Members of the Vintage Dance Society and its performing troupe, Polite Society, have researched and reconstructered a variety of dances from both the Victorian and Ragtime eras.  In addition, we teach and perform a wide variety of the dances from both eras.  The dances typically taught and performed include: 
 
 

Victorian Era Dances Waltz Polka Schottische Mazourka Quadrilles Country Dances Five-Four Waltz Two-Step

Ragtime Era Dances One-Step Tango Foxtrot Castlewalk Half & Half Hesitation Waltz Blues Maxixe

 

    To assist members of the vintage dance community that are interested in learning new dances, we will publish a variety of these dances on this page.  We will also publish any dances sent in to us from other members of the vintage dance community. 

     We will kick off this page with an 1890's varient of a popular vintage dance- The Lancer's Quadrille.  This version was found in the 1897 dance manual "Dancing" by Edward Scott.  Mr. Scott refers to this as the "American" or "Diagonal" Lancers, but Dr. Patri Pugliese informs us that it is also known as the "Saratoga" Lancers.  Mr. Scott indicates that the figures of this dance are more animated than those of the "ordinary" Lancers, because all of the dancers are moving at the same time.  (We present only figures 1, 3, and 5, as those are the ones typically danced in vintage dance circles.) 

Formation:   A square, with four couples.  Head couples are nos. 1 & 2. Side couples are nos. 3 & 4. 

First Figure 

Leading couples turn partly to the right, while the sides turn to the left, so as to face each other. 
All advance (with four steps) and retire (with four steps), advance again and turn their opposite with two hands (finishing by returning to places).  Head couples take inside hands and cross between side couples (as side couples also cross), and in returning, side couples join inside hands, while the head couples pass on the outside.  All end in original place.  All set to original corner person (four steps forward and back to left shoulder) and turn this person with two hands. 

In repeating, the side couples turn to the right (head couples to the left), so that each couple has a new vis a vis (opposite). 
 

All join hands (in a circle) and advance (four steps) and retire (four steps), then advance (four steps), bow, and then retire.  The four ladies then perform a grand chain (turn in the center with a right hand star, halfway around, turned by your opposite gentleman by the left hand, turn in the center with a right hand star, halfway around, turned by your partner to place).  This figure is then repeated. 

(There is another version of the third figure which can be alternated with the above.  We will publish that variation in the next update of this page.)

Facing partner begin a grand chain (start by giving right hands to partner, left to the next, and so on) once around.  Couple no. 1 promenades around the inside of the set, ending in place, but facing out of the set.  Couple nos. 3 and 4 fall into place behind couple no. 1.  Men chasse to the right (4 steps) behind the ladies, while the ladies chasse to the left.  All balance forward (step, close) and back (step, close).  Then chasse back to places, and again balance forward and back.  Then head couple cast off to bottom place (men following top man, ladies following top lady) and then lead back up to the top.  Lines go forward and back, and then turn partner to place.  Repeat 3x.  On each repeat, the next couple (2, then 3, then, 4) leads the promenade.  The figure ends with a final grand chain.

Welcome to the Vintage Dance Society of Hartford's "Vintage Dance Discography" page, a necessarily incomplete listing of CDs of vintage dance music compiled by Bob Chapman, Peter Lee, Richard Powers, Marc Casslar, and Mike Bergman.  Since vintage dance music recordings are aimed at a specialist market, they are not widely available (don't expect to find them at Strawberry's!).  Some will be available at stores in major metropolitan areas or college towns that sell classical music.  Most likely you'll have to order them, either from a dealer or directly.  Some are available on own private labels and are available only from the performers.  A few are out of print but might be found in cut-out or used-CD bins. 

While we have concentrated on social dance music from the period 1860 to 1920, some CDs will also contain music from slightly earlier or later periods.  We have intentionally not listed the hundreds of recordings of waltz music by the Strauss family or Emile Waldteufel, although they and some of their contemporaries are represented in collections.  The term "salon music" refers to light chamber music by small ensembles (e.g., trios, quartets).  While this often includes waltzes, polkas, schottisches, etc., 
their tempos are sometimes more geared to concert audiences.  If possible, preview salon music recordings to see if their tempos are suitable for dancing. 

     To send in dances for publication on this page or for additional information on the Vintage Dance Society, Polite Society, upcoming vintage dance events, Victorian and Ragtime era dances, etc. you can email us at vintagedance@snet.net, write us at P.O. Box 832, Bloomfield, Connecticut 06002, call us at (860) 286-9191 or click on the appropriate item below.