An American Ballroom Companion presents a collection of over two hundred historical social dance manuals. The list begins with a rare late fifteenth-century source, Les basses danses de Marguerite d'Autriche (c.1490) and ends with Ella Gardner's 1929 Public dance halls, their regulation and place in the recreation of adolescents. Along with dance instruction manuals, this online presentation also includes a significant number of antidance manuals, histories, treatises on etiquette, and items from other conceptual categories. Many of the manuals also provide historical information on theatrical dance. All illuminate the manner in which people have joyfully expressed themselves as they dance for and with one another.

Below you will find a detailed of each of the manuals included on this CD.

CREATED/PUBLISHED In Venetia, Appresso Francesco Ziletti, 1581.

SUMMARY This manual is one of the most important documents detailing late-Renaissance Italian court dance. Dancing master Fabritio Caroso (died 1605) describes fifty-four steps, provides rules for style and etiquette, and contains specific choreographies for eighty dances, most of which are designed for one couple. Many dances are preceded by full-page illustrations and each dance is provided with appropriate music notated in Italian lute tablature. Fabritio Caroso is also the author of an additional dance manual, Nobilt di dame (1600; 1605).

OTHER TITLES Prompter's call book

CREATED/PUBLISHED Philadelphia, Pa. : J.W. Pepper, c1882.

SUMMARY This manual is a compilation of previously published materials and its contents are typical of similar books published during the 1880s. The standard etiquette for balls has been reduced to simple rules; for example, "A lady should not attend a public ball without an escort." The manual continues with a discussion of the quadrille and round dances, including the waltz, Boston dip, Berlin, and polka. This edition is an excellent source; over seventy pages of violin music are included.

CREATED/PUBLISHED New York, C. T. De Witt, c1879.

SUMMARY The author of this manual claims that many books on dance lack simple explanations; this work is advertised as an answer to that criticism. The author has dispensed with "all unnecessary verbiage and figures of speech" in describing round dances and figures for the German (also know as the cotillon). Nearly half the book is devoted to quadrilles and calls for the prompter.

CREATED/PUBLISHED New York, De Witt, c1882.

SUMMARY This is a compilation of previously published materials on the subject of nineteenth-century ballroom dance. Some of the dance s represent popular favorites from decades past, such as the polka and schottisch. Other dance s, including the Newport, racquet, and society waltz, were popular during the 1880s.

CREATED/PUBLISHED Dublin, Printed by W. Folds, 1810.

SUMMARY The first section of this manual is devoted to a history of dance with emphasis on Greek and Roman practices. However, much of this section is borrowed liberally from the writings of late eighteenth-century authors, and, while it illuminates the importance of Greek and Roman influence on the arts of the era, modern dance scholars will find many interpretive and factual errors. Book two is a discourse on what Cassidy considers the practical aspects of dance: steps, music, and deportment. There is also discussion on the minuet, reel, and country dances.

CREATED/PUBLISHED New York : World Syndicate Co., c1914. NOTES Written by one of the most famous exhibition ballroom teams of the century, the manual covers a large variety of dances popular during the ragtime era including the tango, one step, hesitation waltz, and maxixe. A large portion of the book is devoted to grace and etiquette, appropriate dance dresses for women, and music. Many photographs of the famous couple enhance the manual.

CREATED/PUBLISHED London, E. Churton, 1847.

SUMMARY A translation of La danse des salons (1847), this manual provides important information on mid-nineteenth-century ballroom dance. Following a format utilized by many manuals, the work begins with introductory comments on dance, followed by a of the French quadrille. This is followed by discussion of round dances--the polka, numerous waltzes including waltze trois temps, and waltze deux temps--as well as steps and figures for another type of quadrille known as the mazurka quadrille. The manual contains eighty-three figures for a series of dance games, called the cotillon (also known as the German or German cotillon). The manual includes eight full-page prints by Paul Gavarni.

CREATED/PUBLISHED Paris : Chez l'auteur, 1849.

SUMMARY Originally published in 1847, the manual provides important information on mid-nineteenth-century ballroom dance. Following a format utilized by many manuals, the work begins with introductory comments on dance, followed by a of the French quadrille. This is folllowed by discussion of round dances--the polka, numerous waltzes including waltze trois temps and waltze deux temps--as well as steps and figures for another type of quadrille known as the mazurka quadrille. The manual contains eighty-three figures for a series of dance games, called the cotillon (also known as the German or German cotillon). Nine full-page prints by Gavarini enhance the manual. The manual was published in English as The drawing-room dances (1847).

CREATED/PUBLISHED Paris, Garnier fr res 1899

SUMMARY This manual is an extensive history of dance that incorporates many countries, cultures, and periods including Chinese, Hindu, Egyptian, Greek, ancient Gaul, European Renaissance, and Baroque. The manual also covers popular culture, peasant dance, and "foreign dance." The perspective of this manual is clearly nineteenth century, with little emphasis on historical fact. The point of view is clearly western, and this is evident in the music examples that accompany almost every country or culture's entry--all have been subjected to western notation and are arranged in late nineteenth-century grand musical style. Additionally, the text includes numerous illustrations and, no matter the country or culture, the figures are physically shaped to look like late nineteenth-century western ladies and gentlemen.

CREATED/PUBLISHED S.-Peterburg : s.n. , 1893.

SUMMARY This is an important Russian manual describing social dance practices including s of the basic movements and positions used in ballroom dance and various dance types including the polka, waltz, and mazurka. The book incorporates a discussion of the dance instruction in athletic programs and for young men in military academies. Numerous photographs enhance the manual.

OTHER TITLES Recueil des contre-danses et walzes Title on t.p. of recueil 28: 28e. recueil des contre-danses et waltzes

CREATED/PUBLISHED A Paris : Chez Frere, 179-?-1815?

CREATED/PUBLISHED Davenport, Iowa, Instructor publishing co., 1903.

SUMMARY Dancing master Clendenen's book is meant for teachers of dance and he covers the basic building blocks of teaching beginning with the positions of the feet and body. Technical terms (with correct pronunciation), preparatory exercises, bows and curtseys are included as well as sections of attitudes and poses, correct and incorrect positions. The manual concludes with instructions on how to teach ten fancy dances that include "Highland Fling," "Sailor's Hornpipe," "Twentieth-Century Skirt Dance," and "La Manola." The manual is illustrated with photographs of students.

OTHER TITLES Fashionable quadrille call book and guide to etiquette Professor Clendenen's fashionable quadrille book and guide to etiquette

CREATED/PUBLISHED Davenport, Ia., F.L. Clendenen c1895

SUMMARY Quoting extensively from L.H. Elmwell's 1892 dance manual, this treatise is aimed at prompters of quadrilles. The Manual includes a brief explanation of quadrille figures and etiquette (with emphasis on etiquette while performing quadrilles). Quadrille figures are included with appropriate calls for the prompter.

CREATED/PUBLISHED St. Louis, Printed by Arcade print shop, 1919

SUMMARY This manual is a good example of the emphasis placed on physical fitness during the early twentieth century and, dancing master Clendenen notes "we have just won the greatest war known in history ... by efficiency, and physical excellence." The manual encourages teachers to instruct children "correct dancing and health movements." Clendenen describes a wide panorama of movement including pantomime and dramatic posture dances, Greek dancing, Hawaiian arm and Italian body exercises, rhythmic dancing, toe dancing, as well as nature and health exercises. The book also includes steps and choreographies for novelty dances such as "Russian Slavic Dance," "Dance of the Soul," and "Egyptian Posture Dance."

CREATED/PUBLISHED Boston, O. Ditson & co.; New York, C. H. Ditson & co.; etc., etc. c1878.

SUMMARY Cleveland's manual opens with an interesting account of the building blocks required for setting up a successful private dancing academy. He includes discussion on the architectural requirements, music, progress of students, hours and division of classes, dealing with children, and how to manage balls. The second part of the manual covers "fashionable dances," and the author describes quadrilles, the "Boston Waltz," and twenty-nine figures for the German (also known as cotillon), a group dance comprised of a series of party games.

CREATED/PUBLISHED New York, E. J. Clode c1922

SUMMARY This is an expanded version of Coll's book that was originally published c. 1919. Beginning with an account of dance history ranging from the ancient Greeks to late nineteenth-century dance, Coll declares that some of "most up to the minute dances" include the Carter Waltz and the Schottisch Espagnole. The author also discusses foxtrot variations, the Virginia Reel, and provides some cotillon figures (also known as the German). The dances described by Coll were long out of fashion by 1922.

CREATED/PUBLISHED London, A. Hammond & co. 1873

SUMMARY This is an expanded version of a manual published under the same title in 1866. It it not known whether or not famed Paris dancing master Coulon actually participated in the assembly of this manual. Most of the manual is compilation from earlier sources. Demonstrating a growing late nineteenth--century interest in physical education, this new version adds a series of exercises to be performed with poles, dumb-bells, and elastics. Additional exervises emphasize walking, running, and jumping. The manual describes the popular ballroom dances of the era--quadrille, waltz, and polka.