Contre dançe françoise - la Réveillée from Sønderbybogen

Country: Denmark
Type: set dance
Formation: 4 couple quadrille. Couples 1 and 2 respectively have backs to and face the music. Couple 3 stands to the right of couple 2, and couple 4 to the right of couple 1.
Steps:

chassé (change-step)
pas de gavotte: facing partner, hands free, (&) weight on L foot, R foot in position 3 behind, flexing L leg (1:1) hop onto L foot, extending R foot out sideways to R, (1:2) step forward R on ball of foot, (1:3) step forward L on ball of foot, (2:1) hop on both feet, (2:3) pause (similar to Scottish setting step)
pas de rigaudon: facing partner, hands free, (1:1) hop onto L foot, swinging R foot out diagonally to R, (1:3) hop onto R foot, swinging L foot out diagonally to L, (1:4) close L to R foot, (2:1) hop on both feet, (2:3) pause (similar to Danish vippetrin)

Music: V.D.W. Sønderbybogen ms. 1772. p. 295 [of the pdf file], or any reel in AABB (A=6,B=8) structure.

Bars	Part	Dance progression:
\|:1-6:\|	1 (a)	Le grand rond: In closed circle, all dance CW, 6 chassé steps (1-8). Ditto CCW, 6 chassé steps.
7-14	(b)	Le grand quarré: Aka 'grand squares', ie simultaeously M1 and M2 dance sideways L 2 chassé, forward 2 chassés, sideways R 2 chassés, and backwards 2 chassés. M3 and M4 dance forward 2 chassés, sideways L 2 chassés, backwards 2 chassés, and sideways R 2 chassé, . W1 and W2 dance sideways R 2 chassé, forward 2 chassés, sideways L 2 chassés, and backwards 2 chassés. W3 and W4 dance forward 2 chassés, sideways R 2 chassés, and backwards 2 chassés, and sideways L 2 chassés,
7-14		Repeat (b) in reverse to return to place.
1-2	(c)	Chassé et réchassé: All couples change places with partner, W passing leftwards in front, M passing rightwards behind partner (1), 2 chassé steps. Repeat to return to place, M passing in front and W behind, 2 chassé steps (2).
3-6		La grande chaine: All dance R-hand chain to opposite place, 4 chassé steps.
1-6		Repeat (c) to return to place.
7-14	(d)	La main: Facing partner, all couples give R-in-R hand to partner, change places with partner (passing R shoulders) with 1 pas de gavotte and 1 pas de rigaudon (9-12). Repeat, giving L hand to partner, and passing L shoulders (13-16).
7-14		Repeat (d).
		[At the beginning of the contre dances francoise section in Sønderbybogen is the following note (in French):] All the contre dances begin with le grand rond, and after each repetition, one gives the Lady: - une maine, - deux mains, - l'allemande, - les quatre Dames en crois, - les quatre Cavaliers en crois, - les quatre Dames en rond, - les quatre Cavaliers en rond, - tous les 8 la grande chaine. Therefore: parts (b), (c) and (d) are the same in all sequences. The following are my interpretations of the sequences.
\|:1-6:\|	2 (a)	One hand to partner: With R-in-R hand with partner, all dance CW on the spot, 6 chassé steps (1-6). Ditto CCW, 6 chassé steps.
\|:1-6:\|	3 (a)	Two hands to partner: In 2-hand hold with partner, all dance CW on the spot, 6 chassé steps (1-6). Ditto CCW, 6 chassé steps.
\|:1-6:\|	4 (a)	L'allemande: Couples stand R-shoulder to R-shoulder facing in opposite directions, arms joined behind their backs, all dance CW on the spot, 6 chassé steps (1-6). Ditto L-shoulder to L-shoulder, turning CCW, 6 chassé steps. [See Contredanse : description des principales figures]
\|:1-6:\|	5 (a)	Women's star: All W take R-hand star, and dance CW on the spot, 6 chassé steps (1-6). Ditto L-hand star, turning CCW, 6 chassé steps.
\|:1-6:\|	6 (a)	Men's star: All M take R-hand star, and dance CW on the spot, 6 chassé steps (1-6). Ditto L-hand star, turning CCW, 6 chassé steps.
\|:1-6:\|	7 (a)	Women's circle: All W form closed circle, and dance CW on the spot, 6 chassé steps (1-6). Ditto turning CCW, 6 chassé steps.
\|:1-6:\|	8 (a)	Men's circle: All M form closed circle, and dance CW on the spot, 6 chassé steps (1-6). Ditto turning CCW, 6 chassé steps.
\|:1-6:\|	9 (a)	La grande chaine: All dance R-hand chain around the set, 12 chassé steps.

Provenance:
From a handwritten musician's notebook found in Sønderby, Denmark. The book belonged to Søren Christian Rønning (possibly 1743-1809) and can be dated to 1772, as one of the covers has this date imprinted. It is not known how the book ended up in Sønderby. The book contains 79 'Contres dançes angloises', 29 'Contres dançes françoises', and 6 cotillons, with choreography in the form of diagrams and/or descriptive text as well as sheet music.
[Translator's note: although no information about steps is given, accompanying sheet music, both contra and trio, are in 2/4-time, wherefore the translator suggests the dance be done with chassé steps.]

Printed source: V.D.W. Sønderbybogen ms. 1772. p. 66 [of the pdf file]
Description: Laine Ruus, Oakville, 2020-02-14, rev. 2021-09-27.

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