Taking the Steps from Our Favorite Novels
Throughout the 19th century in New England (and across the world) dance was a frequent part of social gatherings. Reflecting its place in real life, dance also appears frequently in novels written during the period. Stepping into a historical event in the 21st century gives us a chance to step into our favorite novels and explore the text in new ways. And despite the fact that Elizabeth Bennet “cannot talk of books in a ball-room,” members of F&F often find ourselves drawing connections to literary moments while on the dance floor. Here are our top 5 favorite dance scenes from famous novels - which ones have you read, and which ones would you like to bring to life?
5. Mr. Fezziwig’s Christmas Party (A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens)
As the ghost brings an old Ebenezer Scrooge back in time, they watch the merriment organized by his former boss Mr. Fezziwig for his staff on Christmas Eve. There is food and drink, lively music, and lots of dancing - a true demonstration of “making merry” for the holiday. And the highlight of the evening is the closing dance, “when the fiddler (an artful dog, mind! The sort of man who knew his business better than you or I could have told it him!) struck up ‘Sir Roger de Coverley.’ Then old Fezziwig stood out to dance with Mrs. Fezziwig. Top couple, too; with a good stiff piece of work cut out for them; three or four and twenty pair of partners.”
Finishing dances were typically lively but repetitive; at the end of an evening when everyone is a bit distracted, they can still join in for the finale. After an evening of feasting, the Fezziwigs’ stamina to skip through 24 couples is especially impressive! The warmth and gaiety fostered by the Fezziwigs’ generosity is a stark contrast to how Scrooge has chosen to treat his own staff, and is the same inviting atmosphere Footwork & Frolick hopes to create at our own events. (And did you know we’re throwing our own holiday ball this year?)
4. The Beauforts’ Post-Opera Ball (The Age of Innocence, Edith Wharton)
Mrs. Julius Beaufort is fairly explicitly based on “the” Mrs. Caroline Astor, and the description of her decadent 5th Avenue mansion in New York with its ballroom that sits empty 364 days a year and is accessed through a wide avenue of salons is likely an accurate description of the Astor home. That 365th day when the room is used is the opening of the Academy’s opera season, also the night of the Beauforts’ annual ball. On this occasion, Newland Archer and May Welland announce their betrothal and immediately seek a moment of privacy by waltzing together, and “they floated away on the soft waves of the Blue Danube.”
The waltz is a perfect choice for sharing secrets, gossip, or other private thoughts: slow enough you’re not out of breath, and but swirling along through a crowded ballroom it’s impossible to eavesdrop on a dancing couple. Perhaps because of how well the waltz facilitates intimate conversation, it’s a popular choice of dance to feature in novels. Trying to picture it? you can see members of F&F demonstrating mid-19th century waltz last December on our TikTok.
3. The Gardiners’ New Years Party (Little Women, Louisa May Alcott)
While Alcott also features waltz in several of her novels, the first party in Little Women focuses on livelier dances that reflect the jolly country spirit of Concord. On New Years Eve while attending a party thrown by their neighbors, Jo March is unfit to dance with only one fitting glove and a burned dress. Hiding away from the dancing she meets the new boy next door - who is also hiding. “The hall was empty, and they had a grand polka, for Laurie danced well, and taught her the German step, which delighted Jo, being full of swing and spring.”
Our hypothesis is that the “German step” Laurie teaches Jo is the schottische. The schottische can stand alone or be mixed with the polka and includes many silly variations that likely would have appealed to Alcott. Just being introduced in the states in the mid-19th century, it makes sense that this step would be a novelty for Jo; Laurie having learned it abroad. If you’re curious to give schottische a try, consider joining us for classes this fall!
2. Netherfield Ball (Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen)
Pride and Prejudice is so commonly cited by guests attending a ball for the first time it feels like a requirement for this list. We chose the Netherfield ball in particular because of Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy’s conversation about conversing during dances - a social more that would have been familiar to contemporary readers, but is so informative for us! “They stood for some time without speaking a word; and she began to imagine that their silence was to last through the two dances, and, at first, was resolved not to break it; till suddenly fancying that it would be the greater punishment to her partner to oblige him to talk, she made some slight observation on the dance. He replied, and was again silent. After a pause of some minutes, she addressed him a second time, with—’It is your turn to say something now, Mr. Darcy. I talked about the dance, and you ought to make some kind of remark on the size of the room, or the number of couples.’ …’Do you talk by rule, then, while you are dancing?’ ‘Sometimes. One must speak a little, you know. It would look odd to be entirely silent for half an hour together; and yet, for the advantage of some, conversation ought to be so arranged as that they may have the trouble of saying as little as possible.’ “
As many folks discovered at our May Day Ball, standing in a contra dance set, waiting for the active couple to arrive and dance with you, is a perfect opportunity to chat with your partner. While we try to keep our sets to a shorter length for modern historical balls, it would not have been uncommon for a longwise set dance to last twenty minutes. Plenty of time to carry on all manner of discussion!
1. The Lobster Quadrille (Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Lewis Carroll)
After being introduced to the Gryphon and the Mock Turtle by the Queen of Hearts (who leaves to go see to some executions she has ordered), Alice finds herself hearing all about the Mock Turtle’s life at the bottom of the sea as they compare childhoods. “‘You may not have lived much under the sea—’ (‘I haven’t,’ said Alice)—’and perhaps you were never even introduced to a lobster—’ (Alice began to say ‘I once tasted—’ but checked herself hastily, and said ‘No, never’) ‘—so you can have no idea what a delightful thing a Lobster Quadrille is!’” And so the Mock Turtle and the Gryphon describe the dance.
While the instructions require some elements impossible to reconstruct for a ballroom (somersaults in the sea are probably not covered by our insurance), the heart of the dance sounds very much like elements of Quadrille Francais, which Carroll would certainly have done. So while we cannot promise you will have a lobster as a partner, we are very much looking forward to dancing a quadrille at our Wonderland Ball in September!