grandball

THE GRAND BALL

"Pay strict attention to the dance, but not so marked
as to appear as if that attention were necessary to prevent a mistake."

ETTIQUETTE FOR THE BALLROOM

A lady or gentleman should finish
their toilet before entering the
room for dancing, as it is
indecorous in either to be drawing
on their gloves, or brushing their
hair. Finish your toilet in the
dressing rooms.

Always recognize the lady or
gentleman, or the director of
ceremonies with becoming
politeness: a salute or bow is
sufficient.

A lady should always have an
easy, becoming and graceful
movement while engaged in a
quadrille or promenade. It is more
pleasing to the gentleman.

A lady should never engage herself
for more than the following set,
unless by the consent of the
gentleman who accompanies her.
It is very impolite and insulting in
either lady or gentleman while
dancing in quadrille, to mar the
pleasure of others by galloping
around or inside the next set.

If a gentleman, without proper
introduction, should ask a lady
with whom he is not acquainted to
dance or promenade, the lady
should positively refuse.

Recollect, the desire of imparting
pleasure, especially to the ladies,
is one of the essential
qualifications of a gentleman.

   Ladies should not be too hasty in
   filling their program on their
    entrance to the ball room, as they
    may have cause for regret should
a friend happen to enter.

An introduction in a public ball
room must be understood by the
   gentleman to be for that evening
only, after which the
    acquaintanceship ceases, unless
   the lady chooses to recognize it at
   any further time or place.

A lady should not attend a public
ball without an escort, nor should
she promenade the ball room
alone; in fact, no lady should be
left unattended.

From the Universal Dancing
Master by Lucien O. Carpenter
1880

"A white handkerchief, and white or lemon-colored gloves,
will complete a gentlemanly dress."

"Where there are no programmes, engagements should not
be made until the dance is announced."

"When the dance is over, the gentleman conducts his partner to her seat;
and, unless he chooses to sit beside her, bows and withdraws."

"If you are so unfortunate as, forgetting a prior engagement, to engage
yourself to two partners for the same dance, decline dancing it
altogether, or you will surely offend one of them."

"A gentleman should always be so well dressed, that his dress shall
never be observed at all."

"If a lady waltz with you, beware not to press her waist; lightly touch it
with the open palm of your hand, lest you leave a disagreeable impression
not only on her ceinture, but on her mind."

"Balls should never be inconveniently crowded as this destroys
both the beauty and the pleasure of the dancing."

"When invited to dance, the lady will hand her ball card to the
gentleman, who will put his name in one of the vacant places."

"Never present an ungloved hand to a lady."

"The Quadrille: This favorite dance is not only the most social, but is the
most universally approved of all the fashionable dances, because of its
admitting of conversation, and a more frequent exchange of partners,
than any other dance."

"Married couples ought not to dance with each other; there is, perhaps,
no positive impropriety in it, and deviations from the rule may sometimes
be either expedient or unavoidable; but it is more generous, and therefore
more polite for wedded gentlemen to dance with other ladies."

"If a gentleman presumes to ask you to dance without an
introduction, you will of course refuse."

"Never form an engagement during a dance, or while the lady is engaged
with another; never whisper to a lady, nor lounge about on chairs or sofas
while the dance is proceeding."

"It is not in conformity with the rules of etiquette for a young
lady to dance with one gentleman repeatedly, to the exclusion
of all others who may solicit her hand, even though the favored
man be her suitor."

The Debutante Ball

Queen's Coronation Ball

*****
The Social Dance Through History