quadrilles

Quadrille is a historic ballroom dance for four couples arranged in a square. The term comes from the French quadrille, literally “a square of four.” The dance emerged in the late 18th century at or near the French court and spread across Europe and to the Americas, where it became a staple of social dancing in the 19th century. English and American dancers adapted the form into standardized sets with named figures and prescribed order.

In performance, eight dancers form a square: two couples on each side facing the center. The top or leading couple guides the sequence of figures, while other couples follow as a chorus. A typical quadrille consists of a sequence of short figures and promenades, sometimes arranged into five or more measures, performed to a quadrille tune or suite of tunes. The tempo is brisk and the movements emphasize alignment, courtesy, and coordination among all dancers.

The style diversified regionally, with versions known as the French quadrille, English quadrille, and American quadrille, each with its own repertoires of figures and emphasis. By the late 19th century, the quadrille began to decline in popularity as fashion shifted to couple dances, though it influenced later square-dance and folk-dance traditions. Today, quadrilles are often taught in historical dance circles and are sometimes revived for period performances and demonstrations.