Les Lanciers

The Lancers was danced on ice at an 1899 Nova Scotia carnival.

Les Lanciers performed by Dutch child dance school

Les LanciersorThe Lancersis asquare dance,a variant of theQuadrille,a set dance performed by four couples, particularly popular in the 18th and 19th centuries. It is a composite dance made up of five figures ortours,each performed four times so that each couple dances the lead part. It exists in many variants in several countries.

Widespread though it was throughout Europe, Les Lanciers became less fashionable by the beginning of the 20th century. It has survived as a popular dance inDenmarkto the present day,having been introduced fromEnglandin 1860. The Danish dance took its current form before the 1st World War. From thebourgeoisieofCopenhagenit spread through dancing schools in provincial towns and through the landed gentry.It is danced at court,at many university and school gaudies, and at private functions. Les Lanciers is also taught in most of the high schools in Denmark, where it is often performed at the school's gala/prom.

The fivetoursof the Danish dance are:

• La Dorset
• La Victoria
• Les Moulinets
• Les Visites
• Les Lanciers

The dances keep getting more advanced, no. 5 requiring very precise timing.

TheKitchen lancerswas a more boisterous version of the dance that was popular in the early 20th century.Lancers setsare still danced inIrish set dance.

See also

• Joseph Binns Hart,composer of music forLes Lanciers

External links

• The Danish music for each part can be foundhere.
• The origins of The Lancers Quadrilles are discussedhere.
• 1854 American sheetmusic forLes Lanciers
• various editions at imslp