Country: Sweden
Type: set dance
Formation: 4 couples in quadrille set. Head couples have backs to or face music. Side couples stand to side of head couples.
Steps: chassé, croisé, pas de rigoudon (hopping on L foot, swing R leg forward (1:1) and back (1:2), repeat with opposite footwork), walk
Sheet music: (1) Baron Fredrik Åkerhjelms dansbok 1785. Stockholm: Arkivet för Folklig Dans, 1986. nr. 31;
(2)
50 contradanser ur Baron Fredrik Åkerhjelms dansbok 1785. Stockholm: Arkivet för folklig dans, 1969 nr. 31.
Alternatively, any contredans française with AABBCCDD or similar structure where A=B=C=D=8 (ie 64-bar structure).
| Bars | Part | Dance progression |
| |:1-8:| | 1 (a) | All couples form closed circle, and dance 16 walking steps CW, and 16 walking steps CCW. |
| 9-16 | (b) | Head couples, holding inside hands, dance 2 chassé steps to side couple on their R (9-10). Courtesy to facing couple (11-12).
Repeat to opposite head couple's place, turning CCW to face into set and courtesy to partner (13-16). |
| 9-16 | Side couples repeat (b). | |
| |:17-22:| | (c) | Facing partner, all M figuré to their partner with a croisé to L (17-18) and then to R (19-20).
All dance 2 pas de rigoudon steps facing partner (21-22). All turn to corner, take 2-hand hold, and turn once round CW on the spot with 6 walking steps (17-19). All continue to partner, take 2-hand hold, and turn once round CW with 6 walking steps, to finish in place (20-22). |
| 23-28 | (d) | Head couples advance, courtesy to opposite couple, and half-chain across to original place. 12 walking steps. |
| 23-28 | Side couples repeat (d). | |
|
[At the beginning of the contre dances françoise section in Sønderbybogen is the following note (in French):]
All the contredanses 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. |
||
| |:1-8:| | 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. |
| |:1-8:| | 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. |
| |:1-8:| | 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] |
| |:1-8:| | 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. |
| |:1-8:| | 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. |
| |:1-8:| | 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. |
| |:1-8:| | 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. |
| |:1-8:| | 9 (a) | La grande chaîne: All dance R-hand chain around the set, 12 chassé steps. |
See YouTube video.
Provenance:
From a handwritten notebook of sheet music and dance descriptions having belonged to Baron Fredrik Åkerhjelm, and dated 1785.
The original dance description in the reads [translated from Swedish]: "Big circle. Head couples chassé to couple on
R, then to opposite place. Side couples do same. Then all M do figuré for their partners, dance a
pas de rigaudon, turn to W on L and turn and do same with partner. Head couples do pousette and half chain to
original place. Side couples do same. Finish." This is my interpretation; others are possible.
Printed sources:
-- Baron Fredrik Åkerhjelms dansbok 1785. Stockholm: Arkivet för Folklig Dans, 1986. nr. 31.
--
50 contradanser ur Baron Fredrik Åkerhjelms dansbok 1785. Stockholm: Arkivet för folklig dans, 1969.
Description: Laine Ruus, Oakville, 2017-10-18, rev. 2021-11-19.
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