I noticed no one has responded yet to the question about whether a large number of contra dances could be run as Sicilian circles. I'd be curious to hear what others say, but my instinct is that it would maybe be problematic. The curvature of the format would seem to make heys and other figures more challenging to execute - the spacing between minor sets might also be impacted in that formation. So, for instance, when doing a sequence like "alle right N1 1/2x along the side then alle left next N 1x", the distance between N #1 and N#2 might easily be greater than in a regular contra. Anyway, this is just an initial gut reaction - let's see what the hive mind thinks.

    It appears that in that book the dance formation is given as a longways, duple, improper set. Not the circle of couple facing couple that we typically connect to the Sicilian circle formation. The dance just before it is the Spanish Dance and gives as the formation, "The first couple at the head of the room, with their backs to the wall; the next couple facing the first; the third couple with their backs to the second; the fourth couple facing the third; and all the rest are formed in the same manner, every two couples facing each other, without regard to numbers."

    Then it says, "As each couple arrives at the end of the room, they must turn round and wait for the next couple to meet them, the gentlemen being careful to have their ladies always on the right hand.

    This seems to be describing a longways dance instead of a circle. Under Sicilian Circle it says, "This dance is formed precisely the same as the Spanish Dance," so that would seem to be a longways dance as well.

    I think I have read that Spanish Dance was also used in the 19th century as the generic name for the circle of couples facing each other. So were these dances described somewhere with the circle formation, or was that just something that someone did at one point and it stuck?

Jonathan

On 2/4/2023 4:52 PM, David Harding via Contra Callers wrote:
> There is a specific old dance bearing the name "Sicilian Circle". You can find it in, for instance, this 1857 instruction book from the Library of Congress. https://www.loc.gov/item/musdi.094/ The name has come to imply the formation and general pattern.
>
> On 2/4/2023 3:49 PM, Joe Harrington via Contra Callers wrote:
>> Newbie question: Why is it called a "Sicilian" circle?
>>
>> While certain dances came from long ago with that label, wouldn't many/most contras work, as long as the circle isn't too small and the 1s and 2s are comparably active?
>>
>> --jh--
>>
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