15. THE COTILLION

The cotillion danced by all the guests with its variety of music and its brilliant whirl of color is returning to us with the revival of so many charming things of other days. This form of dancing was once so popular that the earlier dances of the evening were only a preliminary pleasure.

More planning is required than for the usual dance but the true hostess enjoys an opportunity to offer something intensely interesting and enjoyable to her guests which may also bring the added charm of a surprise.

The invitations are issued with the idea that an equal number of gentlemen and ladies will be present since the cotillion is danced by couples, so the wise hostess invites a few extra men who dance "Stag" if there are sufificient to complete the number of couples. She also invites a young man of personality and tact to act as leader; and the young lady among those invited, whom he asks to lead with him, is also considered honored by the request.

The leader consults with his hostess some time before the date of the cotillion regarding the figures to be selected so that favors and accessories required may be provided, it makes itvery enjoyable evening when the plan is for many favor figures with some simple ones with accessories danced by one or two couples, and a goodly number where six or more couples take part.

The favors may be very inexpensive, and ribbon and crepe paper novelties will form many of the most attractive ones. Two sets should always be provided for each favor figure, one for the gentlemen and one for the ladies. These are usually passed in baskets or trays by the leader to the ladies and by his partner to the gentlemen. Favors which may be worn, such as pretty paper hats like flowers, paper butterflies, wands with streamers, floating ribbons and scarfs present the prettiest effects. It is however a charming thought to have at least one favor to treasure as a souvenir such as small trays for ashes or pins, a little box or dainty bag, or a small bronze paper weight. Breakable articles should not be selected as the broken particles ruin the dancing slippers and the floor, not only for dancing but for future use.

The same may be said of accessories as of favors, that colored scarfs and waving ribbons, gay parasols and handkerchiefs add to the interest and effectiveness of the figures.

A list of the accessories should be made and checked to see that all is in readiness in a place provided for them and the favors, which is easily accessible to the leader when the dance commences.

The gentlemen may ask the ladies to dance the cotillion, or partners may be selected by drawing numbers, or matching colored bows of ribbon. The numbers are duplicated and a single series placed in each basket which are passed to the ladies and to the gentlemen. Those drawing duplicate numbers dance together and as the chairs are often numbered in pairs, the same number shows the seats of the partners. When using bows of colored ribbon, there are twin bows of every color and shade, and tint but no more than two alike and guests matching bows dance together.

The guests are seated around the sides of the room, forming a circle or oval, with the lady at the right of her partner and the figures are danced in the center under the direction of the leader. The dancers may aid the leader very much by small courtesies, such as listening attentively when he gives directions, watching carefully the first set danced of any figure and returning quickly to their seats when he signals. It creates much confusion and is the height of rudeness to dance when not requested even if the figure seems prolonged and one wearies of inactivity.

The music plays an important part in the cotillion and the director may greatly aid the leader by his quick observation of changes in time, in the variation of musk; required, and attention to the signals. It will facilitate things if certain short bars of music are played each time when the dancers are to return to places. These bars open the cotillion and the leader and his partner dance about the room before explaining the figure. This opening figure should be very simple until all have entered into the spirit of the affair and usually a favor figure is selected for the opening.

The leader signals to the music to cease while he explains the figure and then signals for it to continue. He then designates a number of couples, six or more for a favor figure who select new partners by presenting the favor to them. These favors may be given out by an older person if children are dancing or by a patroness if a subscription affair, or by the leader and his partner.

When the leader signals all the dancers return to their places, the gentlemen escorting the ladies to their seats and returning to their partner. The leader continues to select other couples from the circle until all have participated in the figure, when he signals for silence and explains the figure. The couples who open the new figures are selected from first one end of the circle and then the other and if many couples are present, sometimes those in the center are asked to commence the set.

With a small circle one selects more figures in which two or three play a part than when a large number of guests are present, and it is a clever idea at the end of these single figures to have all dance with partners for a few rounds. If one wishes to use figures of one or two couples, such as the Parasol or the Mirror, when many are present the leader may ask his partner to commence another set from the other end of the circle.

The success of a cotillion depends much on the planning of figures with regard to space for dancing and the number of expected guests.

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