In the 18th century, a ball or assembly would typically begin with a formal minuet. In 1773-1774 in Virginia, diarist Philip Fithian said their balls went in this order: “first minuets one round; second Giggs [sic]; third Reels; and last of all country-Dances.”
The first dance, the minuet, originated in the French court. It’s a very formal, showy dance where each couple takes a turn performing alone, from highest ranked to lowest. Like many dances of the time, this meant you could be stuck with the same partner for half an hour or more. The six-count minuet step forms the basis of the dance, and typically the partners dance parallel in figures and/or circle around one another until they join hands.
Some minuets:
The first three minutes of this one is my favorite!
Ready to learn?
(This is the beginning of the previous video, which I think has the best explanation of the minuet step!)
And you’ve got to love Lord Yarmouth! (He comes in at about 1:45)
Doing a bad job at a dance–especially the minuet where you’re basically performing a pas de deux for everyone else in the room–was a major faux pas (ha), especially in 18th century culture where appearances were everything. Or, as Lord Yarmouth puts it, make a mistake and…
via GIPHY
Dancing with the Sisters of the Revolution
Dancing was such a big part of 18th century culture and social life that we couldn’t leave it out of our books!
In A Gentleman’s Daughter, Cassandra thinks when she meets Lord David that he would have asked them to dance if they were at her former estate in Heartcomb (instead of him snubbing her & Helen on the docks!). We get to meet Winthrop Morley at a ball—and we grow to loathe him in another.
In A Lady to Lead, Euphemia Goodwin mentions receiving instruction from her dancing master, which was how one learned the intricate steps back in the day. Later, Helen and her family members attend the Governor’s ball—at least until David leaves on an urgent errand. In the Epilogue, Temperance harshly judges Nathaniel’s dancing, but as we learn in “Christmas with the Croftons” (in A Colonial Christmas), he never learned, growing up on ships.
In Freedom’s Ring, Temperance can’t dance with Owen because he doesn’t know how. It was an upper and middle class (or “better and middling sort” in 18th century parlance) activity, so growing up among the lower sort, Owen never learned either.
In Liberty’s Charge, Euphemia and Gilbert dance an allemande—and Gilbert’s good at it!
In Integrity’s Choice, Fischer saves Constance from a rude partner for the minuet. Although he claims he’s terrible at the minuet, she knows better. Their dance is perfect—until he asks her the worst possible question afterwards. They also attend a dance at the Harrison’s, although they do have to leave early. . . .
In Loyalty’s Price, Captain John André is planning an extravagant gala including dancing (the real-life Mischianza!). He’s definitely hoping Mercy will save him a dance, but she has no intention of going.