Dancing Without an Instructor

by Professor Wilkinson

SARATOGA LANCERS.

	Measures
Head couples to the right	4
All forward and turn	4
Cross over	4
Places	4
Balance to corners	8
Head couples to the left	4
All forward and turn	4
Cross over	4
Places	4

This figure is repeated.

Head Couples to the Right.—The head couples lead to the right, the side couples advancing to meet them. Thus, first couple and third couple move toward each other, and simultaneously second and fourth couples execute same movement.

All Forward and Turn.—First couple and third couple again advance and turn opposite partners. Second couple and fourth couple the same.

Cross Over.—Forward again, the head couples passing through the side couples. On returning, the side couples pass through the head couples.

Places.—Return to places.

Balance to Corners.—Ladies balance to right, gentlemen to the left.

The head couples then lead to the left, the fourth couple advancing to meet them, and the second and third couples execute same movement. First and fourth couples and second and third couples continue to dance the remainder of the figure.

	Measures.
All forward and back	4
Ladies in the center	4
Gentlemen hands around	8
Form basket; all around to places	8
Forward and back	4
Gentlemen in the center	4
Ladies hands around	8
Form basket; all around to places	8

Danced twice.

The couples join hands, advance four steps and retire. Advance again, and leave ladies in center. Gentlemen join hands and chassez around ladies. Form basket, as before described, and all chassez in circle. Retire to places. All advance four steps and retire. Advance again, and leave gentlemen in center. Ladies join hands and chassez around gentlemen. Form basket. All chassez and retire to places.

	Measures.
All forward and back	4
Forward and address	4
Ladies’ grand chain	8
All forward and back	4
Forward and address	4
Gentlemen: grand chain	8

Danced twice.

The four couples advance four steps and retire. Advance again and address. Four ladies cross right hands, walk halfway round set, turn opposite gentlemen with left hands, cross right hands again and walk halfway round to place. Repeat movement, with gentlemen crossing left hands in center.

Sometimes, when the gentlemen join left hands in center, they give disengaged arm to ladies, and either promenade around the circle, or promenade halfway, drop hands, ladies turn in, join right hands in center, and return thus to places.

	Measures.
Head couples to the right and address	4
To the left and address, change couples	4
Turn partners to places	4
Right and left	8
To the left and address	4
To the right and address, change couples	4
Turn partners to places	4
Right and left	8

Repeated by side couples, beginning by leading to the left, then to the right.

The first and second couples lead to and address couple on the right; then lead to the left, address, and ladies change partners, the lady on the right becoming the partner of the gentleman on the left, and vice versa. Turn partners to place. Then give right hand to partner and execute right and left movement as before described. Head couples then lead to the left.

Note.—In changing partners, gentlemen extend right hand, ladies left.

	Measures.
Address partners	—
Right hand to partners	—
Grand right and left, half way	8
Reverse, grand right and left	8
First couple face out and promenade	8
All chassez across	8
Ladies to the right, gentlemen to the left, march	8
All forward and back	4
Forward and turn partners to places	4

Danced four times, alternately by first four and sides.

After giving right hand to partner and passing halfway round set, stop at opposite partner, walk halfway round that partner and return, giving right and left hands in passing.

First Couple Face Out and Promenade.—The first couple promenade around inside of set, facing outward. Third and fourth couple fall in line, second couple bringing up the rear. All chassez across and return. All march, ladies moving to the right, gentlemen to the left, describing a semicircle, and halt in two lines facing each other. Both lines move forward and back. Forward again and turn partners to places.

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