> >What kind of dance was the quadrille? Or is it slang and not
really a
> >dance? (See below)

The site below gives quite authentic sounding
information --"The Most Generally Known Figures of Quadrilles",
by M. Gourdoux  (Taken from The Code of Terpsichore, by Carlo
Blasis 1828)

http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Acropolis/7517/extras/quadrill.
html

and "Heritage Dances" has some history and photos of modern
people dancing in the old way.
http://www.heritagedance.com/quadril.html

Ruth Piwonka