The annotated La Russe
A quadrille living on in the eCeilidh Repertoire; head and side couples crossing back and forth in fast and furious arches. If it's a quadrille, does that mean it's complicated? The answer is, it would not be popular as an eCeilidh dance if it was too tricky. It's quite possible to get it wrong, put it right and it not matter. It was first published around 1847, the arching over and back appearing around 1948.
The Form ...
It's a square set of four couples. One will have their backs to the band, they are the "first couple";
there'll be one standing to their right, looking across the set, they are the "second couple";
one standing opposite, facing the "first couple" and the last one facing the "second couple".
Giving them labels counting anticlockwise round the set; they are the "first, "second", "third"
and "fourth" couple.
You'll also hear "Head Couples" when there's a move for the First and Third couple together and "Side Couples" when the caller is talking to the Second and Fourth couple.
The Music:
It's long; 64 bars with the 32 bar tune repeated. You'll see phrases marked 'A1', 'A2', 'B1', 'B2', 'A3', 'A4', 'B3' and 'B4' instead of 'A1', 'A2', 'B1' and 'B2'
The Dance:
The scan from John Sweeney's notes on Contrafusion, follow this link to see the history of the dance.
A1: Pass your partner, Balance and Swing the next
Face your partner, but it's not them you are going to be dancing with first. Take a step past them, passing left shoulders, and there'll be someone heading towards you. Kick balance⬀ and swing them.
A2: Balance and Swing your Partner...
Head back to your original position, you'll now be dancing with your partner, Kick balance and swing⬀ with them. Means everybody is swinging...
B1: First Couple keep swinging...
The "First Couple" keep on swinging. The music will be fast, you've got the opportunity to fly...
Note that it won't be the first couple doing it every time through the dance, the music will be played 4 or 6 times and it will be different couples taking their turn at doing the "long swing".
B2: Honour the other couples...
Stop swinging, it's quite OK to feel a little dizzy and wobbly, it means you've been doing it properly.
Step towards the second couple, don't fall over, bow; towards the third couple, bow; toward the fourth couple, bow.
A3: Arches...
This is where the dance shines; fast and furious arches⬀, done with a snap to the music
The first time through the dance, the "Head Couples" start... First time through the "head couples" start and "first couples" arch first, the second time, the "side couples" start and the "second couples" arch, the third time the "head couples" start again and the "third couple" arches and so on...
- The "first" and "third" couples cross over with arches, meaning the "first" lift their arms and the "third" couple duck underneath.
- ... When over, swap places with their partners and face back across the set
- The "second" and "fourth" couple wait until there's enough room and then cross over, the "second" couple lifting their arms and the "fourth" ducking under.
- ... and similarly swap places with their partners.
Swap places with your partner and head back the other way in one move? The question is the momentum; how to be in the right place and going the right direction at the end of the cross over, after you have arched over the couple or ducked under them. See the note about the arches further down in the description. Each couple has danced across holding hands, they lift their arm to make an arch. The man steps round into his partner's place (he's turning clockwise, half way round to face the other way). The lady turns anticlockwise under the arch and steps into her partner's place. This is called a California Twirl.
Cross back again...
- The "head couples" cross back with arches, meaning the "third" lift their arms and the "first" couple duck underneath, swapping places with a California Twirl to get back to their original positions.
- The "side couples" cross back, the "fourth" couple lifting their arms.
A4:
Keep going! All cross over again, cross back again...
B3: Circle Left...
Circle Left for 16 steps (that is, keep on circling left, don't be tempted to circle left and back).
B4: Promenade Home...
Promenade⬀ back to place. If the man keeps hold of the ladies hand at the end of the promenade, he can help pull her past so they are both heading "their" right directions for the Kick balance.
The second time through the dance, the second couple do the long swing. The time after that, the third couple, etc. It can be that the caller tells both the "first" and "third" couples to swing and then the "second" and "fourth".
More information: Origins...
See John Sweeney's notes on his Contrafusion site. The description as posted to the English Dance and Song magazine (1948) is nearly as it is danced nowadays. What's different? Well...
- The balances are kick balances, a foot-together jump and a kick, a jump and a kick rather than a "set"
- After the long swing the "promenade round the ring" is more of a step to face the next couple and bow.
- Everybody arches or ducks, head and side couple alternately.
Colin Hume has more notes put together as part of his 'Connections' workshop
The dance appeared in the first book of the Community Dances Manual in 1949, but in a slightly simplified form with no mention of arches.
More about arches
There's some extra subtlety possible with the arching across and back. Consider this is a bit of extra polish, nice if you can do it as it gives a bit is extra fun and swing to the dance, but not anything to worry about. If you are used to turning slightly towards, slightly away, towards and away from your partner when promenading (or arching or ducking) the question is whether you start the move with turning towards each other or turning away. The trick is to work out what you want to be doing at the end of the move, and in general that is to be turning towards each other.
It might feel strange but the implication is to start turning away, but then turning towards each other (which is helpful for the couple ducking underneath the arch and indeed for the couple stretching to give the ducking couple room). It's then a turn away as you get over to the other side with a final 'turn towards' which is the lead in to the California Twirl
Tunes...
La Russe has its own tune