Omaha daily bee., 1886-11-21
GROUPED FROM GAY CIRCLES,
Intricacies Of the --latest Dancing Figure
Explained at Length,
HOW TO DANCE TIVE ocTAeoN.
Snow and the Coming OF Christmas
Slightly Check Social Indulgence
in Omaha-But a Few Bril-
liant Events Recorded,
The New Dance Adopted by the So
CicLY of prOfcssOrs.

The New Dance Adopted by the So
cicty Of Professors.
Brooklyn Eagle OF the new dances
TO be taught, rs adopted by the society of
professors the octagon is an entirely
original conception, Nothing beyond a
garbled reference OF approaching
description of this unique feature, has
yet been published II is not as has been
stated, modification of the quadrille,
nor has it the essential features of the
quadrilc. The reporter called upon Mr..
&. III, Rivers for an accurate description
of the octagon, which is detailed as fol.
lows; The octagon derives It's name
from the fact that the eight couples re.
quired to dance it face so as to form
an octagonal figure. II is made
up of five numbers, each consisting of
various figures The first number is thus
described; After the formation Of the
set, consisting Of eight couples, salutes to
partners, then to the center with joined
hands all around follow. The sides now
moye to the right and corners to the left.
In this movement very attractive step,
similar to the minuet step, is used rs the
couple advance and retire. Then each
two couples form circle and glide round
to the left. The corners join hands and
allow them TO pass under. Returning to
places, sides join hands and corners pass
under. All now separate from partners,
and, each lady giving her right to the
gentleman nearest on her right, they
march round each other TIL they meet
their respective partners, when they dis
engage themselves and march to their
places. These figures are repeated in al
formation four times.
In the second number of the da nee the
sides and corners advance and retire,
gentlemen remain in places, while ladies,
extending the right hand to visa Wis
march to the opposite couples and salute.
They then balance to their new partners,
using courtly, graceful balance step;
ladies extend right hands to each other
and return to their own partners four
side gentlemen, without moving, form
cross, giving left hand, and, retaining
partners left hand, they raise arms high
enough to allow corner couples to pass
under. The figures are reversed and
danced four times alternately.
In the third number. the initial saluta
tions are followed by movement Of the
sides to the right and corners TO the left;
then all advance and retire, then salute.
The ladies perform a half chain by giving
right hands to partners, then marching,
present left hands TO opposite gentlemen
and pass around making half.turn, and
remain. The gentleman, having turned
lady halfround with left hand, extends
his right to the opposite gentleman and,
marching to the opposite place, reaches
couples, and the above figures are re-
peated to regain places. Figures ara.n,Jw
reversed. In tins number the. are danced
only twice.
great ::,.mllarity is observed in the
la.. IN number to the figure in the Ian
GERS in which couples lead to the nearest
couples, salute them, lead round to oppO-
sites and circle with joined hands into
places. Another feature, somewhat sim
liar to the basket figure OF tho lanccfs, is
seen when the ladies, forming cross by
joining hands with the opposite ladies,
are encircled by a ring formed by gentle
men with joined hands, when all move to
the left, the ladies marching and gentle
men gliding, keeping. opposite partners.
The fifth number is properly consid-
cred the climax of the octagon. The first
and second couples march to the center,
right and left about face and march back
to places. The first couple faces out
ward. with lady on the left. When the
second couple remarches to its place the
gentleman extends his left hand to
his partner and both, turning halt
round, face in the same direc-
ton as the first couple, The corner
couples, live and eight, join hands in line
of four behind the first couple, while side
couples, three and four, join hands be-
hind the corner couples thus formed.
Corner couples, six and seven, form be-
hind them and thus, all facing in one di-
irn, eS.Nt ,io 80 80; Tpi,.
ioined hands high enoneh to nermit The
first couple to march under 10 the bottom
OF the set. The center lines now unclasp
hands and reJoin them on the other side,
onus ioriiling & tmo d nrpotS, r. iam,, hc s rpsI
sine nnder he arbor % nn the rioht iih pth pths
eentleman under that on tile left regain
their place. This figure is followed bv a
balancing to partners. The figure is re-
peated until all the couples in alienation
have led,
Preceding and terminating the mum.
Der n grand promenade chain is per
formed,
The adoption and evident popularlty
of the dance is a pregnant indication OF
the departure of the era of boisterous
square dances. In the matter of dress il
is to be doplored that the rood influence
of sensible American matr0ns, which was
being cxerted with no small effect to Sc.
cure the ostracism of the decollete COS.