Les Lanciers or The Lancers is a
square dance
A square dance is a dance for four couples, or eight dancers in total, arranged in a square, with one couple on each side, facing the middle of the square. Square dances are part of a broad spectrum of dances known by various names: country dan ...
, a variant of the
Quadrille
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 ''Contra dance, contredanses''. Latterly the quadrille was frequently danced to a medley of ope ...
, 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 or ''tours'', 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 in
Denmark
Denmark is a Nordic countries, Nordic country in Northern Europe. It is the metropole and most populous constituent of the Kingdom of Denmark,, . also known as the Danish Realm, a constitutionally unitary state that includes the Autonomous a ...
to the present day, having been introduced from
England
England is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is located on the island of Great Britain, of which it covers about 62%, and List of islands of England, more than 100 smaller adjacent islands. It ...
in 1860. The Danish dance took its current form before the 1st World War. From the
bourgeoisie
The bourgeoisie ( , ) are a class of business owners, merchants and wealthy people, in general, which emerged in the Late Middle Ages, originally as a "middle class" between the peasantry and aristocracy. They are traditionally contrasted wi ...
of
Copenhagen
Copenhagen ( ) is the capital and most populous city of Denmark, with a population of 1.4 million in the Urban area of Copenhagen, urban area. The city is situated on the islands of Zealand and Amager, separated from Malmö, Sweden, by the ...
it spread through dancing schools in provincial towns and through the landed gentry. It is danced at court,
Årsrapport - Kongehusets virksomhed 2006
p. 15 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 five ''tours'' of 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.
The Kitchen lancers was a more boisterous version of the dance that was popular in the early 20th century.
See also
* Joseph Binns Hart
Joseph Binns Hart (5 June 1794 – 10 December 1844) was an English organist, and a compiler of dance music, particularly of the quadrille.
Life
He was born in London on 5 June 1794. He was chorister at St Paul's Cathedral under John Sale from 18 ...
, composer of music for ''Les Lanciers''
References
External links
*The Danish music for each part can be foun
here
*The origins of The Lancers Quadrilles are discusse
here
1854 American sheetmusic for ''Les Lanciers''various editions at imslp
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lanciers
Country dance
European dances
Dance in England