The quadriglia is a popular Italian folk dance found throughout the country, particularly in the center and south, though versions also appear in Emilia-Romagna and the Alto Adige. According to Italian sources, it originated as a French dance popular in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, derived from the contredanse. It was performed by four couples of dancers—or multiples of four—arranged facing each other or in a square formation. The dance reached its peak during the Napoleonic era before being displaced by the polka. The most common version consisted of five figures, known by their French names—Pantalon, été, poule, pastourelle, and finale—danced at a lively pace in 6/8 or 2/4 time. The music for the quadriglia typically drew from folk melodies and opera arias. Johann Strauss Jr. was particularly prolific, composing roughly seventy quadriglias. The most memorable performance was the masterful rendition by the actor Totò in the closing scene of San Giovanni decollato.
Let's start with the music, then, and work through how to organize a wonderful quadriglia of your own.
Music: Well-rhythmed, in 4/4 time, not too fast. Like these:
Participants: 12, 16, 20, 24 dancers (the number must be divisible by 4), plus one caller/announcer.
Starting formation: The caller divides the participants into 4 teams (hence the name "quadriglia") distinguished by different-colored flowers, scarves, or other markers, and arranges them in a square.
First Movement: After 4 beats, the caller announces: "BOW!" Everyone stays in place and bows.
Second Movement: The caller announces: "SALUTE!" The reds advance to the music toward the blues. Each dancer bows to the person directly across from them, then returns to their spot without turning. This continues in turn: blues toward reds, reds toward blues, greens toward yellows, yellows toward greens.
Third Movement: The caller announces: "PROMENADE!" The reds approach the blues and form pairs (each red with their opposite blue, linking arms and turning as shown by the arrow). The greens do the same with the yellows.
Still paired, they circle around for two complete rotations.
Fourth Movement: The caller announces: "TUNNEL!" The first pair of greens and yellows leads the line toward the center and stands with everyone facing each other, arms raised and hands joined together.
Each pair takes a turn passing under the tunnel and then positions itself at the opposite end, arms still raised and hands joined.
Fifth Movement: The caller announces: "DANCE IN PAIRS!" Everyone returns to the square as at the start. One at a time, a dancer chooses a partner and they dance in the center while the others clap out the beat.
Sixth Movement: Form a circle holding hands. When the caller says: "EVERYONE TO THE CENTER!" everyone moves toward the center, raising their arms and hands without letting go. Repeat this 1, 2, 3 times. This marks the end of the quadriglia.
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