It appears that in that book the dance formation is given as a longways, duple,
improper set. Not the circle of couple facing couple that we typically connect to the
Sicilian circle formation. The dance just before it is the Spanish Dance and gives as
the formation, "The first couple at the head of the room, with their backs to the
wall; the next couple facing the first; the third couple with their backs to the second;
the fourth couple facing the third; and all the rest are formed in the same manner, every
two couples facing each other, without regard to numbers."
Then it says, "As each couple arrives at the end of the room, they must turn
round and wait for the next couple to meet them, the gentlemen being careful to have
their ladies always on the right hand.
This seems to be describing a longways dance instead of a circle. Under Sicilian
Circle it says, "This dance is formed precisely the same as the Spanish Dance,"
so that would seem to be a longways dance as well.
I think I have read that Spanish Dance was also used in the 19th century as
the generic name for the circle of couples facing each other. So were these
dances described somewhere with the circle formation, or was that just
something that someone did at one point and it stuck?
Jonathan
On 2/4/2023 4:52 PM, David Harding via Contra Callers wrote:
There is a specific old dance bearing the name "Sicilian Circle". You can find
it in, for instance, this 1857 instruction book from the Library of Congress.
https://www.loc.gov/item/musdi.094/ The name has come to imply the formation and
general pattern.
On 2/4/2023 3:49 PM, Joe Harrington via Contra Callers wrote:
Newbie question: Why is it called a "Sicilian" circle?
While certain dances came from long ago with that label, wouldn't many/most
contras work, as long as the circle isn't too small and the 1s and 2s are
comparably active?
--jh--
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