Circassian Circle ~ Wilson

This is the original name for the dance we in the US now call "Sicilian Circle", a term that has come to mean a way of dancing a minor set dance in a circle instead of longways. But once upon a time there was a dance with the name. (Circassia is (or was) a region on the northeastern shore of the Black Sea).

In Baltimore in 1820 George Willig Jr. published a dance called "The Circassian" in a pamphlet called Admired Cotillions (in the US the distinction between Quadrilles and Cotillions was often lost, and I think this is actually one set of a quadrille. It isn't in a circle and it is not progressive.

Forward two cross over. Chasse. cross. to place. Balance and turn partner. Ladies Chain. promenade and half right and left to place.

The figure for this dance is said to come from Le Pantalon in Payne's 1st Set of Quadrilles. The first 24 bars match and the last 8 have been changed to make the dance progressive. The idea of dancing in a circle, and the name "Circassian" come from G.M.S. Chivers.

In 1822 in his book The Modern Dancing Master, G.M.S. Chivers introduces a style of dancing he calls "Circassian Circle". He then publishes four dances to be done in this style, none of which is called "Circassian Circle" itself.

Chivers's version is different from the modern way of dancing. At the time, in longways sets, only the top two couples would start dancing, in this circle dance only the two couples closest to the music would start, they would pass each other, and then each would dance with the next couple in their direction of motion. And so on.

Any number of persons can join in the Dance, observing that there is an even number of couples; the odd numbers stand on one side, and the even numbers on the other, forming a circle, thus:

The 1st and 2nd couples face each other, who perform the Figure and exchange places: then the 1st and 4th couples, and at the same time, the 2nd and 3rd couples do the same, and so continued all round. Each Dance terminates when all have been through it.

Each lady to stand on the right of her partner throughout the Dance. All the odd numbers face the same as No. 1, and the even numbers face the same as No. 2.

— The Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford, Harding Mus F 346

Note this is simply a general description of how to dance in a circle. It is followed by four figures for this format. the one which most closely matches the modern version is called "La Daphne":

Right and left set and turn partners ladies chain half pousette into each others place, and turn partners under the arm

— The Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford, Harding Mus F 346

The next version I can find is Lowes' Ball-Conductor and Assembly Guide (Edinbourgh, ~1831) where they write:

The Circassian Circle

Is a circular Country Dance, for which the party is arranged, as for Quadrilles, across the room; the four at the top commence first, and change sides at the end of the figures, they continue to repeat them with all the couples down the opposite sides of the room, crossing over at the bottom, and continuing till they arrive at their original places; all the other couples must also continue, after they commence, till they make the circuit of the room; and when all have regained their places, the dance is finished

First Circassian Circle

Ladies chain, set and turn partners, right and left, hands four half round, and turn partners, changing places.

I'm not sure I understand the Lowe's set-up description, but I think they are describing a hall full of two couple quadrille sets (that is improper duple minor lines), lined up along each side wall of a building. As with Chivers, and in keeping with the staggered start in use for country dances at the time, only one set start dancing, as they move down the first line the dancers behind them will also start, then when they reach the bottom instead of becoming 2s and working their way up, the cross over to the other line, and work their way up. When they reach the top of the other line they stop and wait until everyone else has reached their original position but in the other line.

In ~1842 Tilt & Bogue published The Ball-Room Preceptor (Third Edition) containing a description of the Circassian Circle very like Chivers's. Only two couples dance at the start, and no specific figure is provided. (In ~1844 Coulon (London), in 1848 George Appleton, Philadelphia, and in ~1850 Kent & Co., Nottingham copy their description word for word)

The next version I've found is Wilson, 1852.

Wilson writes:

Couples vis-a-vis; form a circle round the room; figure, right and left or hands across; set and turn partners; ladies chain; waltz pass on to next couple; repeat.

Wilson defines "Right and Left" on page 15 of The Art of Dancing and it involves no hand clasps.