The quadrille is a traditional Italian folk dance found throughout the country, especially in central and southern regions, though variations also appear in the dance repertoires of Emilia-Romagna and South Tyrol. According to the *Treccani* encyclopedia, the quadrille originated as a fashionable French dance in the 18th and 19th centuries, derived from the English country dance. It was performed by four couples (or multiples of four) arranged face-to-face or in a square.
Its popularity peaked during the Napoleonic era before being overtaken by the polka. The most common version included five sequences, or *figures*, named in French: *Pantalon, Été, Poule, Pastourelle*, and *Finale*, all performed in a lively style, typically in 6/8 or 2/4 time (for the “lancers’ quadrille,” see *lancier*, entry no. 3). Over time, the term also came to refer to the music used for the dance, often based on folk melodies or opera arias—Johann Strauss Jr. famously composed around seventy quadrilles. One unforgettable rendition was performed by Totò in the finale of *San Giovanni Decollato*.
So let’s start with the music, the heart of any good quadrille.
Music: Lively, in 4/4 time, but not too fast. Try something like this:
Participants: 12, 16, 20, 24… (any number divisible by 4), plus one facilitator or announcer.
Starting Formation: The facilitator divides the dancers into four teams—hence the name “quadrille”—and marks them with colored flowers, scarves, or other accessories. Teams are arranged in a square formation.
Starting formation of the quadrille
1st Movement: After four bars of music, the facilitator calls out: “BOW!” Everyone bows in place.
2nd Movement: The facilitator announces: “GREETINGS!” The red team steps forward to face the blue team, each dancer bows to their opposite partner, then returns to their place without turning around. Then it’s the blue team’s turn to greet the red team, followed by green greeting yellow, and yellow greeting green.
3rd Movement: The facilitator announces: “STROLL!” The reds approach the blues and form pairs (each red dancer linking arms with their opposite blue partner), turning as indicated by the arrow.
The greens do the same with the yellows.
Third Movement of the Quadrille
Remaining in pairs, they walk in a circle for two full rounds.
4th Movement: The facilitator calls: “TUNNEL!” The first green-yellow pair leads the line to the center. Everyone lines up in pairs facing each other with arms raised and hands joined.
Each pair takes turns passing under the “tunnel” and, once through, takes their place at the opposite end with raised joined hands.
5th Movement: The facilitator calls: “COUPLE DANCE!” Everyone returns to the square formation. One dancer at a time chooses a partner and dances in the center while the rest clap along to the rhythm.
6th Movement: Everyone forms a circle, holding hands. When the facilitator shouts: “EVERYONE TO THE CENTER!” the entire group moves toward the center with raised arms, without letting go. This is repeated once, twice, three times—and marks the joyful end of the quadrille.
