16. COTILLION FIGURES

1. Favor Figure

For an opening figure this is most successful when danced to the one step, since this dance is known to all. The leader and his partner each take a favor and dance around the room together. Then separating they seek each new partners to whom they give the favor and dance once around again. Then the new partners seek other partners with the same favor and so this continues quickly until all have enjoyed a whirl around withii the circle.

2. The Cheat

1 couple dancing.

Accessory.

The lady of couple leading selects four other ladies who form a line, standing side by side. Her partner selects five other men and joining hands, first pass in front of the ladies and then around back of them, forming a second line but facing away from the ladies so that the two lines are standing back to back. At a signal from the leader they turn quickly to face each other and dance with the opposite. As there is an extra man someone will be disappointed in securing a partner.

3. The Parasol

1 couple dancing. Accessory: the couple selected dance around the room and the lady is seated in the center and given a parasol, preferably one of the gay chinese paper ones. This she opens and twirls around gracefully over her head as she awaits her partner who brings two gentlemen to her. If she refuses the two selected, her partner seeks another pair and when one meets with her approval, she rises to dance with him and gives the parasol to the other man who follows the dancing couple, endeavoring to hold the parasol over their heads. At a signal all return to seats and a new couple is selected.

4. The Fan

This figure is danced the same as The Parasol except that the discarded man fans the couple as he dances after them.

5. The Mirror

1 couple dancing.

Accessories

The lady seated in the center of the room by her partner is given a hand mirror and a large silk handkerchief. Her partner brings up several men who, one by one, stand so their faces are reflected in the mirror. She passes the handkerchief over the mirror and the rejected man takes his place back of her chair until she finds one who pleases, when rising, she lays the mirror on the chair for the next lady and dances with her selection. The rejected men find partners and all dance until signaled.

6. The Baby Doll

i couple leading, 3 dancing.

Accessories

The gentleman is given a large doll and leading his partner to the center of the circle, presents the doll to her. He selects three men who stand facing her. The lady and men advance, retreat, and advance, whereupon the lady gives the doll to one man and chooses another for the dance. The third man and her partners seek other ladies and all dance. The one receiving the baby-doll must also dance with the doll in his arms.

7. The Candle or Will o' the Wisp

1 couple dancing.

Accessory

The leader designates a couple and the gentleman leads the lady to the center of the room and gives her a lighted candle in a candlestick which he receives from the leader. He then brings up three or more men who attempt to blow out the light. The lady holds the candle out of reach of all except the one she wishes to dance with. Her partner and the discarded dancers return to their seats.

8. Rounds of Threes

1 couple leading, 3 dancing.

The designated couple dance around the room and the man selects two ladies and the lady two men, and form two circles of three each. At a signal the man passes under the raised arms of his two ladies and advances to his partner who goes to meet him, leaving the other two men and ladies to dance together.

9. The Four in Hand

1 couple leading, 5 dancing.

Accessories

The leader selects one couple, giving a harness to each. These harnesses are made of ribbon with extra bands separating into four sections so that four dancers may be driven abreast. Much amusement is caused by the tinkling of the tiny bells sewed across the front of the harness. The lady selects four ladies and her partner four men whom they drive about the room with much cracking of whips. When the teams reach the opposite ends of the room they break away and rushtoward each other and all dance.

10. The Serpentine

1 couple leading, others dancing.

The lady selects four or more ladies while her partner selects one man more than the number of ladies to be chosen. The ladies stand in line, facing the head of the room and about three feet apart. The men join hands with the leading man at the head who guides them in a serpentine line in and out between the ladies. At a signal each man strives to obtain a partner but the extra man failing to do so returns to his place.

11. The Flying Scarfs

2 couples leading, 4 dancing.

Accessories

Two couples select partners and gather in the center of the room, where the leader gives them two colored scarfs tied together in the center. Each of the four gentlemen take an end of the scarfs in his left hand holding it high above his head. The couples then waltz being careful to preserve an equal distance between them. At a signal all stop and the leader taking the scarfs they all dance to places.

Showing the position of the ladies holding scarfs and the men in a line holding hands, striving to pass be- neath the scarfs without being trapped.

12. The Mouse Trap

2 couples leading, 4 dancing.

Accessories

Four colored scarfs about three yards long are provided and two couples selected who in turn choose new partners. Each lady takes the end of a scarf in each hand and stands opposite each other so as to form the corners of a square, crossing the scarfs in the center. There is a space between the four scarfs in the center which forms the trap. The gentlemen join hands to form a line and endeavor to pass under the scarfs without being caught, while the ladies try to trap the them between the scarfs.

When one gentleman is caught the figure ends and all dance. See diagram No. 4.

13. The Windmill

2 couples leading, 4 dancing.

Two couples seek other partners and form a windmill in the center of the room. The men give right hands to new partners and cross hands with each other in the center. After all pass around once to the right, each lady advances to the gentleman in front who offers her his right hand and all promenade around again. This continues until the lady reaches the point of starting when she dances with the new partner to her seat.

14. The Butterflies

3 couples leading, others dancing.

Accessories

Three couples selected seek new partners. Each of the ladies receives a large butterfly of paper or gauze mounted on a long piece of wire, about three feet in length. The gentlemen receive short hand nets such as are used to catch insects and endeavor to catch one of the butterflies for a partner. When successful they dance together until signaled for the end of the figure. If all the men have not caught butterflies when the signal is given they dance with the butter- flies remaining uncaught.

15. The Arbor

3 couples leading, 6 dancing.

The three couples selected, separate and seek new partners and join hands to form two circles of three couples each. The inner circle faces outward and both circles revolve in opposite directions and stop when signaled with a lady and gentleman opposite.

Showing position of gentlemen holding hands and ladies dancing in a circle around them under their raised arms. The gentlemen in the circle face out-ward while the others face inward.

The men now join hands, holding them high while the ladies joining hands hold them lower and pass under the arms of the men. The ladies circle through the space between the rows of men. At a signal the men lower their arms and then dance with the ladies just secured. See diagram No. 5.

16. The Pyramids

Showing position of the ladies forming the pyramid with dotted lines indicating the line of gentlemen dancing around them until stopping in front of the ladies with whom they dance.

3 couples leading, 6 dancing.

Three couples select new partners. The six ladies take places to form a pyramid with one lady for the point, two ladies stand three feet back of her and three ladies stand the same number of feet back of the two ladies. The men join hands forming a line which first circles around the ladies and then commence to file past them, beginning with the last three ladies, and continuing until the leader of the line is in front of the single lady when all dance with those opposite. See diagram No. 6.

17. The Zigzags

3 couples leading, 6 dancing.

The three selected couples seek other partners and the first couple waltz to the head of the room, the other couples following but stopping three feet apart. The head couple waltz in a zigzag course in and out between the other couples and stop three feet below the last couple. As soon as the leaders have danced past two couples, the second couple commences to waltz in and out and as they pass the second couple the third couple in the line commences to follow after. This is continued until the leaders are the head of the line when all waltz to their seats. The size of the dancing space controls somewhat the number of couples selected.

18. The Star and the Circle

4 couples leading, others dancing.

Four couples waltz around. Then each couple selects a new partner and form two lines of four couples which face each other. The four ladies of the two couples in the middle of each line cross hands, thus forming a windmill and swing around completing a circle to the right and then, changing hands, swing around to the left. The eight men now join hands forming a circle around the four ladies who continue to hold crossed hands. The other four ladies now advance and each gives her left hand to the right one of the ladies forming the windmill or star. This forms a star with a circle of gentlemen who swing around to the right beneath an arch of the uplifted hands of the ladies.

At the signal they stop and dance with the lady opposite. See diagram No. 7.

Showing position of ladies forming a four-cornered star with a circle of men dancing around them.

19. The Trap

4 couples dancing.

The leader selects four men and four ladies. They form two lines back to back. At the signal they turn to find partners in those back of them but the leader seizes this opportunity to obtain a partner, so one of the men is apt to be without a lady and returns to his seat. The leader after the first set may select another man to carry out the same figure for him.

20. The Ninepins

6 couples leading, 3 extra men.

Accessories

The leader selects six couples and four extra men. The ladies form in a line opposite to the line formed by the men, with about ten feet space between. The ladies are provided with large rubber balls which they bowl at the gentlemen ninepins, directing the ball toward the dancer they prefer. As there are more men than ladies they seek to catch the ball and dance with the thrower. The men without partners invite more couples and also three extra ladies who form in lines as before but this time the men roll the balls. Since there is an even number this time the figure ends and the leader commences a new one if desired. However if one wishes to continue the figure the three remaining men select six extra ladies besides the couples chosen instead of only three, and after the figure is finished there remain three extra ladies without partners, so they select new couples and extra men for a new set.

21. The Pursuit

6 couples and 4 extra men dancing.

Six couples are selected and four extra men and music with a quick and lively air should be played. It is the privilege of any partnerless man to tap on the arm any man dancing, who at once releases his partner to the newcomer and seeks another in the same manner. This is similar to the Memphis Tapping described on page 140 and continues until stopped by the leader's signal or until each man has secured his original partner.

22. The Grab Bag

6 couples leading, others dancing.

Accessory:

A fancy bag is provided with cards bearing the names of the ladies dancing. The leader calls six or more couples to the center of the room, where they separate, the ladies to find new partners and the men to draw cards from the bag, when they seek the owner of the name as a partner. If any lady's name is drawn and she is already dancing the gentleman returns to his seat. This figure continues until all the men have drawn names from the bag.

23. The Scissors

6 couples dancing.

Six couples are selected and after dancingonce around the room, the ladies form in a line with three facing one way and three the other and join hands. The men form a similar line and cross hands in the center so that three gentlemen face three ladies on either side of the center and there are also two lines of ladies and gentlemen facing each other. All forward and back and forward and dance with the one opposite. Care should be taken to keep the lines straight that the effect of opening and closing a pair of scissors may be marked.

24. The Forfeits

Danced by numerous couples.

The leader passes around a tray or basket, receiving from each lady some small article such as a ring, a brooch, a dainty handkerchief or fan. The receptacle is then held by the leader's partner in the center of the room while the gentlemen seek for a forfeit and hunt for the lady who contributed it, dancing with her when the signal is given to stop. All may be called to dance this.

25. The Basket

All dance.

Any number of couples or all the dancers may take part in this figure. All waltz until signaled, when the ladies form a circle in the center of the room, joining hands and facing inward and circling to the left. The men form a similar circle around them but moving to the right. At the signal they pause and the men still holding hands pass under the raised arms of the ladies. When the men have passed through, the ladies lower their arms, making a basket. AH circle to the right and then again to the left and at the signal each man dances with the lady on his right.

26. The Cat and the Mouse

All dancing.

AH dance until the leader signals and all the ladies except one form in two semicircles at either end of the room, closing in to about five feet back of the circle of men. The men are asked to form a circle around the lady with the exception of one who is asked to wait outside. It is his pleasant duty to catch the pretty mouse inside by passing under the arms of the men who do everything they can to prevent his success but allow the lady to escape at will. The lady, however, cannot go beyond the semi- circles. If he is successful the lady becomes his partner and all join in a general dance. If unsuccessful the leader signals and he takes his place with the semi-circle of ladies and another pursuing cat is appointed.

27. The Promenade

All dancing.

One couple makes a promenade, the leader and his partner may act as the leading couple, and half way around the circle they select another couple who follow them. After another half round they choose a third couple and suddenly turning around go in the opposite direction to seek a fourth couple. They continue this selection of couples until all are promenading. A clever leader may add much to the figure by sudden turns, or march directly across the room so that all are on the alert for the next choice. A huge circle is formed and the grand chain is commenced. Half way round the signal is given and all dance with those opposite.

28. The Finale

All dancing.

AH form a circle of couples with the leader and his partner in the center. They waltz around once to the right while the circle dances around to the left. At a signal all pause and the lady leaves the ring while the leader selects a new partner, this time waltzing to the left and the circle moving to the right. Once around the leader signals, all pause and he leaves the ring. The lady selects another partner, thus continuing until only three or four couples are left who then join in the dancing. This is an excellent figure to use at the end of the evening. If the circle is very large and the selection prolonged, the leader may ask another couple to join them so that when he and the other man leave there are two ladies remaining to seek new partners.

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