_______________________________________________Here’s my take on it, from the glossary of my forthcoming book _Square Dance Calling: An Old Art for a New Century_:
Quadrille (1) A formal square dance in five or six figures, introduced in the early 19th century; the original figures were selected from the cotillion (definition 1), although additional figures were written later. (2) In the Northeast, a term used until the mid-20th century for a set of (usually three) squares done with the same partner. (3) A term used by modern square dance callers for a square phrased and prompted in New England style. (4) In some areas, a fiddle tune in 6/8 meter.
Tony Parkes
Billerica, Massachusetts, USA
From: Rich Sbardella via Contra Callers <contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net>
Sent: Friday, February 21, 2020 12:41 PM
To: Amy Cann <acann@putneyschool.org>
Cc: Contra Callers <contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net>
Subject: [Callers] Re: Totally open question: what's a "quadrille" ?
Amy,
My interpretation is that a quadrille is a square prompted in the New England tradition.
In the modern western tradition few callers use this method, but I was taught by New England caller Dick Leggier who composed many promoted 'quadrille" figures to use in the MWSD environment. This is still my method of calling squares in the club scene.
I am not sure why I understand it that way. Word of mouth is a contributor, but also older publications like Sets in Order often referred to many of these simple 64 step dances as quadrilles.
Here's one Jerry Helt called by from Tony.
Rich
Rich
On Fri, Feb 21, 2020 at 12:26 PM Amy Cann via Contra Callers <contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
What do you think of as a quadrille, tune and/or dance?
I'm very curious to hear as many different answers as there are
ages/locations/opinions on here. :)
(Tell you why *after* we have a nice long thread. :)
Cheers,
Amy
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