The Cotillon and other French Dances.

Otago Witness, Issue 1934, 19 March 1891, Page 34

The Cotillon and other French Dances.

--This dance suggests a oapital way of distributing presents. This opportunity of present giving has become so fashionable that during last season several hundreds were spent at one ball. In France the cotillon was in vogue during the second empire ; then, as now, a few society men gained a reputation for leading the dance, some of them using a tambourine for |tbe|diffeient signals. The selection of the figures depends on the available space. Eecently a young lady in the " Team " sport drove six men round a large ballroom, and yet many of the prepared surprises had to be given up for want of proper space. The "Steeplechase" also requires a good deal of room, for the arrangement of white hurdles to be jumped over by a group of men dancers, the winner of the race having, as a prize, the pleasure of dancing with the maiden who stands by the flagstaff. The " Triangle " suits either medium-sized or large apartments. Three or more couples waltzing meet in the centre of the room, when they separate to fetch each another partner. Six ladies are then disposed in three spaced and tapering rows — triangle style — and between these lines six men wind in and out, commencing from the widest parts, and soon the leader stops in front of the single lady at the top ; there he shakes his tambourine, and the dancers, in couples, return to their seats, waltzing meanwhile. The cotillon mostly begins with a march round the room, headed by the leader and his partner. The "Mariner's Compass " replaces the " May Pole." To a high pole is attached the dial of a large compass, in painted cardboard, to which are tied 8 or 32 long variegated ribbons, on each of which is inscribed one of the points of the compass. This card is surrounded by cavaliers, wearing as a badge a miniature compass, held with a coloured rosette, and behind this ring a second one is formed by the ladies, who each catch hold of a ribbon, at the end of which is attached some pretty trifle as a gift. They then turn round, but in an opposite direction to the gentlemen, until suddenly the double circle is broken, when the players divide in couples, every one showing a different shade. Then follows a waltz. Only three persons are required for the figure of the " Fan." Three chairs are first placed in the middle of the room, Jtwo bejng turned one way and the third reversed ; on this 'one sits a lady with her back to her two male neighbours. To one of these she leaves charge of her fan, and starts off to waltz with the elect partner ; the rejected one consols himself by looking after the comforts of the happy pair, following them to fan them. The " Pack of Cards" is another variation of this idea. Eight cavaliers draw the kings and knaves out of a pack of cards ; the king's duty is to dance with the four ladies who have drawn the four queens ; meanwhile the knaves have to rush about in pursuit of their sovereigns to fan them all through the intricacies of a dance, A& a suitable conclusion to the

cotillon, the leader sometimes holds a banner of an Orpheus society, and heads a procession of ladies provided with mirlitons and men playing various musical instruments. This rather noisy cavalcade proceeds to bid farewell to the hostess, who is gracefully thanked for her reception by the leader himself. The cotillon can be managed to suit every age, taste, purse, and home. It is the " end of the century " dance.