Les Lanciers de Quebec - Quebec Lancers
This video illustrates the first two figures of a Quebecois version of the Lancers Quadrille, danced at the Ralph Page Dance Legacy Weekend in January, 2009. The tune and the name for the first figure is La Rencontre des Dames; the tune for the second figure is L’oiseau dans la cage. The music is played by Raz-de-Marée / Tidal Wave: Sabin Jaques, accordion; Eric Favreau, fiddle; Stuart Kenney, bass; and Rachel Aucoin, piano. David Millstone is the caller.
This Retrospective session focused on "French Canadian Influences on New England Music and Dance Traditions." In general, workshop leaders pointed out that Quebec traditions had more influence on New England music than on dancing, with the notable exception of the swing.
This particular dance was selected to illustrate the numerous and prolonged swings in traditional Quebecois dance; such lengthy swings become a distinguishing feature of New England dances, both squares and contras.
The directions for this double quadrille come courtesy of M. Guy Thomas, Montreal, Quebec, and were published in Ralph Page's Northern Junket, Vol. 8 #11 (May, 1967), part of an article by Howard M. Smith entitled "“The Lancers in St. Lawrence County.” Thomas's instructions read, in part:
"Formation: Eight couples with two couples on each side of the square. Couples hold right hands about the height of the stomach when couples are inactive. Balance steps are begun by the right foot. Free hands are always loose and never on hips. The dance is performed with a two-step, except for special parts which are noted. When one meets his partner, he swings the corner first and then his partner, unless one meets a new partner, then he swings the new partner first and then the corner."
As part of his introduction to this dance, caller David Millstone read a passage from Ralph Page from a different issue of Northern Junket, Vol. 3 #10:
“French-Canadian fiddle tunes are used more and more for our New England dances, both square and contra. Some of our finest folk musicians are of French-Canadian derivation and they are without peer in this field.
“Without a doubt they have had the strongest influence on our long New England swings. To them should go the credit—or blame—for our frequent 8 to 16 count swings. You can’t eat them when it comes to swinging. Beat them? You can’t approach them! Two or three times around is considered a long swing in some sections of the United States and they have a right to their opinions on the subject, but if we can’t swing longer than that we refuse to be bothered with it at all. I have danced at French-Canadian weddings and frequently the swings indulged in in their squares were of 16 measures of music. That’s 32 counts outside of New England. I have been told, and I can well believe it, that sometimes they swing longer!”
Subjects: Lancers, Northern / Québécois
Tags: David Millstone, double quadrille, La Rencontre des Dames, Lancers Quadrille, Les Lanciers, Les Lanciers des Quebec, M. Guy Thomas, Quebec, Ralph Page, Raz-de-Marée, swing, Tidal Wave
Item Relations
| This Item | is related to | Item: Newfoundland Square Dance - Fogo Island |
| This Item | is related to | Item: Rod's Quad #2 - double quadrille |
| This Item | is related to | Item: Danish Lancers, first figure |
| This Item | is related to | Item: The Lancers - Ralph Page's historical notes |
| This Item | is related to | Item: Quadrille Club, Les Lanciers or Duval's 2nd Set, Quadrilles No. 1, 2 &3 |
| This Item | is related to | Item: Lancers Quadrille (instruction) |
| Item: Royal Lancers Quadrille | is related to | This Item |
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Description
This video illustrates the first two figures of a Quebecois version of the Lancers Quadrille, danced at the Ralph Page Dance Legacy Weekend in January, 2009. The tune and the name for the first figure is La Rencontre des Dames; the tune for the second figure is L’oiseau dans la cage. The music is played by Raz-de-Marée / Tidal Wave: Sabin Jaques, accordion; Eric Favreau, fiddle; Stuart Kenney, bass; and Rachel Aucoin, piano. David Millstone is the caller.
This Retrospective session focused on "French Canadian Influences on New England Music and Dance Traditions." In general, workshop leaders pointed out that Quebec traditions had more influence on New England music than on dancing, with the notable exception of the swing.
This particular dance was selected to illustrate the numerous and prolonged swings in traditional Quebecois dance; such lengthy swings become a distinguishing feature of New England dances, both squares and contras.
The directions for this double quadrille come courtesy of M. Guy Thomas, Montreal, Quebec, and were published in Ralph Page's Northern Junket, Vol. 8 #11 (May, 1967), part of an article by Howard M. Smith entitled "“The Lancers in St. Lawrence County.” Thomas's instructions read, in part:
"Formation: Eight couples with two couples on each side of the square. Couples hold right hands about the height of the stomach when couples are inactive. Balance steps are begun by the right foot. Free hands are always loose and never on hips. The dance is performed with a two-step, except for special parts which are noted. When one meets his partner, he swings the corner first and then his partner, unless one meets a new partner, then he swings the new partner first and then the corner."
As part of his introduction to this dance, caller David Millstone read a passage from Ralph Page from a different issue of Northern Junket, Vol. 3 #10:
“French-Canadian fiddle tunes are used more and more for our New England dances, both square and contra. Some of our finest folk musicians are of French-Canadian derivation and they are without peer in this field.
“Without a doubt they have had the strongest influence on our long New England swings. To them should go the credit—or blame—for our frequent 8 to 16 count swings. You can’t eat them when it comes to swinging. Beat them? You can’t approach them! Two or three times around is considered a long swing in some sections of the United States and they have a right to their opinions on the subject, but if we can’t swing longer than that we refuse to be bothered with it at all. I have danced at French-Canadian weddings and frequently the swings indulged in in their squares were of 16 measures of music. That’s 32 counts outside of New England. I have been told, and I can well believe it, that sometimes they swing longer!”