From the mid-1800's; definitely like a square dance, or perhaps what we call "Contradancing" today. Not exactly a reel dance, which goes in long lines of people facing one another. You have 8 couples in a square doing what is "called" next by a prompter or caller. Geri Wagner Technicrafts 315.337.6463 > At 7:50 PM -0400 4/29/02, HistorianCindyA wrote: >> What kind of dance was the quadrille? Or is it slang and not really a >> dance? (See below) >> >> The Daily News >> Batavia, Genesee Co., NY >> Thursday Evening, April 7 1881. >> >> MERE MENTION. >> --The Cuba News is now engaged in writing up the "nice young men" of that >> place. Their remarks in regard to the boys are unusually sharp. >> --Can you dance the quadrille? My brother Bill can dawnse[sic] the >> quadrille, and goes to the bar and gets his fill, like any other pill--so >> be still. > > A real dance. > I dont know how to decribe it though. > How about a formal square dance with no calling. > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------ > Jazz is freedom. - T. Monk > http://www.panix.com/~cassidy