From the Ballroom to Hell: Grace and Folly in Nineteenth-century DanceDuring the 1800s, dance and etiquette manuals provided ordinary men and women with the keys to becoming gentlemen and ladies--and thus advancing in society. Why dance? To the insecure and status-oriented upper middle class, the ballroom embodied the perfect setting in which to demonstrate one's fitness for membership in genteel society. From the Ballroom to Hell collects over 100 little-known excerpts from dance, etiquette, beauty, and fashion manuals from the nineteenth century. Included are instructions for performing various dances, as well as musical scores, costume patterns, and the proper way to hold one's posture, fork, gloves, and fan. While of particular interest to dancers, dance historians, and choreographers, anyone fascinated by the ways and mores of the period will find From the Ballroom to Hell an endearing and informative glimpse of America's past. |
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Contents
NineteenthCentury America | 3 |
Paris 1847 | 16 |
Philadelphia February 1860 | 27 |
Dancing the Most Enchanting | 38 |
39 | 93 |
51 | 102 |
Music and Musicians 125 Part 1 Singing and Other Diversions | 125 |
Part 2 Music at the Ball | 128 |
E The March | 151 |
Part 2 About Waltzing and Other Round Dances 152 A The Position | 152 |
B Comments on the Waltz | 154 |
A Canon for Mr Polka | 156 |
Directions for Performing the Waltz | 158 |
E Directions for Performing the Polka and Variations Schottische and Galop | 170 |
The German Cotillion The German | 181 |
The Importance of Etiquette | 183 |
Part 3 The Manner of Playing the Tunes | 131 |
55 | 133 |
Dances and Party Games 137 Part 1 The Minuet and Diverse Group Dances 137 A The Minuet | 137 |
B The Reel | 138 |
Country Dances | 139 |
The Early Cotillion Quadrille and Mazurka Quadrille | 140 |
Notes | 187 |
68888 | 189 |
193 | |
Annotated Bibliography | 199 |
219 | |
Other editions - View all
From the Ballroom to Hell: Grace and Folly in Nineteenth-century Dance Elizabeth Aldrich No preview available - 1991 |
Common terms and phrases
Allen Dodworth American amusement arms Art of Dancing ball Ball-Room Guide bars beauty Behaviour body Boston called Carlo Gardini Charles Durang Chassé commencing cotillion couples Dal segno dance manuals dancers Dancing London Dancing Master Dancing New York Danse Deportment Dodworth Donald Walker dress edition Edward Ferrero elegant English country dances etiquette manuals executed fashion feet figure forward French gentle German glide gloves grace hair Home included John Sherwood lace Lady's Book left foot left hand Lola Montez mazurka ments Minuet movement musicians never nineteenth century partner party performed person Philadelphia play Polka popular position promenade proper published quadrille quette Redowa reprinted right and left right foot right hand rouge round dances Saltator side skirts Social Etiquette Society steps Thomas Wilson tion toes Treatise on Dancing True Politeness turn vulgar waist walk waltz wear woman women young lady