14. THE VIRGINIA REEL

Down through the centuries has come this jolly and inspiring dance in which all are expected to join, young and old, as the finale of the evening. While much more popular out of town than among the smart set it still retains its prestige in England where it has always been known as Sir Roger de Coverley, and when danced by officers in regimentals their swords are extended to form an arch over the lovely heads.

This dance especially appeals to many of the older guests and in the early part of the last century it was the honor and pride of the galants of those days to execute fancy and novel steps in the figures which precede the reel. However, today in spite of its rollicking tunes the figures are more sedately carried out although with plenty of vim and good cheer.

Where one wishes to have a quaint dance without the elaboration of the minuet which requires grace and skill the Virginia Reel will prove a charming means of showing off the colonial or middle of the last century costumes and its cheery music serves to enliven the audience.

The gentlemen select partners and escort the ladies to the right side of the room, usually at the left hand of the musicians facing the ladies. Thus when the couples turn to face the head of the room, where the music is usually placed, the ladies are at the right of the gentlemen. When guests of honor are present and placed at the oppsite end of the room from the music, it becomes by their presence the head of the room during the dance.

Six couples may dance the reel but eight is a prettier number and while the number of couples participating may be unlimited, if more than twelve, it is wiser to divide them into two sections, both dancing at the same time. With too many couples in a set the dancers between the ends remain too long inactive and the dance becomes wearisome and looses its charming gaiety.

Sometimes when the number of couples is eight or ten and hardly large enough to divide into two sections, the form of the contra dance before the reel is changed and instead of only the couples at the end dancing, all dance the figure at the same time with their partners. This is often used with success at children's parties where the youngsters may become restless if not constantly taking part.

The couple at the head of the room lead the dancing until the various movements of the reel place them at the opposite end and the second couple becomes the leaders.

The gentleman of the leading couple always opens each figure with the lady of the couple at the opposite end of the line, and the leading lady repeats the figure with the gentleman from the opposite end of the line. This continues through the 6 figures to the second part called The Reel.

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Fig. 1. Leader advances until he meets the lady from the opposite end of the line, both bow and walk backward to their places. His partner and hers repeat this figure.

Fig. 2. Forward and turn with right hands and return to places, other pair repeating.

Fig. 3. Forward and turn with left hands and return to places, other pair repeating.

Fig. 4. Forward and turn with both hands, returning to places, other pair repeating.

Fig. 5. This time the leader and opposite lady advance sufficiently beyond the turning point so that they pass each other back to back, approaching from the right side, returning to places and other pair repeating.

Fig. 6. Again the leader and lady advance as before but approach from the left side, passing back of each other and return to places, other pair repeating. Music for this part is in 1-2 count to a measure and usually 4 measures are sufficient for the four first figures and 8 measures for the last two. However if many couples are standing in the lines more measures will be required or the dancers must move very quickly which may cause this charming dance to become a romping affair.

2. The Reel

The leading couple advances to the center and the gentleman bends his right arm to form an angle through which the lady places her arm bent at a similar angle and thus "link arms." They make a turn and a half around which brings the gentleman facing the line of ladies and his partner facing the gentlemen. Then they separate and linking arms with dancer in front of them, turn around and meet in the center.

Again linking arms and turning half around, they link arms with the next dancer in line and so continue until all the dancers on the side lines have been turned. This results in the leading couple being at the foot, so holding both hands they slide or "chasse" to their place at the head. In turning partners use the right arms, and the left for the succeeding couples. If preferred the arms need not be linked but only the hand given when turning, but the form of "linking the arms" belongs more truly to the quaint old dance.

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The leaders are now again at the head of the line and all turn to face forward. The leaders turning, lead down the outside of their respective lines followed by the other dancers and all clapping hands as they march. When the place is reached where the end couple stood, the leaders join hands and form an arch through which the other couples pass, separating and falling into line one after the other until the former end couple are now at the head of the room and so become leaders. The dance recommences between the end couples and is repeated through the reel until all the couples have once been leaders.

A very pretty English form varies a little in that after the leaders meet at the end of the set they all chasse to original places. Then all the other couples separating with raised hands form an archway through which the leaders pass to the end when all separating return to the sides and the dance recommences.

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