The quadrille is a dance that was fashionable in late 18th- and 19th-century Europe and its colonies. The quadrille consists of a chain of four to six contredanses. Latterly the quadrille was frequently danced to a medley of opera melodies.
Lady Jersey introduces the quadrille to England
Dance engagements card for 11 January 1887, published by M W & Co Ltd (Marcus Ward & Co) 184 × 95mm (7¼ × 3¾in) (inside this dance engagements card is a list of all the dances for the evening – valse, polka, lancers and quadrille; opposite each dance is a space to record the name of the partner for that dance).
"Accidents in Quadrille Dancing", 1817 caricature
Contra dance is a form of folk dancing made up of long lines of couples. It has mixed origins from English country dance, Scottish country dance, and French dance styles in the 17th century. Sometimes described as New England folk dance or Appalachian folk dance, contra dances can be found around the world, but are most common in the United States, Canada, and other Anglophone countries.
Musicians play for a contra dance at the John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown, North Carolina.
Caller and musician Dudley Laufman, a significant figure in the contra dance revival of the mid-20th century
Contra dancers swing at a Friday night dance at Glen Echo Park in the suburbs of Washington, D.C.
