dancing masters themselves.

Figure 1. Wilson's 1821 The Address, Payne's 1814 A New Companion to the Ball Room, and Cherry's c.1813 A Treatise on the Art of Dancing

Any investigation into style and technique will necessarily be limited; these ornaments to social dancing did not conform to strict rules, conventions could vary over time or by context; the advice that follows is suitable for London in the Regency period, but it shouldn't be seen as definitive or exhaustive. If you're investigating the topics for yourself, you're likely to find advice elsewhere that doesn't precisely match what's written about here - the conventions varied. This paper will concentrate on advise for Country Dancing, but in many cases it will apply equally to other social dancing forms of the same era, such as Quadrille dancing.

In this paper the references to John Cherry refer to his c.1813 A Treatise on the Art of Dancing in the Ball Room, a reference to Thomas Wilson refers to his 1821 The Address, unless otherwise noted, and a reference to Edward Payne is to his 1814 A New Companion to the Ball Room (see Figure 1).

Note: this paper is part of a series on Country Dancing. The full collection consists of:

• The Regency era Country Dancing Industry
• Regency era Country Dancing Figures
• Regency era Country Dancing Music
• Regency era Country Dancing Form
• Regency era Country Dancing Embellishments (here)

Honours, Bows, Curtseys and Salutes

We've previously written about the Courteous Start that was generally used in Country Dancing of the Regency era, where the dancers in a longways set progressively enter the dancing as the first couple reach them. That convention is quite different to how historical Country Dances tend to be danced today; a modern recreation of a historical Country Dance will usually begin with four or eight bars of music in which the couples honour each other (with bows and curtseys), then everyone starts dancing simultaneously under the direction of an amplified Caller. We've already seen that the simultaneous start was unusual, but were the bows and curtseys performed 200 years ago?

Figure 2. Image plates from Wilson's 1821 The Address

Several Country Dancing guides of the 1810s refer to the first strain of a tune being played once through before the dancing begins. For example, Payne wrote in 1814: The couple that are going to call the dance, must always inform the Master of the Ceremonies both of the Tune and Figure, that he may direct the sets when more than one, and give directions to the Band, which should always play the Tune once over before the commencement of the figure.. Payne doesn't indicate that the dancing partners should honour each other at this time, though they may have done so. This initial play-through of the tune may only have been to negotiate the tempo at which the music would be played.

The Quadrille dance became enormously successful in London from around 1816. It emphasised the need for honours - the first eight bars of music were explicitly used for honouring one's partner, the dancing began with the second eight bars. Most of the Quadrille guides refer to this convention. In so doing they hint that this was a novelty, not something widely known from the other social dances of the era. One social commentator (published in Knight’s Quarterly Magazine Volume 1, 1823) wrote of the quadrille that I hate their curtsies and their bows, he instead preferred the country dance which, to his mind, was a less formal dance. So maybe there were no honours at the start of a typical Country Dance. The conventions probably varied by context and over time. Some Country Dancing guides do imply that an honouring convention existed for Country Dancing; for example, G.M.S. Chivers wrote in his 1821 Dancer's Guide that It is requisite to make an obeisance to your partner at the commencement of a Quadrille, or any other style of Dancing, while the first part of the tune is played over, and that tune is repeated for the commencement of the figure in the Contre Danses. It's possible that this convention had transposed from Quadrille dancing to Country Dancing during the 1810s. It's also possible that the convention had always existed in Country Dancing.

The earlier Cotillion dance form, at least when first introduced to England in the 1760s, also featured the convention of obeisance. One of the first people to write about the English Cotillion was Mousieur Gherardi; he wrote (in The London Magazine for 1768): It is a requisite politeness in the Cotillons, and always practised by the French nobility, to make an obeisance (the same as is usual in the commencement of a minuet) when the musicians begin to play the first part. Thomas Hurst made a similar observation in his 1769 The Cotillons Made Plain and Easy: The Gentlemen take off their Hats, and all make their Obeisances, as if beginning a Minuet, but somewhat quicker, and falling back to their Places, the Gentlemen put on their Hats. During this Time the first Strain is play'd once over, by Way of Introduction. Once again the implication (by omission) is that Country Dancers did not observe the convention, though it was known in both the Minuets and Cotillions.

The Regency era Country Dance, as practised at the Assembly Rooms, was arranged so as to honour the lead couple as they danced down the set. Each new couple that was drawn into the dance might acknowledge the lead couple with a small bow or curtsey before joining in. Bows and Curtseys were also used elsewhere in a Country Dance. Cherry (page 73) records that: A bow by a gentleman, and a courtesy by a lady, should always be made to the partner, on reaching the bottom of the dance. Wilson recorded (page 17) that the Bow and Courtesy are made in such Country Dances as require a pause to answer to the time of the music, as in La Belle Catharine, The Haunted Tower, &c..

It's not clear whether the custom of honouring one's partner was a standard commencement to the English Country Dance in the 18th Century. Some 17th century Country Dance choreographies did include an explicit honouring figure at the commencement, and potentially also on each iteration of the Country Dance. An interesting essay by Kate Van Winkle Keller investigates such calls as Honour to the Presence, next to your woman in 17th Century Country Dances, you can read it here (courtesy of colonialmusic.org). Honours at the commencement of a dance seem to have been a characteristic of the simultaneously started dances (Minuets, Cotillions, Quadrilles) rather than the Country Dance. That stated, I'm indebted to the dance historian Richard Powers for pointing out that an 1802 American dancing manual by Saltator does refer to honours in Country Dances: As every couple passes through the whole choir, and ceases from movement at the bottom; they are required to make a modest salute to each other. The same is required to be done, at the beginning, and at the conclusion of the dance. This may imply that a diverging tradition existed in America, or it may be evidence that the salute had always been a part of Country Dancing. Saltator went a step further, he indicated that the minor set that would begin the dance would walk through the figures prior to the start of the dance: In order to perform the figures of Dances with ease, the figure couple, standing commonly at the top of the choir, should require the tune be played over, then walk the figure over till they perfectly understand it, before they begin the dance. By doing this, they will be able to beat the time and execute the figure with ease and brilliancy without mistakes.

Performing the Honours

Wilson (page 16) described the Bows and Courtesies as the grand feature of deportment, and wrote that it is indispensably necessary that they should be made in a graceful, easy manner, that the lady and gentleman may be distinguished from the rude, uneducated, and vulgar. A well formed bow or curtsey required practice. Wilson added that it was shameful how few are there out of the many, in the constant habit of frequenting the ball room to be found, making a bow, or courtesy, better than those never having entered one, from total disqualification.. He described various characteristics of bad bows: jerking the head, scraping the foot on the floor, bending to the ground, nodding or having limp arms. He described a good bow as follows (page 18, the references are to Figure 2):

The gentleman, in making the Bow, will observe that his right or left foot, according to the situation in which he may become placed, should be passed from the first position shewn by Fig.1 Pl.1 into the second, shewn by Fig.2, the first position, should then be resumed; the knees preserved straight, and the head and shoulders gently inclined, tracing forwardly an imaginary curved or bowed line, and returning to an upright posture in the same gradual and easy manner; making no rest during the inclination of the head (see Fig.3. Plate 1.)

Wilson also described the curtsey. He first described bad curtseys (page 18); some ladies instead of passing the foot into its proper position, and gently sinking, make a sort of motion that has acquired the nature of it, the appropriate, though perhaps not the most refined appellation of a sudden Bob; others, on the contrary, will make the Courtesy in a stiff, crude, and formal manner, equally disgusting.. He described a better curtsey as follows (page 19, the references are to Figure 2):

Figure 3. How to Curtsey and Bow, Carlo Blasis, 1829

The lady in making the Courtesy, should pass her foot from the third position, (shewn by Fig. 4.) into the second position, and bring it to the fourth position in front, gently sinking with the knees turned outwards to the sides; preventing, as much as possible, any forward projection of them (see Fig. 5.); an attention to which will afford an easy equilibrium of the figure, so necessary to the graceful effect, capable of being produced, and most properly required.

Cherry (page 72) emphasised that A bow or courtesy must in its form and measure be learned under a dancing-master, he didn't attempt to describe the techniques. Wilson summarised his account of Bows and Curtseys by emphasising the need for unstudied grace: The more easy the performance of the Bow and Courtesy to the persons making them, so much more graceful to the spectator.. The Irish dancing master James Cassidy writing in his 1810 Treatise on the Theory and Practice of Dancing added a further interesting comment on the importance of bowing: it is necessary in bowing and courtesying to shun an exact sameness at all times, for however graceful it may be on some occasions, at other times it may seem formal and improper (he later commented that this general advise was also applicable to dancing).

Standing with Style, and Polite Attentiveness

The dancers in a Country Dance may spend quite a long time stood out waiting to join the dancing. Several writers had advice for how to do so elegantly. Wilson (page 23) wrote:

The manner of Standing in a Country Dance ought particularly to be attended to, as a loose deportment in this respect becomes open to observations, not only of the persons in the dance, but also of the spectators, and only serves to create contempt through the disrespect such carelessness evinces. The first and third positions are the most proper in which to stand easily, as the body may be kept erect with a suitable elevation of the head, without any apparent stiffness.

Should the set be composed of many persons, and a great length of time consequently occupied in standing, the positions may be varied, and will not only suit the commencing movements when called into action, but the habit will be avoided of resting the body on one leg to relieve the other, producing an effect truly inelegant, the person so standing appearing to have a dislocated hip. Standing in the set, with the arms crossed, or with the hands in the pockets, is extremely improper, and ought to be avoided.

Cherry (page 72) wrote: To stand well, it is necessary to be erect without seeming stiff, to pay particular attention to the elevation of the head, and pointing out the toes, and to display freedom ready for action, even while standing.. He also wrote (page 73) that these dancers should politely acknowledge the lead dancers when they are absorbed into the dance:

Figure 4. Examples of elegance, from Sir George Hayter's 1824 A Minuet (left), the anonymous 1818 Le Maitre A Danser (centre), and Alexander Strathy's 1822 Elements of the Art of Dancing (right).

The embellishments bestowed on the performance of figures, must be drawn from those acquirements in due proportion, particularly that of bowing, which while standing in or coming down a country dance, is much required by ladies and gentleman; as an inclination of the head should always accompany the giving a hand to another person, - an inclination certainly not ammounting to a bow, but bearing a graceful resemblance of one, and should be varied in its extent to various occasions. Great care should likewise be bestowed on the position in which a person stands in a country dance, while not engaged in a figure, and the position should be varied at different intervals, though in general it should be elegantly upright.

The need to acknowledge other dancers within a Country Dance is something Barclay Dun mentioned in his 1818 A Translation of Nine of the Most Fashionable Quadrilles: a constant and polite regard is paid to those who are dancing down by those who are figuring up, which gives the proper effect to the whole, making the dance perfect in its kind. The constant and polite regard to other dancers might be interpreted as a request to look at the other dancers, and to smile at and acknowledge them. A writer of the Regency era would be unlikely to comment on eye contact, but it's an essential aspect of social dancing. The 18th century writers were less obscure; the 1766 The Polite Academy suggested that Minuet dancers should All the Time you are dancing, look at your Partner; but look with Decency and Modesty and the 1777 A Treatise on Man characterised a typical dancing master as saying hold up your head, and always look at your partner.

Edward Payne (page 19) wrote a passage in his book that described some particularly impolite activities that can occur in a Country Dance; one example involved those who were stood out talking to each other, rather than remaining politely attentive to the dancing. The passage reads:

The impolite manner of the couple going down the dance, gaining the bottom, and then abruptly leaving the room is too frequently practised; but, seldom or ever by persons of good breeding. ... I must likewise inform such Gentlemen, who are continually in conversation with each other, or with their partners, they should observe their ill manners and carelessness, as it is the means of greatly annoying the couples going down the dance, and others in not being ready to join in the figure therefore, they cannot but suppose they are remarked by the company, as not being the most agreeable persons to dance with.

W. Smyth, writing in his 1830 Pocket Companion for Young Ladies and Gentlemen (second edition), continued to promote a polite awareness when standing. He wrote: When standing at ease, the feet ought to be placed in the third or fifth positions, and the Weight of the body should principally rest on the foot that is behind, having the knee of the leg that is in front a little bent. When standing in a Quadrille or Country Dance, it is proper to keep both knees straight, as it gives an air of readiness and attention.. He went on: It may be observed, that the figure has most expression, when the head is turned a little to one side; and when dancing, requisite and polite attention to the persons engaged, will prove sufficient to direct the turnings of the head.

Country Dancing Steps

Country Dancers two hundred years ago did dance, they didn't walk through the dances as sometimes happens today. The anonymous A.D. dancing master wrote in the 1764 Country Dancing Made Plain and Easy that a simple step-hop sequence was appropriate in all Country Dances of his period (page 13, see Figure 5):

The first thing to be observed in those, as well as all other dances, is the proper use of the feet in moving, as it cannot otherwise be called Dancing (though often slighted by many, who are very ready with the figures.) To attain which, you are to take notice, that though there are tunes of different sorts of time, viz. common time, triple time, &c. yet one method of moving will serve them all, by doing it faster or slower, which a person's ear will naturally lead him to do; the step of itself being so simple and plain, and one may soon perfect themselves in it, as it is nothing more than a step forwards, and a hop, or rather a little slip, of the same foot, by an easy spring along the floor: this done to the time, first with the one foot and then with the other, alternately, beginning with the right, is the method of moving through the figures.

Figure 5. The Use of the Feet explained, from the 1764 Country Dancing Made Plain and Easy by A.D.

He also went on to describe a setting or footing step which has no other difference but that of moving the foot behind close to the other, instead of stepping forwards with it, and hopping as before, being careful to move yourself as little backwards with it as possible.. Another dancing master, James Fishar referred to a single Common Country Dance Step in his 1778 Twelve New Country Dances, Six New Cotillon and Twelve new Minuets, without being specific about the nature of that Step; it was presumably A.D.'s step-hop step. The implication is that ordinary dancers (as opposed to the nobility and gentry) tended to use a very basic repertoire of steps at this date; they weren't required to do so, but one simple step was sufficiently all-purpose for Fishar to describe it as the common Country Dance Step and for his readers to know what that meant.

This basic step-hop probably remained suitable into the Regency era, though the dancing masters taught a much greater variety of steps. Mr Misdale wrote in 1800 (Leeds Intelligencer, 18th August 1800, see Figure 7) that he has lately been in London, where he has attended the ablest Masters, in Order to qualify himself to teach all the most fashionable Country Dance Steps, now used in the politest Circles in the Metropolis, such as the Scotch, Irish, Italian, &c.. In 1801 Mr Allen (Morning Chronicle 21st November 1811) advertised that Ladies and Gentlemen of any age, who have learned in the old style, or not at all, are privately completed in all the most admired Steps, and every description of Dance in modern practice. A dancing master called Mr Burghall wrote in 1802 (The Morning Chronicle, 2nd October 1802) that he taught COUNTRY DANCES, with a variety of EASY STEPS, particularly the manner of introducing the IRISH ones, now so fashionable in 9-8 Tunes. (Wilson made a similar observation regarding Irish steps in his 1816 Companion to the Ball Room). A Scottish dancing master Mr Laurie advertised in 1802 that he had selected some beautiful French Steps, and modeled them, so as to be gracefully introduced into Scotch Reels and Country Dances (Caledonian Mercury, 23rd October 1802). Mr McKorkell advertised in 1805 (Northampton Mercury, 13th July 1805) that he has returned from London, where he has visited the first Masters in the Profession for the most fashionable new COTILLIONS, QUADRILLES, SCOTCH, IRISH and WALTZ STEPS for Country Dances and Reels. The Messrs Southerne & Foster advertised in 1807 (Hull Packet 29th September 1807) that During Mr FOSTER's recent visit to London, he has been introduced to the principal Professors of Dancing there, from whom he has learnt a great variety of new and elegant STEPS, which have never been taught here.... and many further such examples can be provided. Wilson even wrote of the introduction of steps as though it were a recent phenomenon of his own era (echoing a claim to modern perfection that John Weaver had made of common dancing in England over 100 years earlier in his 1712 Essay Towards an History of Dancing).

It's clear that a vocabulary for Country Dancing steps had emerged by the start of the 19th Century, a vocabulary that seems not to have been widely known just 20 or 30 years earlier. A challenge in rediscovering these steps is that not many writers described them. Cherry didn't attempt to do so individually, he wrote that (page 9):

The steps in country dancing should be appropriate to the figure - side steps for side figures, forward steps for forward figures, and so on, of which there are great variety; and further, it is better to know many steps besides what are made use of in country dancing, in order that those used may be executed with superior judgement; and it will always be observed, that those who are acquainted with hornpipes, minuets, and other fancy dances, considerably surpass, in gracefulness of style, those who have not such advantages.

As to the particular form of the step, it can only be attained under a dancing master.

He did offer some practical advice (page 75):

Shuffling, or other noisy steps, are improper for country dancing, as they look vulgar, and destroy the effect of the music.

The execution of steps ought to be great - but graceful, quick - but perfectly in command, and distinctly marked by the beats - but without noise. It is better to display the most simple step, if well executed, than the grandest ever composed, if not so.

In all movements of the feet the toes should be pointed downwards, by which the instep will be raised, and from the toe to the hip, the limb should be turned greatly outwards, the knee should point exactly over the toe, to produce an elegant movement; in the execution of which, if difficulty or labour appears, it is completely spoiled.

Payne promoted simplicity. He wrote (page 19):

Figure 6. The five positions, from S.J. Gardiner's 1786 A Definition of Minuet-Dancing

The more simple the steps used in a country dance, the more beautiful and pleasing they appear; a free, easy, graceful bending of the instep combines an elegant air with the execution of the steps, which should be performed with a certain pliancy in the limbs, devoid of all design or study - many persons attempt to make use of difficult steps, without having a correct notion of their proper form; others again, depend on their agility, such as in cutting capers; brilliant cutting and surprising steps, may do to shew off some dancing master &c. at certain times, but rest assured, never characterises the Gentleman.

Wilson provided further advice (page 28, image references are to Figure 2):

The Steps are composed for the correct performance of the various figures to the times and measure or music thereto adapted; it is contrary to correct Deportment when they are not properly applied.

To produce the necessary effect in point of graceful execution, all the movements are properly performed from the hip; and those that require bending, by the knee, preserving the body straight and easy (see Fig. 13. Pl. 2), and in rising, straightening the knee, turned outwardly in the same direction, the toes pointed downwardly (see Fig. 14, Pl 2.)

The introduction of Steps composed for and adapted to any other species of Dancing must be avoided; shuffling and rattling of the feet, as used in Hornpipe Steps, and the flat footed movements of Spanish Dancing, are incompatible with those in Quadrilles and Country Dancing; and, when introduced, tend to draw on the performer, the contempt of the more enlightened part of the company.

Looking at the feet, whether in Dancing or Walking, &c. is a bad habit, too frequently practised, and calls for reprehension; independent of the affected appearance produced by its impropriety, it not only bespeaks vanity, and an exclusive opinion of ability, but the better effect to be displayed by the figure is lost.

Wilson's reference to Hornpipe steps being unsuitable is particularly interesting as, around 85 years earlier, a dancing master called Benjamin Towle (author of the 1759 Universal Dancing Master) explicitly wrote that Hornpipe Dancing is very necessary for the Footing in Country Dancing (Derby Mercury, 8th January 1735). A lot can change over that length of time, so advice from the first half of the 18th Century isn't particularly relevant to the Regency Ball Room.

Wilson's most complete information regarding steps can be found in his 1820 Complete System of English Country Dancing, he didn't write much about performing them but he did suggest the steps to use with each of his figures. For example, his Foot in the centre was described as involving an: advance with Chasse Jetté and Assemblé, and set with two back, or one Scotch Step, four bars, and retire and set four bars, together eight bars; or his Hands six round required: seven Chasses one Jetté and Assemblé, eight bars. Wilson defined many figures in terms of Chasses steps with a Jetté and Assemblé at the end. We've provided an index to Wilson's figures elsewhere, if you'd like to look them up individually use the 1820 link from the table. Wilson's Chasse steps with a Jetté and Assemblé punctuation (a feet together action) result in a characteristic form of country dancing where most figures end back in place. Figures are typically completed in seven bars of music with the eighth being a pause in place as eveyone gets back into straight lines, then dancers move off into the next figure. This punctuated movement results in a distinctive rhythm to the dance which contrasts with the more fluid flowing from one figure to the next that's more often encountered in modern country dancing.

A Scottish influence in country dancing was fashionable amongst elite dancers of the early 19th century. A commentator in the Dublin Evening Packet and Correspondent newspaper for the 3rd April 1834 (in turn quoting from the Court Journal of a slightly earlier date) complained of Princess Charlotte's Scottish dancing master of the late 1800s that: by the time the Princess Charlotte became of an age to appear in the mazy round, Jenkins had transformed the leading belles of the day into so many effigies of cork, bounding up and down without grace or measure. The implication is that athletic Scottish steps with hopping motions were also being used in country dancing, they were not universally approved of.

Two early 19th century books offer particularly significant advice for dance steps. One of these documents was F.J. Lambert's 1815 Treatise on Dancing, the other is Francis Peacock's 1805 Sketches on the Practice of Dancing. We've written more of Lambert elsewhere, you might like to follow the link. Peacock wrote of the popular Scottish steps including the Minor Kemkóssy Setting or Footing Step which is an easy familiar step, much used by the English in their Country dances. You have only to place the right foot behind the left, sink and hop upon it, then do the same with the left foot behind the right. (a description that matches that of the A.D. master from 1764). Numerous sources refer to Scottish and Irish steps being introduced to English Country Dancing towards the end of the 18th Century, so Peacock's other steps might have been used too. One of the early hints for a range of steps comes from a Scottish dancing master called Mr Stevenson in 1782 (Caledonian Mercury, 18th December 1782), he explicitly advertised that he taught the Steps for the British Country Dances. The Manchester based Mr Luca even advertised in 1778 (Manchester Mercury, 27th January 1778) that he offers the Opportunity of an EVENING SCHOOL, to facilitate the proper Mode of English Dancing, by introducing the Variety of French Steps, mostly used in French Dancing. We've previously commented on how French Cotillion dancing figures were absorbed into English Country Dancing across the 1770s, it's probable that French Steps were also being absorbed at the same time. As early as 1773 a Hull based dancing master named Mr Southern published a set of Country Dances in the manner of Cotillons, it consisted of English Country Dances arranged using Cotillion dancing steps including the glisade, chasse, rigadoon, ballance and countretemps. Southern may have been an early proponent of the idea but by around 1800 (based on the adverts of dancing masters) the mainstream of social dancing had a significantly broadened vocabulary for steps compared to just 30 years earlier. First French steps were introduced, then the waves of Scotch and Irish influences followed, by the early 19th century the value of Country Dancing with Steps had been widely recognised.

There was, however, a backlash. The author of the 1811 Mirror of the Graces, an etiquette guide for young ladies, advised against the use of fancy balletic steps in social dances (foreshadowing the similar advice from Edward Payne quoted above):

Figure 7. Advertisement for Mr Misdale, from the Leeds Intelligencer, 18th August 1800. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Image reproduced with kind permission of The British Newspaper Archive (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)

These ballet dances are, we now see, generally attempted. I say attempted, for not one young woman in five hundred can, from the very nature of the thing, after all her study, perform them better than could be done any day by the commonest figurante on the stage. We all know, that, to be a fine opera-dancer, requires unremitting practice, and a certain disciplining of the limbs, which hardly any private gentlewoman would consent to undergo. Hence, ladies can never hope to arrive at any comparison with even the poorest public professor of the art; and therefore, to attempt the extravagancies of it, is as absurd as it is indelicate.

The utmost in dancing to which a gentlewoman ought to aspire, is an agile and graceful movement of her feet, an harmonious motion with her arms, and a corresponding easy carriage of her whole body. But, when she has gained proficiency, should she find herself so unusually mistress of the art as to be able, in any way, to rival the professors by whom she has been taught, she must ever hold in mind, that the same style of dancing is not equally proper for all kinds of dances.

For instance, the English country-dance and the French cotillion require totally different movements. I know that it is a common thing to introduce all the varieties of opera-steps into the simple figure of the former. This ill-judged fashion is inconsistent with the character of the dance, and, consequently, so destroys the effect, that no pleasure is produced to the eye of the judicious spectator by so discordant an exhibition. The characteristic of an English country-dance is that of gay simplicity. The steps should be few and easy; and the corresponding motion of the arms and body unaffected, modest, and graceful.

But conversely, the anonymous A Gentleman who wrote the 1823 Etiquette of the Ball-Room thought adapting fancy Quadrille steps to Country Dancing was entirely appropriate: a great many steps are rendered applicable and useful, by quickening their motion, if necessary, to the time of the Contre Dances. ... But where age possessing mirth, and a desire to accompany the younger branches of the family in the Contre Dance, occurs, an abridged Quadrille step can easily be made appropriate to the music, and is extremely useful, as it gives grace to the motion, and ease to the dancer..

There was clearly a disparity amongst the Regency era dancing community. Some promoted naive simplicity in Country Dancing, some promoted a range of balletic and baroque inspired steps, others were somewhere between the extremes. An observation I'll add is that none of the sources suggest that the entire assembly would dance using the same steps within a single dance. The advice of the dancing masters was aimed at the individual and their responsibility to the rest of the assembly; each dancer within a longways set might conceivably have been dancing with different steps, even though the figures were shared. Country Dances weren't performance pieces, ordinary dancers weren't trained to wow an audience with their synchronised perfection.

If you're interested in the steps for other social dances of the period, various writers discuss them. S.J. Gardiner described the Minuet steps in his 1786 A Definition of Minuet Dancing. Wilson described the principle Waltz steps in his 1816 Correct Method of Waltzing. Payne described the principle steps for French Quadrille dancing in his 1818 Quadrille Dancer, and went on to describe the Waltz and Promenade steps in the same work as applied to Spanish Country Dances. Peacock described numerous Scottish steps in his 1805 Sketches on the Practice of Dancing, Alexander Strathy described the steps for Quadrille dancing in his 1822 Elements of the Art of Dancing and F.J. Lambert's 1815 Treatise on Dancing described the French steps in some detail. Readers might also enjoy the videos of Steps hosted here at RegencyDances.org, these videos focus on the principal steps used within the modern Regency dancing movement.

Grace and Elegance in Country Dancing

Knowing the basics of Country Dancing wasn't sufficient to be considered a finished dancer, one must also dance gracefully. Wilson (page 8) wrote: A perfect knowledge of Figures and Steps is not alone sufficient to form the dancer; a study of the use of the head, arms, and body, as applying to and accompanying each varied movement is indispensably necessary to be attained. But one needed to master the basics first. Cherry (page 69) cautioned that grace and style in movement and division are worse than useless to an incorrect dancer as the ornaments must be founded on the art, and not the art on the ornaments.

An important aspect of graceful dancing involved an awareness of smooth motion. The dancing masters encouraged serpentine movement, and avoiding straight lines and angles. Hogarth in 1753 published his Analysis of Beauty in which he praised the Country Dancing figure of the hay as an example of beauty in motion (and which is illustrated in Figure 8): the figure of it altogether, is a cypher of S's, or a number of serpentine lines interlacing, or intervolving each other. A publication from 1779 described that elegant ease of motion, which has been so properly termed swimming in the dance as being a fundamental characteristic of country dancing (Sketches from Nature, 1779). Writing some 60 years after Hogarth, Cherry (page 74) provided some specific examples for how Country Dancers should present their hands and arms in a graceful or fluid form:

Figure 8. Hogarth's engraving of a Country Dance 1753. Plate 2 from The Analysis of Beauty. Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

When the hand or hands are to be presented to another person, straight lines and angles in the presentation must be carefully avoided; it should likewise be done in the most gentle and attentive manner, touching or bearing as lightly on such person as possible, and never holding a hand fast or in the least resembling it. After the hands are joined, if one from each person, the two hands so joined together, with the arms, should form a serpentine line, for which reason the two persons should stand or dance at a convenient distance. If both hands of two persons are joined together, they, with the arms, should form an oval ... If the hands of four or more persons are joined ... [they] should form part of the ring alluded to by such figure, whereby all resemblance of a straight line or angle would be avoided.

Payne (page 15) also wrote of the elegant use of the arms in Country Dancing:

A graceful management of the arms and hands in Country Dancing cannot be dispensed with, to form a complete dancer, therefore, they should be strictly attended to.
...
All the motions of the arms must be graceful, gentle, and easy; when you have to join with both hands, the shoulders must remain easy, raising both arms at the same time; each bending a little circular, not too near the body, for if the hands be too near, the elbows will form a point, and make the wrist appear aukward; the fingers should not be quite close, or yet too far apart; the thumb and four fingers must remain open till you join with the Ladies hands; in with-drawing the arms, let them bend in the same easy manner as in rising, and be sure never to drop the elbows first; in hands across, swing corners, and where you have first to join with one hand and then the other, the change of hands must not be raised suddenly, but in a gentle, easy manner, paying special attention to join the hand exactly with the time.

F.J. Lambert in his 1815 Treatise on Dancing wrote of the importance of elegant arm movements, rather than steps, when dancing Country Dances. He wrote:

In the country dance the attention should be given more to the management of the arms than to the feet, because the ear will naturally adapt easy movements suitable to the tune; the only attention that is necessary with respect to the feet is, to have them well turned out and pointed, that they may not incommode those who are dancing, and to move them exactly in time with the music. It is not the feet that are looked at, it is the whole carriage; persons are distinguished by this for their genteel and elegant style. The hands across, which is a singular figure in itself, shews the management of the arms and head to great advantage. When you present the right hands, turn the head and look at the person to whom the hand is given, and observe the opposition of the arm to the head; the left arm is raised much higher than the right, and in giving the left hand raise the right in opposition to it. The effect is striking, but if the hand is carelessly given, without looking at the person, and the contrary arm is hanging down, the figure has no expression or effect, and the dancing is inelegant.

Wilson (page 25, image references are to Figure 2) made similar suggestions, and added that one should take care that:

... whether one hand, or both be joined, they be not raised above the level of the shoulder; except the figure of the dance be such as to require it; ... The too frequent practice of moving the arms up and down, in Leading down the Middle is an extravagant impropriety, and disgraceful to those who use it in genteel company.

In the performance of the figures where Swinging and Turning are used, a proper distance from each other of the persons joining hands is requisite to prevent the bending of the elbows, which produces the ungraceful attitude of two Angles, instead of one Serpentine line (see Fig. 12. Pl. 1.).

The palms of the hands must not, in any instance, be turned upwards; and in joining of hands, it is quite sufficient to use the fore finger and thumb only. To grasp the whole hand, as some rudely do, is altogether improper, and in good company considered an unpardonable freedom.

Bearing down and improperly confining the hands, complaints of which are repeatedly made in the ball room, call for loud and severe reprehension.

Wilson also wrote about the motion of the head in dancing (page 24, image references are to Figure 2):

According to the turns of the body, and movements of the feet, the Head should be moved in an easy, graceful manner, (see Fig. 11. Pl. 2.); a pleasant countenance contributes greatly to an improved effect, and takes away all appearance of labour, in performance of the several movements.

The head, in some parts of the dance, when held in an elegant and dignified, yet easy and graceful situation, gives to the whole a distinguished effect.

In all motions of the head, and in changing one position to another, all sudden motions must be avoided, and the positions suffered to fall into each other with a graceful inclination.

It must be remarked, that a projection of the chin is a real distortion of grace, as applied to movements of the head. Holding down the head breaks into the rules of Grace, applicable to the Body, &c. is a bad habit, equally prevalent in walking or dancing, and, as it implies bashfulness or inability, ought particularly to be avoided.

Figure 9. Modern Grace by James Gillray, 1796,
© Trustees of the British Museum.

The anonymous author of the 1811 The Mirror of the Graces offered the following general advice to ladies who dance:

The body should always be poised with such ease, as to command a power of graceful undulation, in harmony with the motion of the limbs in the dance. Nothing is more ugly than a stiff body and neck, during this lively exercise. The general carriage should be elevated and light; the chest thrown out, the head easily erect, but flexible to move with every turn of the figure; and the limbs should be all braced and animated with the spirit of motion, which seems ready to bound through the very air. By this elasticity pervading the whole person, when the dancer moves off, her flexile shape will gracefully sway with the varied steps of her feet; and her arms, instead of hanging loosely by her side, or rising abruptly and squarely up, to take hands with her partner, will be raised in beautiful and harmonious unison and time with the music and the figure; and her whole person will thus exhibit, to the delighted eye, perfection in beauty, grace, and motion.

The deportment of the dancer, the elegance in motion and the graceful acknowledgement of other dancers were amongst the techniques the dancing masters would teach to their students, once the basics of Country Dancing were mastered. But as always, the style of the dancing had to be compatible with the music; Country Dances were often played at a rapid tempo, in which case there would be little opportunity to cut a fine figure, one would simply caper along and enjoy the enthusiasm. Wilson commented in his 1820 Complete System of English Country Dancing that:

Formerly, before the introduction of Steps, it was customary to play every Air, whatever might be its character, in one time: namely, with the utmost rapidity, because the Dancers were at a loss what to do, either with their feet or themselves, if they were not in perpetual motion. But, since Dancing has become a Science, various Steps have been introduced, with a view to display the skill of the Dancer; and as these require more Time to perform them with elegance, it follows of course, that the Time in which they ought to be played will be considerably slower than before their invention.

Talented dancers could display their skill with slower music. Wilson introduced his Waltz Country Dances to London in 1815, they were probably adapted to encourage a graceful display of elegant waltzing prowess, they may have been the perfected pinnacle of the English Country Dance in Regency London. Unfortunately the popularity of the Country Dance waned from this date; the choreographed Quadrille and risqué Waltz dances supplanted them in England's Assembly halls.

An 1825 phrase book printed in Bruges captured some typical conversational fragments that might be heard in a Dancing Lesson, examples (pertaining to the need for elegance) include:

Good morning Gentlemen, come put on your pumps.
Turn your feet out.
Keep your head up Sir.
Your foot before, Make a bow.
Bend more. Bend slowly.
You don't bend enough.
You rise too quick.
Your foot behind, and make a bow.
You draw your right foot too much.
Let your arms fall.
Don't be so stiff.
Make a side bow.
Give your hand gracefully.
Your head upright, your body straight.
Keep your shoulders in.

Impolite Behaviour in a Country Dance

Next to the quadrille came the English country-dance, in modern language ycleped kitchen-dance, still kept up in country-towns for the accommodation of those who cannot dance quadrilles. A bride led down. She was in all the bloom of youth and beauty. It was evident that a deeper tint than usual suffused her cheek, and this was rendered still more apparent by the contrast of her dress. Yet no eyes but mine followed her as she sought her way modestly but gracefully down the scarce open ranks. On the contrary, I observed envious tosses of the head, aversion of the eyes, &c among the females, and even some unpoliteness on the part of the males in blocking up the way. I endeavoured to ascertain the cause of this. She was the apothecary's daughter, or in other words she was nobody. The couple that followed were not so treated; they were somebodies. Said I to myself, Was it so twenty years ago?

Figure 10. Mme Parisot on the London stage, I. Cruickshank, 1796,
© Trustees of the British Museum.

At the ball in the evening, Colonel Lennox stood up, in a country dance, with Lady Catherine Barnard. The Prince of Wales, when he came to the Colonel's place in the dance, took the hand of his partner, the Princess Royal, just as she was about to be turned by the Colonel, and led her to the bottom of the dance.

This snub was reported to be at a Ball in 1789, the result of a sense of righteous indignation following a duel. The Prince was part of the way through dancing down a Country Dance, but rather than dance with the Colonel when his turn came, the Prince led his partner directly to the bottom of the set. It was a very public rebuke.

Edward Payne (page 16) wrote of a type of hop room dancer who could spoil the pleasure of an elegant dance:

Such persons who have the manner of confining down the hands of their partners, their body bent forward, and elbows turned outwards, are termed hop room dancers; which vulgar method, is so different from the true Polite manner of Country-Dancing, that they are instantly distinguished; nothing can be more unpleasant in my opinion, to a Lady of Genteel carriage and manners, than to get a partner of such a description; and those who have practised this inelegant style of dancing, will take nearly the time they have been at it, to erase the habits from them.

Mr Jenkins in his 1822 The Art of Dancing expanded on this behaviour, he wrote of several errors that frequently occur in Country Dancing:

It is a common error with gentlemen, instead of lightly touching the hands of ladies, to hold them so fast, that they can scarcely disengage themselves, which is vulgar in the extreme, and destroys all appearence of ease in the performance.

Some persons have a very disagreeable method of bearing down the hands of their partners, in leading down the middle: others lift them up and down alternately, in the same figure. These are gross errors, and ought particularly to be avoided.

Payne also wrote of affectation in dancing, a most unpleasant vice (page 18):

Looking at the feet while dancing, I know to be in some a bad habit only; but is chiefly practised by those possessed of the worse of vices in dancing, affectation, which I cannot pass over without cautioning the pupils, and every one, to be carefully guarded against; it is sure to deceive a person in the judgement of his own abilities; it is impossible to please by affectation, though in general he is misled by that erroneous Idea. Nothing defeats more that intention, than a vice that is incompatible with the graces, which dissapear at the least assumption of affectation. Such persons who are possessed of that false, finical, affected air, are always eager to display it; but they may rest assured that wherever it is seen, it is sure to offend and excite contempt.

Wilson (page 27) provided further examples of Affectation in Dancing:

For instance, some persons may be observed in the ball room, who are excellent dancers, and consequently despise the efforts of others; and in going down a Country Dance, or standing in it as neutral, when they are required to Turn or Swing Corners, or take the hands in Leading Across, Setting and Changing Sides, &c. affectedly omit what is correct, and dance round the lady or gentleman, with whom they should turn as the figure requires. Also in Quadrilles, in Chaine Angloise, & Chaines des Dames, the same will apply.

Such conduct betrays an ignorance of that which ought to be remembered, that all persons standing up in a Dance are alike entitled to civil and polite attention.

Figure 11. Domestic Antics, Salisbury and Winchester Journal, 16th June 1817. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Image reproduced with kind permission of The British Newspaper Archive (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)

Francis Peacock in his 1805 Sketches on the Practice of Dancing made a similar statement: There is one very common circumstance, which every one ought carefully to guard against; it is, what cannot be too often repeated, that of Affectation. This folly generally proceeds from false imitation, and sure to caricature every grace it means to display: but for all that, it has its votaries everywhere, and among people too, who ought least to be suspected of paying homage to its shrine; I mean those of our own profession, who, I am sorry to say, but too frequently overact their part..

Cherry's advice was a little more oblique (page 71):

Therefore, those persons who would dance in superior style, should attentively observe the line which is drawn between the manners of cultivated and genteel persons, and those of the untaught and vulgar part of society; and take care, that they always imitate the former, as well in trifling circumstances as in important ones, till their judgement is sufficiently matured, to enable them to exercise it at their own discretion, and be an example to others; but the most extreme caution is necessary in displaying the judgement in a ball room, for the errors of one evening may call forth such severity of criticism as may ever give place to painful reflection.

If all persons in a dance would pay this attention, dancing would look much more like an elegant and polite amusement than it frequently does; for what with calling out to some persons to mind the figure, pulling or pushing others into it, explaining it to others, and perhaps but few doing it correctly, a country dance too often appears like a confused assemblage of dancers, or an undefined maze, without beginning or end.

The etiquette guides also provided lists of unacceptable behaviours to be avoided, in addition to the above, as did the bye-laws of the Assembly Rooms; but that's a subject we'll save for a future article. What is clear is that the accomplished dancer could be recognised as much by their polite attentions to the company as from their personal skill.

When one thinks of Regency era dancing, it's often this elite form of social dancing that comes to mind: careful steps, polite attentions, fluid grace, and furtive conversations away from the chaperone! But the Twelve Penny Hop, Lady Mayoress's Rout, Public Ball, Kitchen Dance and Country Ball were also part of the social dancing experience (see also Figure 11), and also part of Regency era dancing. Not everyone danced like the elite. So don't worry if as a reenactor of historic dances you struggle with the ornaments and embellishments of the advanced dancers, many people 200 years ago did so too. The Dancing-Masters wrote about the importance of deportment, but their livelihood came from convincing ordinary people that they weren't good enough! They also recorded that many dancers failed to achieve perfection. Even the most elite of dancing establishments would ring with laughter. The author of the anonymous Recollections of Almacks (Almack's being the most elite of Regency era Assembly Halls) wrote of Country Dancing: A great deal of romping and happiness, a great deal of flirtation went on with country dances.

Graceful politeness and deportment are important when recreating a Regency era Country Dance, but dancers aren't expected to perform with the precision of a military drill. Social dances are for ordinary people, and even the most elite of dancers will infuse a dance with their own personality and charm. It's clear that the dancing masters 200 years ago didn't share the same opinions on the minutiae of dance practice, the rigorous application of any single piece of historical advice is therefore problematic... so please, have fun with your dancing. The most important thing is to ensure that your partner, and the company in general, enjoy dancing with you. In the words of an 1828 commentator in The Companion: The best private dancer we know among the male sex is one who makes it his business to attend to his partner; to set off with her, as if she were a part of his pleasure; and to move among the others, as if there were such things in the world as companionship, and a sense of it.

We'll leave this investigation here. If you know of further information regarding the finishing of the accomplished Regency era dancer, do please contact us, as we'd love to know more. You can also learn more about the dancing steps through our steps page.